2020 PROGRAM highlights
Welcome to the program highlights for next year’s WOW Australia! The Festival will take place over three days from 3 – 5 April, with an opening night welcome celebration on 2 April and closing night concert at QPAC on 5 April.
Highlights of our ticketed program include Julia GIllard, Spinifex Gum, and Christine Anu.
What kind of topics are on the table for 2020? Get to grips with our panel sessions.
Want to snaffle up a ticket straight away? Check out the ticketing info here.
Want a digital copy of the Program Highlights brochure? Download one here.
DAY PROGRAM
With a packed program each day, you will experience and participate in a captivating range of key notes, conversations, workshops, exhibitions, lunchtime performances and demonstrations, taking place each day from 9am to 5pm.
A limited number of Early Bird Three Day and One Day passes, including a ticket to the Welcome Ceremony and Opening Night concert with special guests on Thursday 2nd April, are available.
WELCOME CEREMONY & FESTIVAL OPENING
Thursday 2 April 6pm, Powerhouse Theatre
Free for 3 Day Pass holders
WOW Australia 2020 will kick off with a Welcome Ceremony featuring local First Nations community representatives, dancers and visiting artists. This will be followed by a special concert showcasing music from our guests including this years invited country, Canada.
3 Day Pass holders will have first preference when sign-up becomes available. Additional tickets will then be released to the public.
PANELS & CONVERSATIONS
Stories of change, and stories for change. Here is a taste of the panel sessions and the some of people you can expect to hear from each day. Keep checking our website for updates as some program details may change and new conversations will be added to the Festival in the lead up to the final announcements!
WOW BITES
WOW Bites are short talks, readings and soapbox moments on a wide range of subjects designed to inspire, engage and introduce new ideas. International guests will join women from Queensland and throughout Australia in these sessions which will take place everyday of the Festival.
WOW Bites have been made possible through support from QSuper.
WOW SPEED MENTORING
A WOW favourite — join experts from across many fields — artists, scientists, architects, journalists, entrepreneurs, WOW speakers and women with no label at all for four 10 – 15 minute mentoring sessions over an hour long session. Share your challenges, exchange ideas and stories and potentially identify a new mentor. Sign up through our website when you have bought your day pass or when you register.
PERFORMANCES & EXHIBITIONS
A full program of free exhibitions and performances is scheduled across the weekend free to all ticket holders. The performance program will feature a range of local Queensland artists, Australian and international guests in a celebration and demonstration of the diverse and vibrant cultural and creative work of women and girls.
WOW MARKETPLACE
Visit the WOW Festival marketplace and connect with the cultures and creativity of our communities in Australia and the Pacific Region.
WOW Marketplace will feature artists, businesses, social enterprises and women’s organisations from Queensland, with special guests from other States and countries.
WORKSHOPS
WOW looks after your mind body and soul! If you want more action, learn new skills or just relax and be pampered join in one of our many workshop sessions which will cover topics such as financial management, how to survive the on-line world, building your business, re-cycling your clothing, skateboarding, dancing and learning to sew!
UNDER 10’s FEMINIST CORNER
From the moment they enter the world (maybe even before, according to researchers), our children are observing and absorbing society’s gender rules — and the pattern is pretty well learned by age seven. WOW will host two interactive, creative and artists led sessions.
Under Tens (Girls Only): unpick those rules, and imagine a world without them — and tell us the changes they want to see in their future.
Under Tens (Boys Only): explore how the rules might be different for girls, what that means for girls’ lives and what boys can do to help build gender equality.
BE THE WOW crowdDJ®
Music is a driver for action and change, and with the Brisbane company Nightlife Music you can create a soundtrack for WOW! Through the power of interactivity, WOW audiences will take control of the music choices through crowdDJ® and help curate an unforgettable festival soundtrack of female artists throughout the celebration.
CULTURAL PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
Discounts will be available for ticketed shows for WOW Day Pass holders.
Seen But Not Her
7.30pm Friday 3 April
Seen But Not Her brings together two formidable women’s performance groups, Muses Trio, and Vulcana, to present a new performance combining music by women, played by exceptional musicians, and embodied by awe-inspiring circus performers.
Together, through sound and movement, these women will conjure stories, play, sexuality, and emotions. They will celebrate women being heard and taking up space.
Through the physicality of creating music, and the diverse, contorted movement of circus, Seen But Not Her will shatter the typical format of the classical piano trio to create a unique experience of music and circus.
