Power of Women Thanet festival marks 10th anniversary

This year, Power of Women Thanet (POW) is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the Decade of Dissent Festival.

Since its founding in 2015, POW has been using creativity to champion gender equality. Last year the event supported 195 creative professionals, provided 57 paid opportunities, and attracted over 8,000 attendees.

This year POW will be getting back to grassroots and activist beginnings to celebrate the 10th anniversary with the Decade of Dissent Festival, tackling issues of social isolation and ageism, championing feminist leaders of Thanet and looking at the turbulent relationship between gender equality and climate action.

What happens if Thanet becomes an island again and how will that affect everyone? POW recommends reading Rosa Rankin-Gee’s Dreamland for a glimpse into that possible future for Thanet.

From its first festival in 2015, POW Thanet has become a powerful platform for women and non-binary voices. Over the years, the festival has tackled difficult conversations and offered a proactive and uplifting programme of arts and culture. 2025 will continue to encourage everyone to unleash their inner activist through a year of exhibitions, workshops, performances and digital activities.

Decade of Dissent Festival begins with a celebration of the past achievements in gender equality with events taking place 1st – 31st March 2025 before POW goes on tour in the summer

Friday 7th March: Rhythms of Resistance 

Jessica Lauren, Isobella Burnham, and Cleo Savva come together for a night of jazz fuelled resistance as they play together for the first time. Jessica Lauren is a pianist, keyboard player and composer.

Saturday 8th March: Golden Slumbers

Building on the Welsh concept of Cwtch – a loving hold – Golden Slumbers is a visual and physical outdoor show exploring the endless cycle of labour experienced by women through their lives and celebrating everyone’s right to a little rest and recuperation. Moving Memory is a ground-breaking dance-theatre company that puts the older body centre stage. Their work supports older people in partnership with Age UK Thanet to have greater access to artistic and creative activities and challenges preconceptions of ageing.

Sunday 9th March: QUEENAGERS 

Scary Little Girls present a show filled with stand up, music, monologues and crafting that focuses on the funny side of the menopause and the uplifting freedom and positivity it can bring. Hosted by peri-menopausal glamour-puss Bunny Morethan aka Rebecca Mordan (Glastonbury Festival compère, Sky News ‘rent-a-feminist’ and BBC Writers Room).

Festival Exhibitions:

Friday 7th – Saturday 9th March: Herstory 

Celebrating the legacy of protest, this weekend exhibition showcases the physical objects that tell the story of POW’s decade-long work. From banners, placards, and flyers central to the festival’s spirit of protest and activism, this free exhibition will invite you to explore the many faces of the gender equality movement through the years, reflect on the stories that have shaped POW’s history, and begin the work that will inform POW’s new Feminist Archive Project.

Friday 7th – Saturday 9th March: Art in Protest 

Local artist and educator Karen Vost has worked closely with Minster CoE Primary School in a series of workshops to facilitate works of Art in Protest that will adorn the outside of ARK Cliftonville.

Wednesday 5th – Monday 31st of March: Rebecca Strickson

One of Thanet’s most beloved illustrators, joins POW for a month-long exhibition at local watering holes in Margate. Inspired by the bold imagery of trade union banners and protest placards, her work explores the strength of community and collaboration.

A Call to Action:

This year, in honour of the 10th anniversary, POW are asking for people to donate £10 to help ensure that POW’s work continues for years to come and help reach 10,000 people in the 10th year.

Explore the rest of the Festival:

• POW Founders Talk and Exhibition Launch: Hear from the founders of POW Thanet, take a walk through the exhibition, and connect with others who have helped shape the festival.
• Galentine’s Day Celebration at The Shakespeare Pub: Celebrate friendship and community with a special Galentine’s Day event in Margate, featuring exclusive POW merch and a creative workshop led by artist Carson Parkin-Fairley.
• Youth Programme: The POW Young Producers share their podcast “GossGalore” at their listening party and students from Broadstairs College will showcase live music and films in response to the theme of ageism.

For more information about the festival and making a donation visit www.powthanet.com