WELCOME TO WOMAN ZONE
VISION
To share the voices and stories of women – and those identifying as women – primarily in Cape Town, but in South Africa, Africa and beyond.
MISSION
To have these voices heard and understood by the tellers themselves, as well as a wider audience.
WHY
To strengthen individuals, communities and all members of the gender. To inspire and to unite themselves with themselves and with others. The greater consequence being to unite a divided Cape Town through its women.
HOW
In written or the spoken word, or in any other form, performance or activity.
WHERE
WZ events are held mainly at The Women’s Library hub at Artscape, a theatre complex in the centre of Cape Town – also known as The Mother City.
And we welcome YOU – your story, your questions, your interest – so do get in touch, find details under Contact.
LIBRARY AND BOOKS
The Women’s Library – WZ headquarters at Artscape and home to several thousand books by, for or about women, from South African and other authors. Thought to be the only women’s library in South Africa, certainly the only one in a theatre complex, it’s run primarily as a reference and study resource, though books can be borrowed by WZ Book Club members.
Woman Zone Book Club – open to all with regular monthly meetings at which borrowed books are discussed and a Guest Author of the Month is invited to talk. She is also interviewed and these Interviews are podcast on the Woman Zone Stories platform. Interested publishers are invited to collaborate.
Book Reviews – by WZ members or anyone with an interest in books by women.
PUBLICATIONS
Being a Woman in Cape Town
Telling Your Story 2015
Women of Soil – Changing Lives
Celebrating 10 years WZ, 20 years Soil for Life 2022
OUR PROJECTS
THE EVERYWOMAN PROJECT
The Everywoman Textile Artwork grew out of this collaborative sewing project involving women from communities all over Cape Town. It culminated in the creation of a 7m long wall hanging to mark Artscape’s 50th year. It was finally completed at a series of workshops at the Zeitz MOCAA and is now located on the wall outside Artscape’s theatre venue.
KNIT AND NATTER
This fast-growing creative group, an extension of The Everywoman Project, was founded in 2021 as a way to save women’s sanity through networking, teaching and learning knitting and crochet. They meet on the first Sunday of every month and much of their work is donated to different charities.
Discussions or presentations on topics relating to or of interest to women, with individuals, a group or panel.
WZ has a number of guided Women’s Walks in the City of Cape Town featuring past and present destinations of interest to and focused on women.
This 2m high wire statue of a generic woman was designed by Sue Kramer and Lovell Friedman in 2016 to primarily mark the 60th anniversary of the Women’s March of 1956 but also to address the lack of statues of women in the city. Her ‘outfit’ is changed regularly to represent a particular theme of the time.
WZ’s partnership with Artscape is highlit every August during the Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival. Each year it has a theme and WZ organises a series of events, book launches and special Women’s Show on Fine Music Radio based at Artscape. Central to the Festival is the WZ very popular Women’s Humanity Walk which culminates on the steps of the Artscape piazza with music, ceremony and celebration.
WHO WE ARE
Nancy Richards: Founder, executive director
Beryl Eichenberger: Chief librarian, publicist
WOMAN ZONE Board:
Anine Pheiffer
Asanda Ngoasheng
Celeste Matthews-Wannenburgh: Chair
Daphne Cooper
Ethel Hamman
Phillipa Kabali-Kagwa
Simone Heradien: On behalf of Artscape
Yolisa Molefe: Treasurer
KNIT and NATTER Team:
Melanie Lippert
Theresa Smith
Trudy Rushin
OUR PARTNERS