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Spinifex Gum
7pm Sunday 5 April – QPAC Concert Hall
Performed by the lush voice of Marliya from Gondwana Choirs and young Indigenous women singing in English and Yindjibarndi with Felix Riebl of The Cat Empire, and special guest Emma Donovan. The album Spinifex Gum is about the region’s local tales and characters, true stories of racism and injustice, and the legacies of colonisation with music production that’s staunchly modern, built from found sound samples of the Pilbara — rustling leaves, bouncing basketballs and chugging trains.
$69 A Reserve/$59 B Reserve
Presented by QPAC and WOW Australia 2020
Glittery Clittery: a conSENSUAL Party
8pm Friday 3 Saturday & 4 April — Turbine Studio
Fierce and funny, Glittery Clittery, a conSENSUAL Party is an unapologetically hilarious show bursting with original music, anarchic audience games, sequinned glamour, and ridiculously epic dance moves. Brandishing the weapons of high-octane entertainment, politically-charged passion and personal stories, it is an uncompromising and necessary call-to- arms.
$29/$25
Banging On The Door - Roz Pappalardo
7:30pm Saturday 4 April — Visy Theatre
A ballsy, irreverent, tear-jerking, stupidly funny, Spumante flavoured, folk-musi-comedy romp through a story of modern fertility for anyone who has a uterus or knows someone with a uterus. Join Roz as she navigates the ‘taboo’d’ journey of the IVF procedure, and asks the universal question — ‘have I f&^cked it?’
$29/$25
Christine Anu: In concert
8pm Saturday 4 April – Powerhouse Theatre
Presented By Brisbane Powerhouse
Iconic Indigenous entertainer, Christine Anu brings her uplifting and empowering voice to Brisbane Powerhouse for WOW Festival.
In this intimate performance, Anu continues to push the frontier for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the entertainment industry. Performing an exciting selection of classics from her own back catalogue as well songs that have inspired her.
Don't miss Christine Anu at her most personal with this heartfelt performance at Brisbane Powerhouse for one night only.
$60/$55
Julia GIllard: In conversation
6:30pm Friday 3 April – Powerhouse Theatre
Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did — she just did it backwards and in high heels! But we’re powering forward in all kinds of footwear with an expert panel moderated by Julia Gillard, busting through gender myths and exploring how a gender equal world will benefit us all.
Profits from this event will go to the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership.
THIS SESSION WITH JULIA IS NOW SOLD OUT. Julia will be presenting an additional panel as part of the weekend schedule, please purchase day or weekend passes to see this panel.
$49/$45
WOW WEEK
Wednesday 1st April
This Changes Everything
A very special screening of the latest film from the Geena Davies Institute on Gender in Media — an investigative look and analysis of gender disparity in Hollywood. We are delighted to welcome to WOW, Institute CEO Madeline Di Nonno, founded in 2004 by Academy Award Winning Actor Geena Davis, it is the only organization working collaboratively within the entertainment industry to engage, educate and influence the creation of gender balanced onscreen portrayals. Presented in partnership with Women in Film and Television Australia (WIFT) and with support from Screen Queensland. Madeline will also speak in the WOW weekend program.
Thursday 2nd April
In This Together
A breakfast for the men supporting WOW hosted by QPAC, where author and social commentator Jane Caro will interview journalist David Leser on his new book, Women Men and the Whole Damned Thing. Jane and David will also speak in the WOW weekend program.
Thursday 2nd April
SheEO Australia
SheEO will host their annual summit announcing the Australian ventures selected by Australian Activators. SheEO is a radically redesigned ecosystem that supports, finances, and celebrates female innovators. For further info contact hi@sheeo.world . Founder of SheEO Vicki Saunders will also appear at WOW with support from the Government of Canada.
Wednesday 1st April
Women and Impact Bus Tour
Join a bus tour organised by The Yunus Centre at Griffith University to meet five women making a real impact in their communities — a journey into their work and lives, to grow a conversation about how women are positively responding to challenges through social innovation and enterprise.
Thursday 2nd April
Bystander Training
MATE is an education and intervention program within Griffith University teaching us all to be leaders in the prevention of gender based violence. The MATE team will run three unique sessions of Bystander training at the Brisbane Powerhouse as well as workshops during WOW.
WOW CONVERSATIONS
WOW Conversations are just a small part of the incredible Day Program.
Friday
Voice Treaty Truth
Hear from leading First Nations women on the importance of the Uluru Statement from the Heart for all Australians.
