FemiFest

[FloraFox]

www.femifest2014.com

Anyone going? I'm thinking about it.

I went and had an amazing time. Didn't realise there were so many mumsnetters there!

It only struck me today that there was a theme in all the speeches - the blank wall that faces women whenever they try to act or speak. Reports of rape and violence are disbelieved, experiences of a life of prostitution and sexual abuse are ignored, protests raised at the most blatant misogyny, whether in the home or within institutions, go unheard.

I really have to start getting out there and shouting loud. Oh - for those of you who read my earlier post about the Economist's prostitution article - they published part of my letter in this week's edition. A small victory

NO wonder they served a lentil bake- it was all mumsnet. They should have sold mooncups and pombears... they'd have made a killing

lol how many of us were there then!

We must have been about 5% of the crowd! That's incredible really isn't it. MN really is a hotbed of radical feminism - the trolls were right! What they overlooked though is that most of us are mums as well as patriarchy-dismantling types - that baffles them the poor loves.

What they overlooked though is that most of us are mums as well as patriarchy-dismantling types

And it was sex with a man that got me in the motherhood way too. Ach, who knew?

I had no idea there were so many mumsnetters there. We will have to set up a MN meet up point next year.

We are already talking about next years event, and perhaps having it in Brighton instead. Hire of venues seems to be cheaper in Brighton, so we hope to have enough money to run a crèche next year. But we will confirm that nearer the time.

The survey responses make interesting reading. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive, although of course there are some tweaks we need to make for next year.

Thanks for coming.

I can't wait till next year! Definitely up for meeting with other mumsnetters (and this time next year I'll actually be a mum as well....!).

femin instead of Brighton, why not look further north? Venues should be cheaper as will accommodation. The Brighton feminist network are all aunty sarah about things as well.

Thanks again for such a great day on Sunday.

Wouldn't Brighton effectively rule out anyone north of London? If you stuck it in Birmingham instead, or Sheffield (somewhere on main train lines) you'll get people coming from further north.

I would like to wholeheartedly endorse Brighton. (and also promise to volunteer if you hold it there...)

Hotels and hostels will be cheaper there too than London.

Actually, I admit that was purely down to my own laziness and how easy Brighton would be to get for me...and thinking about it Brighton might actually have a larger or louder trans presence? Although might also have a stronger pissed off by the cotton ceiling lesbian presence too.

Where to have the next one is a difficult decision. Further North does make it cheaper and easier for feminists in the north to get to. And I am not in London, so it would be easier for me.

This weekend we were fully booked. So we need a bigger venue for next year. And finding larger venues at cheap prices is not easy. Remember as well that we almost inevitably get our venue cancelled, so anywhere we go, there has to be a choice of venues. It also has to be somewhere where we can get amazing speakers to travel to. Remember they are not paid, and most do not even get travelling expenses.

Brighton Feminist Collective produced a statement condemning Femi Fest and asking people to boycott it. That would be the reason to have it there.

Yes, they mention trans inclusive and sex positive before they even say feminist in their tagline.

What about renting a big stately home for the weekend would that work? I have no idea if that would cost more than a venue or less.

Femi Fest was organised really on a shoestring, so that we could offer free and very reduced price tickets. For the weekend, from 9-5pm, we paid just over £2,000 for the venue and catering for 120 women. I think next year we need to expand to 150 places. At that cost you are really looking at community venues.

Unless any MNers have their own stately home they want to let us use for a weekend?

I'm having mine repainted that weekend

farmhouse then? Sorry i was just throwing out ideas as I have literally no idea how much these things cost to rent at all (I got married at a registrar so never had the joy of pricing stately homes)

Also if you rented a farm you could charge an additional fee for camping?

I think it should be outside of London next year.

UK feminista had a feminist event in Birmingham which had 1000+ attendees. I know it's not rad fem but it shows people will travel there.

If you can get a Uni to host then the student halls can be used for accommodation which makes it cheaper for attendees.

A sports club with a big pavilion house might be a good idea.

Further north would be loads better for me. I'm not sure I could manage Brighton.

So Birmingham would be better generally you think?

i definitely would not be in a position to go if you did it in Birmingham. (not saying don't do it there, just explaining my situation!) I think it's nice to be as inclusive as possible but I'd really do another surveymonkey thing with a list of cities and ask people to choose one.

Also forgot to say that the majority of people using public transport in the south they will still be going through London just to get anywhere else

I would probably be able to get to Birmingham, but I certainly wouldn't be able to get to Brighton. The difference in train fares/petrol/somewhere to stay would price me out of it.

I know that's not helpful. Maybe somewhere just outside the M25 as a compromise? Reading? Luton?

luton would suit me very nicely. you can all kip in my spare room

manchester