International Women’s Day at Abbotsford Convent

Creative collective Platform Presents, known for its community-focused art parties, is teaming up with women’s support service Wire to host You’re Invited to Our Dinner Party, a two-day International Women’s Day celebration at Abbotsford Convent.

The event integrates the strong, perennial concept of the dinner party and shared meals – a historically significant space for women and gender-diverse people to come together, converse and plan – with art and topical discussions.

The ticketed Saturday event will exhibit works across six galleries by more than 40 Melbourne-based female and non-binary artists, including Marisa Mu, Nelly Fran Designs and Kasia Frankowicz. Catch DJ sets and a live dance performance by Top Hun and Ether Link who performed their work, Air Hunger, as part of Melbourne Fringe last year. Refuel at food and drink spots in the courtyard, plus browse crafty market stalls. On the line-up: ceramicist Betty Ma, jewellers Nana Juice and Maker Chuan, plus more.

There’s also a panel dialogue on gender equity hosted by Wire, featuring an owner of Amplify Bookstore – Australia’s only bookshop dedicated to stocking titles soley by Black, Indigenous and people of colour authors.

Sunday is a donation-based Low Sensory Gallery Day. It encourages visitors to engage with art in a calm and contemplative manner.

Five dollars from all tickets will go towards Wire’s efforts in supporting gender and economic justice for women, non-binary and gender-diverse people in Victoria.

Tickets cost $25.

More details here.