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
What is our most powerful cultural medium doing for gender equality and what’s coming next to a cinema near you?
A Woman’s Place is in the House
Yes, but which one? Senate or Reps, State or Local? Why we need more women in politics and how we change politics to get them there.
On Beauty
30 years after Naomi Wolfe’s book ‘The Beauty Myth’ exposed the damage caused by unrealistic social standards on physical appearance, has anything changed for this generation of young women?
New Economics — A Future for All
Meet the women entrepreneurs changing the way we do business, including creating profit for purpose and building the circular economy.
There is No Planet B
In the forefront of action on the climate crisis are women and girls caring for land, keeping us safe and fighting for change.
Saturday
Once Upon a time in Australia
…the two highest positions in Australia were held by women, former Governor General Quentin Bryce and our 27th Prime Minister the Honourable Julia Gillard. Together they reflect on their experiences, achievements and hopes for the future.
Digital Destruction
The process of digital and technological disruption is overwhelmingly being led and programmed by men. What are the impacts and are the women changing this?
Show me the Money
Want to help women grow their economic power? An opportunity to hear some new approaches for investors and women led enterprises.
From the Cradle to the Grave
They bring us into the world and see us out — where would we be without nurses and midwives? In their International Year, let’s celebrate their contribution to all our lives.
Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices)
Hear the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO report on her extensive consultation over last year with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls to hear their priorities, challenges and aspirations for themselves, their families and their future.
Once More with Feeling
The sexologists are back for everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask!
Sunday
The Final Quarter
The last 25 years are supposedly the
best — a chance to travel, enjoy friends and families. But for many women, it’s a struggle for the absolute basics — housing, finance and health care.
What can we do about it?
The Defenders
Human rights are precious and fragile, and easily taken for granted. Meet remarkable women who are working to defend those rights in Australia and overseas.
A Little Green Dress
The Little Black Dress goes Green! Fashion icon Lydia Pearson talks with women changing the fashion industry to help preserve the planet and keep us looking good.
The Long and Winding Road
Rural and remote Australia can be a tough place to live at any time, and it’s especially hard for some women right now. Our regional partners share their stories of challenge and triumph.
TICKETS & PASSES
WOW Passes
Tickets for WOW Australia 2020 are available to purchase as a 3 day or 1-day pass. Your ticket will give you access to the full day program (9am – 5pm) of the festival allowing you to experience and participate in a captivating range of conversations, workshops, exhibitions, lunchtime performances and demonstrations. You will also have access to the WOW Festival marketplace, where engaging with stall holders will see you connect with the cultures and creativity of our communities in Australia and the Pacific Region.
Early Bird Prices for WOW Australia 2020 are only available until Feb 3rd
Early Bird Prices
3 Day pass - $190
1 Day pass – Friday or Saturday $70, Sunday $55
Regular prices (after February 3rd)
3 Day pass - $220, Concession $190
1 Day pass – Friday or Saturday $80/70, Sunday $60/55
Ticketed Events
You can top up your WOW pass with tickets to the additional ticketed evening events taking place during the Festival. See the highlights above.
Ticket Sales
We are excited to offer a limited number of Early Bird 3-day and 1-day passes. Purchase of a 3 day pass will include a ticket to the Welcome Event and Opening Night concert with special guests on Thursday 2nd April. The full program, final times and venues for each session will be available online in early March 2020.
Online brisbanepowerhouse.org
Phone +61 7 3358 8600
In person Brisbane Powerhouse Box Office, 119 Lamington Street, New Farm
Box office opening hours Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm, Sat 12 – 4pm. For performances commencing outside of general Box Office hours, the Box Office opens 60 minutes before shows start and stays open until 30 minutes after the start time.
Transaction fees A transaction fee of up to $6.90 applies for all bookings (online, over the phone and over the counter).
Online purchase
When purchasing online, you can choose to receive your tickets via Mobile Ticket, print-at-home ezyTicket, regular mail or for collection at the Box Office. For full ticketing terms please check out brisbanepowerhouse.org
Registration on the day Registrations for WOW Australia 2020 ticket holders will open from 3pm Thursday 2nd April at Brisbane Powerhouse. All participants and ticket holders must register each day to receive a wristband at the registration desk in the entrance area.
QPAC final night concert Spinifex Gum, 7pm Sunday 5th April, QPAC Concert Hall — qpac.com.au with special discounts for WOW Australia 2020 ticket holders.
