Women 20-18: Un-ordinary women changing the world

Auckland Live presents

Women 20-18
Celebrating the way women change the world

15 Aug- 23 Sep

There are no ordinary women. Young and old, rich and poor, famous and unknown, each of us has unique challenges, motivations and dreams.

Auckland Live is proud to introduce a season of visual art, music, theatre and talks that shines a spotlight on the un-ordinary women of New Zealand’s arts industries, and celebrates the voices of all women here and around the world.

200 Women
15 Aug- 23 Sep
Aotea Centre

Based on Geoff Blackwell and Ruth Hobday’s internationally acclaimed book 200 Women: who will change the way you see the world, Auckland Live presents 200 Women, the exhibition - a curated collection of 15 portraits and film of extraordinary women by New Zealand photographer Kieran E. Scott.

Taken from the full exhibition of 200 portraits, the collection shows women from Aotearoa and beyond - including Margaret Atwood, Linda Sarsour, Marama Fox, Roxane Gay and Marilyn Waring - photographed in front of a plain sheet of fabric.

Not all of the faces are well known: included are a chef, a cancer sufferer and a charity worker.

All are stripped of any visual context, allowing the focus to be on each woman’s humanity, captured in images and stories that are educational, humbling or inspiring.

Many of the stories spring from division, pain and violence; others from kindness, courage and love.

All confirm what we already know – there are no ordinary women.

Speak Up!
8 September
Lower NZI, Aotea Centre

On the 125th anniversary of the day New Zealand’s parliament voted 20 – 18 for women to be allowed a voice, women in the arts gather to talk, debate and dig deep into some of the issues facing us in contemporary Aotearoa.
Kiwi creatives including broadcaster Karyn Hay; actors Miriama McDowell, Alison Quigan and Nancy Brunning; Auckland Writers Festival director Anne O’Brien; Silo artistic director Sophie Roberts and more take part in moderated panels and share their experiences and insights on subjects as diverse as modern motherhood, pleasure and consent, and what the future of feminism in the arts looks like.
Frank and fearless with large dollops of humour, humility and aroha for all, Speak Up! is a day dedicated to amplifying the voices of our wāhine and celebrating their influence on the world.

Bright Star
4 – 16 September
Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre

Inspired by the life of trail-blazing New Zealand astronomer Beatrice Tinsely, Bright Star by Stuart Hoar is the story of an extraordinary woman fighting to make her mark on the universe, in an era when a woman’s place was in the home.

Produced by Plumb Productions with Auckland Live.

Starring Lisa Chappell, David Aston, Bruce Phillips, Chelsea McEwan Millar and Matt Baker.

Sunrise Celebration
19 Sep- 7AM
Aotea Square

Join female politicians, the next generation of women leaders and musical guests on Suffrage Day as the National Council of Women of New Zealand and Auckland Council honour the fight for gender equality in Aotearoa.

For more information on the Women 20-18 line-up visit aucklandlive.co.nz

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