Take Up Space Festival
From Monday 2 - Sunday 8 2020, we’re marking International Women’s Day with a five-day celebration of community, collaboration and connection in Folkestone.
We’ll be bringing together brilliant speakers, artists, activists and makers from across the world. Highlights include banging beats from Big Joanie; spitting rhymes with Shay D; spoken word queen, Vanessa Kisuule; and Amy Bell, blending dance, text, and animation with a live digital soundscape.
Emerging from previous International Women’s Day celebrations in Folkestone, the Take Up Space five-day festival is bigger, bolder and even more ambitious.
We’ve got poetry, performances, film, dance, thought-provoking discussions plus a whole lot more. Connect and collaborate by taking part in our diverse workshops, events and exhibitions. Expect pop-up markets, craftivism, amazing vegan food along with five spectacular days of women supporting women.
Join us in March 2020, when we’re bringing women together to connect, collaborate, gain strength and support each other to tackle patriarchy and to Take Up Space!
Take Up Space Exhibition
26th February, 11am - 1st March
The Take Up Space exhibition showcases some of the best of Folkestone women, non-binary and trans artists. Curated by Nico Dunsbee and Aida...
Take Up Space Launch
26th February, 6pm
After the success of last year’s opening evening, you can expect an evening of performance, poetry and partying! Join us from 6pm to celebrate!The...
Take Up Space: Gender Gap Seminar
28th February, 6pm
Local artists Diana Harrison and Laura Froude will be hosting a seminar on the gender gap in art sales. Come along and work with us to find...
Take Up Space: Taking Up Space
1st March, 1pm
A workshop for women who want to share their experience of living in a larger body in a world that wants them to shrink. This afternoon workshop...
Take Up Space: Hear My Voice: Exhibition
2nd March, 10am - 8th March
Hear My Voice is the work of eleven girls aged 9 to 13 who attend Fat Hen And Flo Art Club. On the run up to the festival the girls are exploring...
Folkestone Women's Forum #31: Open Water Swimming
2nd March, 7:30pm
FWF‘s monthly event presents a panel discussion about women and open water swimming. Panellists are Helen Oakes, a physiotherapist and masters...
Take Up Space: Sweaty & Delightful presents: Speed Mate-ing
3rd March, 5pm
Sweaty & Delightful create safe-space events in Kent for women, trans people, non-binary people, gender non-conforming people and their ally...
Take Up Space: Mari
4th March, 7:30pm
Boldly combining the power of dance and cinema, Mari tells the story of professional dancer and choreographer Charlotte (acclaimed dancer...
Take Up Space: Anna Braithwaite: Take Up Improvising
5th March, 5:30pm
Are you a musician, music teacher, music therapist, spoken word artist, electronic artist or dancer who is uncomfortable improvising but wants...
Take Up Space: Varjack-Lowry: I, Melania
5th March, 7:45pm
I, Melania is Paula and Chuck’s first project as Varjack-Lowry. Using Melania Trump as an avatar of an ‘acceptably’ foreign woman, they...
Take Up Space: Anna Braithwaite: Free Women
5th March, 8pm
Free Women offers the chance for female (trans & non-binary inclusive) improvisors to meet and play together, find potential collaborators,...
Take Up Space: A Scenic Walk Over Folkestone's Three Hills
6th March, 9am
Led by Catherine Sangster Meet at the foot of Castle Hill (gated road off roundabout north of M20 junction 13).A moderate walk of about 4...
Take Up Space Workshop With Ray Dodd
6th March, 11am
A workshop for feminist freelancers who want to grow their businesses and make money without compromising their values.After facing up to...
Take Up Space: Sweetleaf Kitchen Pop Up
6th March, 1pm
Samantha will be serving a plant based pop-up menu from the Quarterhouse’s café space Friday-Sunday during the festival with a focus, as...
Take Up Space: Daughters of Industry Pop Up Shop
6th March, 1pm
Local women makers collective, bringing their trademark mix of color, Eco-gifts, luxury crafts, handmade home-wares, statement jewellery and...
Take Up Space: Frida Kahlo Children's Art Workshop - Self-expression Through Self-portraiture
6th March, 4pm
Book tickets here: www.dotkids.co.ukSelf-Expression Through Self-Portraiture is a children’s art workshop run by Arts Educator, Mindset...
Take Up Space: Blowout & Wave: Mother & Daughter Hair Braiding Workshop
6th March, 4pm
Join Hollie, kick-ass female founder of Folkestone’s Blowout and Wave, for a relaxed workshop demonstrating hair braiding techniques. Aimed...
Take Up Space: Big Joanie, with support from ARXX and Pink Suits
6th March, 7pm
London DIY feminist punk band Big Joanie formed in 2013 releasing their first EP Sistah Punk in 2014 and their new album Sistahs in 2019....
