THE WOW Foundation in partnership with BBC Arts, as part of its Culture in Quarantine initiative, is bringing the Women of the World (WOW) festival online this weekend.

The WOWxBBC Festival – the first ever WOW to take place online – will take over a number of BBC channels with a host of inspiring talks, workshops and a quiz led by iconic women in a multitude of fields.

The festival will cover everything from history, health, sport, science and sexuality, and respond to the devastating social and economic consequences for women and girls the pandemic is having.

Jude Kelly, the WOW Foundation’s founder and director, said: “At this time, when we are isolated from one another, the connections and conversations that WOW ignites are more important than ever. Amongst all the gravity and seriousness of the issues the WOW Festivals explore, they are also a place of warmth, inclusiveness and fun; places that are filled not just with serious intent but also with energetic spontaneous encounters, human connection, adventure, levity of spirit, and laughter. We will work with BBC Arts to replicate this experience online to bring people across the world together.”

The online weekend festival will open tomorrow (Saturday, May 16) with events including an interview with former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard, as well as appearances from co-chair of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change, Hindou Ibrahim, and broadcaster Afua Hirsch.

Women’s Equality chief of staff Hannah Peaker and comedian Angie Le Mar will explore Chore Wars – the balance and divide of domestic tasks and childcare between genders in lockdown. WOW’s Big Ideas will be hosted by Gemma Cairney featuring short talks from Sex Educator Ruby Rare on orgasm inequality and activist Tea Uglow on who our LGBTQIA+ COVID-19 heroes should be.

There will also be discussions on Women and Money in COVID-19 and Fixing the Glitch – Making the Web Work for Women with Seyi Akiwowo. The day will culminate with a closing session featuring Suzanne Jacob, chief executive of domestic violence charity SafeLives.

Sunday’s highlights include disability activists The Triple Cripples on what it means to be black, disabled women in a world that insists they don’t exist; a panel discussion on how to raise sons to contribute to a gender-equal world with Karen Blackett and Radio 5 Live’s Nihal Arthanayake.

Charlie Brinkhurst Cuff, head of editorial at gal-dem, Don’t Touch My Hair author Emma Dabiri and scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock also feature on the lineup.

The full programme, timings and details of where to catch each session can be found at bbc.co.uk/arts.

BBC Arts Executive Editor, Lamia Dabboussy said: “BBC Arts’ Culture in Quarantine is all about working together with fantastic partners like WOW to ensure arts and culture in the UK remains open and accessible – continuing to provide inspiration to us all. And I can’t imagine a better way to spend a lockdown weekend than at a virtual WOW – Women of the World Festival on the BBC.”

The WOW Foundation has produced festivals across the world to celebrate women and girls and raise awareness globally of the issues they face for the past 10 years and possible solutions. It is an independent organisation that works to build, convene and sustain a global movement that believes a gender equal world is possible and desirable through WOW festivals and empowering women and girls.   

BBC Arts’ Culture In Quarantine initiative has brought together many of the live events, shows and festivals cancelled due to the COVID-19 crisis, making them available through exclusive films and digitally broadcast events, providing everyone around the UK with access to arts and culture at a time of national lockdown