A first-of-its-kind festival will create a sense of sisterhood and unity among the women of Bradford, organisers say.
The inaugural Sisterhood Festival will be a female-only space for poetry, talks, live music, and fun workshops, and healing.
An eye-opening film about the lives of Brazilian women navigating struggles around family and poverty will be shown while a children’s corner will keep little ones busy.
Festival founder and poet Sharena Lee Satti hopes the event will be a place for friendship, life-changing connections and creativity.
“I feel it empowers you,” the writer said.
“I always say it’s like a ripple effect when you share your story, you encourage somebody to share theirs. In empowering them to have a voice they go on to do different things in life. It’s planting that seed and allowing people to blossom.”
Sisterhood Festival has been inspired by a series of popular open mic nights at Bradford’s City Library.
After watching women discover their voice and talents, Sharena wanted to create a larger festival focusing on empowerment.
Many guests have not been able to attend large festivals due to childcare issues, cultural differences or a lack of confidence.
Funded by The Leap, the events at Sisterhood Festival have been specially curated based on brief surveys.
“I’ve just seen there was something there I had to create,” Sharena said.
“Sisterhood Festival is for the sisters and created around what the Sisterhood members have wanted.
“Women want to brush up on their skills and develop their creative writing, what are the opportunities out there.”
The children’s corner will be run by DBS checked volunteers, allowing mums to explore new things without the worry of feeling judged or unwelcome.
Drawing from her own experiences of motherhood, Sharena said: “I don’t want to put a restriction on something I’m creating for women and feel like they have to leave their kids at home or find a babysitter, or when the kids are playing up this is a safe space. Children do cry and that’s fine.
"We’re there to support each other and just raising a smile to somebody when their kid’s screaming.”
Sisterhood Festival will be ticketed and take place on September 24, 2023.
The events will be free and fully accessible.
Sharena shared a special thank you to Dionne at Bradford Libraries.
“Bradford Libraries’ Dionne has been the biggest support and none of this would be possible without her.”
More details about Sisterhood Festival's line-up of events will be revealed in the coming weeks.
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