Take Up Space: Learn To DJ With REV
7th March, 10am
House DJ REV shares tips and tricks on how to create seamless sets with energy and soul. Learn how to mix, cue, loop and drop and understand...
Take Up Space: Daughters of Industry Pop Up Shop
7th March, 10am
Local women makers collective, bringing their trademark mix of color, eco-gifts, luxury crafts, handmade home-wares, statement jewelry and...
Take Up Space: Bigger than my body: MORE talking, more doing!
7th March, 10am
Drop in creative session with a focus on the process of “doing”.Using creativity as a facilitation tool to open up dialogue around body...
Take Up Space: Blowout & Wave Live Demos
7th March, 10am
Hollie will be bringing her trademark modern hairstyling to Take Up Space festival demonstrating some wild and attention worthy hairstyles...
Take Up Space: Hear My Voice: Live Happening
7th March, 10am
Hear My Voice is the work of eleven girls aged 9 to 13 who attend Fat Hen And Flo Art Club. On the run up to the festival the girls are exploring...
Take Up Space: Manjeet Mann: Run The World
7th March, 10:30am
We are a friendly, all-inclusive running group for women who are complete beginners. Run, jog or walk and get fit whilst having some fun and...
Take Up Space: A:dress: Fast Fashion and Climate Crisis: A Feminist Issue
7th March, 11am
With Renuka Bhakta (mental health activist); Nuala Gathercole Lam (climate activist); Maggie Scott (textile artist/activist) and Leah Thorn...
Take Up Space: Sweetleaf Kitchen Pop Up
7th March, 12pm
Samantha will be serving a plant based pop-up menu from the Quarterhouse’s café space Friday-Sunday during the festival with a focus, as...
Take Up Space: Craftivism With Harbour Crochet
7th March, 1pm
A crochet + craftivism workshop for crocheters of all abilities. Join local craftivists Harbour Crochet and Folk in Stitches and learn how...
Take Up Space: Menopause Mayhem Animation Workshop!
7th March, 2pm
Create Plasticine characters and witness them come to life with the magic of stop-motion animation. The only experience you need is fluctuating...
Take Up Space: STOP ABUSING YOUR POWER WORKSHOP
7th March, 2pm
Who will you challenge to “STOP ABUSING YOUR POWER”? What might the implications be if that did happen?Stop Abusing Your Power is a call...
Take Up Space: Yoga Taster
7th March, 2pm
Book here for a one-off taster Yoga session with Frances Robertson-Ritchie Come along to this Yoga workshop and learn to practice in a way...
Take Up Space: Amy Bell: The Forecast
7th March, 7pm
As the only dyke in the dance class, Amy finds new moves for a more radical notion of femininity. On a witty journey of transformation and...
Take Up Space: Shay D: Queens of Art
7th March, 7pm
The Queens of Art tour celebrates the launch of Shay D’s recently released album Human Writes. Performing with DJ Ellie Prohan - both award...
Take Up Space: International Women’s Day Celebratory Sea Swim!
8th March, 9:30am
Join some of Folkestone’s regular sea swimmers for a celebratory dip. Whether you are a first timer or a seasoned pro, you will be made...
Take Up Space: Daughters of Industry Pop Up Shop
8th March, 10am
Local women makers collective, bringing their trademark mix of color, Eco-gifts, luxury crafts, handmade home-wares, statement jewelry and...
Take Up Space: Happy Camper Flag Making Workshop
8th March, 10am
Join local maker Katy Casey of Make Waves studio to make upcycled pennant-style wall flags with text celebrating what is good in your world....
Take Up Space: Songlines Around Folkestone
8th March, 10:30am
Create your own poem as you wander the streets of Folkestone and explore its locations, taking the Aboriginal idea of songlines as starting...
Take Up Space: GIVING VOICE With Catherine Hoffmann
8th March, 11am
A vocal workshop for anyone who wants to discover new ways to take up space with their voice.Maybe there are blocks for what you want to say,...
Take Up Space: MAPPING UTOPIAS With Alison Neighbour
8th March, 11am
What would your utopia look like? How would you get there? Create your own utopian map as a personal artwork to take home.Join us to explore...
Take Up Space: Sweetleaf Pop Up Kitchen
8th March, 12pm
Samantha will be serving a plant based pop-up menu from the Quarterhouse’s café space Friday-Sunday during the festival with a focus, as...
Take Up Space: Family Silly Walk
8th March, 2pm
Join family lifestyle coach Olivia Roe for a guided silly walk for families around the Folkestone harbour area. See the area in a new way...
Take Up Space: Vanessa Kisuule
8th March, 3pm
Join us for our spoken word extravaganza! It’s our closing night and we’ll be celebrating twelve days of festival brilliance in the best...