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Championing the work of women from the cultural sector and identifying how our work can support women from all walks of life as we work towards a more equitable society for all.

On the 6^th of March Bucks Culture hosted the inaugural Women of Culture Event in celebration of International Women’s Day. The event, hosted at the Elgiva Theatre in Chesham, saw women and allies from across the sector come together to explore issues faced by women and champion the work of women in the cultural sector.

Audiences were treated to an interactive workshop led by Rosie Axon, Founder and Director at  Chiltern Music Therapy and Betty Makharinsky Founder and CEO at Vache Baroque. This musical session explored the role of female voice in music, from the exclusion of female artists in the Baroque era to how the song, Bread and Roses, became the slogan of a political movement calling for safety, shelter and better living standards for all. Delegates were in full voice and the Forum at the Elgiva was filled with not only sunshine but the beautiful sound of an entirely female choir.

 ‘Love our new girl band’ gleefully expressed post workshop by an attendee, testament to the joy of participation. This could be the start of something new for Bucks.

We were delighted to hear from Vicky Hope-Walker, CEO at National Paralympic Heritage Trust (NPHT) and valued Board Member at Bucks Culture. Vicky spoke of her creative journey to CEO at NPHT.  From training in creative arts to implementing socially inspired programmes as a freelancer leading to the eventual establishment of NPHT. Vicky’s presentation took us on a journey through time celebrating the great work and discoveries of female leaders from across Bucks and beyond.

From one inspirational leader to another, our very own, Lallie Davis, Director at Bucks Culture, shared how Women of Culture provided opportunity to celebrate and champion women around the world alongside the cultural sector in Bucks, with a lens to the past, a moment in the present, and an eye to the future. The event provided time for networking and opportunity to come together to discuss the wider issues faced by women and the communities we work with.

Bucks Culture’s first International Women’s Day event is something Lallie has been intending to convene for a long time.  International Women’s Day has been taking place annually on the 8^th March since 1911.  The day is dedicated to the advancement of women worldwide and belongs to all who care about women’s equality.

Sadly, in a rapidly changing World, women are often most affected by some of our most pressing issues: migration, poverty and climate change.

In the cultural sector we are in the amazing position to be working in an impactful way to implement change for the communities we work with. Our work in community settings serves to uncover inequalities, raise the profile of challenges, and bring people together armed with art and creativity as a tool for engagement and a catalyst for change.

Stories, music, visual arts, poetry, crafts and events, all play a role in reaching people and bringing them together. In difficult times, this role is of more importance than ever. 

Notes on Accelerating Action from Lallie Davis, Director at Buckinghamshire Culture

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, accelerate action, is about how we can collectively Accelerate Action for women everywhere by addressing systemic barriers and biases women face in both personal and professional spheres. 

Despite everything,

• the World Economic Forum says full gender parity is still five generations away[i]. 
• 87% of men in paid work are full-time workers, whereas only 59% of women are in paid full-time work[ii].
  • Women are now 47% of those in employment but are still the majority of those in part-time employment[iii].
• Employment rates of Bangladeshi and Pakistani women still lag behind that of other groups[iv].
  • The Gender pay gap has increased to 8.9% since 2018, while overall pay gap has decreased to 17.3%[v]. 
  • Women account for 69% of low earners, a proportion that has barely changed since 2018(70%) and that has remained constant since 2011[vi] (69%)

Women continue to encounter numerous challenges, including:

• Health Inequities: Studies show that women’s pain is often dismissed, leading to delayed diagnoses and inadequate treatment. The Sun
• Mental Health Struggles: Research indicates that young women experience higher levels of mental distress compared to their male counterparts, influenced by societal pressures and gender-based discrimination. The Australian
• Economic Disparities: Legal and societal barriers continue to limit women’s economic opportunities, contributing to persistent income gaps and financial insecurity. World Economic Forum, 2023. Global Gender Gap Report 2023

To contribute to meaningful change, we urge you to consider the following actions:

1. Education: Learn about gender biases and their impact. Share this knowledge to foster awareness and understanding.
2. Advocate for Policy Changes: Support legislation that promotes equal rights, pay equity, and protections against gender-based violence.
3. Support Women-Owned Businesses: Intentionally purchase from and promote businesses owned and operated by women.
4. Donate or fundraise for charities supporting women: support their work and help to raise visibility.

International Women’s Day is more than a celebration; it’s a call to action. Think about:

• What steps can you take today to challenge gender biases?
• How can you support the women in your community more effectively?
• In what ways can your workplace promote a culture of inclusivity and equality?[vii]

Tree of Insight and Intentions

Attendees shared thoughts and plans, writing a tag for our Tree of Insight and Intention sharing how to accommodate female audiences and pledges for the future to accelerate action!

As shared below

I pledge to actively praise and elevate my team of women, recognising their strengths, input and skill sets. I could not do my job without them.

I pledge to make space for more women to devise and lead on projects! + being aware of added barriers to intersectionality.

I do and will celebrate the women who came before us, paved the way for us to help and inspire the women who will follow us.

My intention is to promote fiction and non fiction written by women (esp from Bucks)when possible. Look at heritage of Bucks born writers e.g. Enid Blyton

I pledge to create more spaces for women to come together to be creative.

Seek out ways to make links with the local British Asian Community of Women.

Write and create more female characters to explore and present female perspectives. Continuing to connect with and champion female causes.

I pledge to promote and embrace female artists.

Continuing my recent exhibition work concerning, Childhood Lost, by sponsoring a young female street child in Kolkata.

I pledge to learn more about women’s businesses locally that I can promote.

Providing community, supportive inclusive and fun activities.

We are delighted to connect with and hear from women working across Buckinghamshire, working in collaboration to reach communities, support each other’s endeavours and ensure that women’s issues are included in our work and programmes.

Please do get in touch with ideas for future programmes, recommend speakers and to keep us up to date with your work.

kerry@buckinghamshireculture.org

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[i] https://www.weforum.org/reports/global-gender-gap-report-2023

[ii] International Labour Organization, 2023. World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2023. Available at: https://www.ilo.org/wesodata

[iii] European Commission, 2024. Report on Equality between Women and Men in the EU. Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/report-equality-between-women-and-men-eu-2024_en

[iv] Office for National Statistics, 2024. Employment by Ethnicity. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentbyethnicity

[v] Office for National Statistics, 2018. Gender Pay Gap in the UK: 2018. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/genderpaygapintheuk/2018

[vi] Resolution Foundation, 2018. Low Pay Britain 2018. Available at: https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/low-pay-britain-2018/

[vii] Credit for the actions for change and call to action above should be given to Zeenat Noorani – taken from her blog post: (19) International Women’s Day 2025: Accelerating Action for Women’s Equality | LinkedIn