PRESENT: Red (chairing), Therese, Lauren, Julie, Roz, Dan, Peter, Rachel, Nico, Liz, Philipa, Charlotte, Beth, Jo (and a couple of latecomers).
AT: Prince Albert Pub, Trafalger Street, Brighton.
1. Background
Ladyfest Brighton is planned to run from 20th-23rd October, 2005 across Brighton and Hove. It will be a womens arts, cultural, music, and activist festival where performers and workshop leaders will mostly be women and which promotes feminist activism.
There are various committees set up to organise the festival which include; bands, arts, films, finance and workshops.
Four charities have been selected by the organisers to receive any proceeds raised by the festival which is a not-for-profit event. These charities are;
Brighton Womens Refuge
Threshold
Truth About Rape
Women of Afghanistan
General meetings of the organisers will be set up so that each committee will report on the progress it has made and to enable any key decisions of those committees to be made by a larger group. The aim is to have consensus decision making rather than majority decision making, which may take more time, but has been accepted as the best option. Some more minor decisions will be made by doing Yahoo polls of opinion within the establised Yahoo group.
Those wanting to get involved should first join the Yahoo group and then subscribe to which particular committee they are interested in getting involved in. Notices will be posted to the whole list but activities will be planned through each committees list. The new website will also have a discussion forum.
2. Workshops
Workshops will include a range of different topics and will range in style from discussion panels, to activism, to practical skill building and more
A list of ideas for workshops have been developed but we are looking for people to come up with ideas for workshops that they would like to deliver. Anyone with an idea for a workshop that you, or your friends, can deliver should pitch it to any of the organisers or the workshop committee. Themes for the day are being debated and may include;
Friday mental health
Sat zine convention and DIY activism
Sun sexuality, sex and our bodies
3. Venues
Some venues have already been booked for some of the events but others are still needed and more can be discovered by you!
Venues include;
Cowley Club (london rd) (booked for Sat and Sun all day)
Freebutt (partially booked for the weekend)
Hanbury Ballroom
Sussex Arts Centre
Duke of Yorks Cinema
Squat? There was some debate over the potential for squatting a building to provide accomodation and after hours events. Some thought it may be intimidating or put off beneficiary charities from being involved. Others thought it was a decision for individuals.
4. Sponsers and Funding
No sponsers have yet been found but it was agreed that sponsorship may be a good way to get funding.
Any financial help will be welcomed for the project.
£1300 has already been raised through grants and fundraising but it is estimated that a budget of £8-10,000 will be needed to run the festival.
5. Opening Night Film
It was proposed that part of the opening night will be a film showing at the Duke of Yorks.
There was a suggestion that Year of the Woman would be a good selection as it has been shown at Ladyfest Bristol successfully and is a great film that has recently become available after previously being withdrawn due to protest from those featured who were made to look stupid. It may also be possible to get the producer/director from America to come and introduce the film and lead a discussion.
Short films could also be shown and there was a suggestion that Sarah Jacobson was a director who could be investigated.
6. Fundraisers
It is hoped that there will be a fundraiser every month. The upstairs of the Prince Albert has been booked for 13th June and 11th July as a venue.
Anyone who has an idea for a fundraiser or would like to run one themselves is more than welcome to do so! One idea was a quiz night on womens stuff.
18 customised band t-shirts have been donated so far and there will be an auction of these at some point to raise funds. Thanks to the organiser of this!
7. Publicity
More flyers need photocopying.
A stencil is going to be made with the logo and website address.
A volunteer was found to organise publicity, listing etc. (cant remember name..)
8. Getting Involved
There will now be general meetings every other Sunday at 3pm in the Prince Albert back room. These are booked for May 1st, May 15th, May 29th so far.
People will be encouraged to look at the website to get involved although there have been some technical difficulties launching the new website but these should be fully resolved soon.
9. Next meeting
The next meeting will be on 1st May at 3pm in the Prince Albert.