Artscape Women’s Humanity Arts Festival 2025: a celebration of healing and inclusion
Artscape Theatre will host a series of events dedicated to women
Image: Supplied.
The Artscape Women’s Humanity Arts Festival returns this year with a powerful line-up of events, performances, and community engagements, all centred around the themes of healing, representation, and active peace-building.
Held annually in August to mark Women’s Month in South Africa, the 2025 edition invites people of all genders, backgrounds, and beliefs to engage in the vital and often challenging work of building a more just and inclusive society.
From theatre and film to panel discussions and wellness activations, the festival offers a platform for voices often marginalised or unheard. Events throughout the month speak to the personal and the political—foregrounding stories of identity, resilience, and dignity.
A previous edition of the the Women’s Humanity Walk that forms part of the Artscape Women’s Humanity Arts Festival..
Image: Nicola Daniels
A key highlight includes Tory Café: Ode to Sara and Isidudla: Sara Baartman and Cultural Body Image, a discussion with filmmaker and performer Nomandla Vilakazi on 23 August. This session reflects on the legacy of Sara Baartman and contemporary issues of body image and cultural identity.
Artscape CEO Marlene le Roux said: "It is imperative that women of all shapes and sizes, differently abled, of all races and sexualities, tell their stories and feel seen in safe spaces. It is part of the healing. It is part of the revolution. It is part of the work."
Beyond performances, the Theatre Foyer Well transforms into an interactive exhibition space for the duration of the festival. Visitors can explore community stalls, wellness initiatives, and free health screenings, with organisations such as the Cancer Alliance and Knit & Natter offering support and information.
Artscape CEO Marlene le Roux, believes women's stories should be told
Image: Ian Landsberg / Independent Newspapers
What sets the Artscape Women’s Humanity Arts Festival apart is its commitment to peace as an active process. As festival organisers note: “Peace is not passive. Peace is action. Peace is work. Peace is listening.” This ethos runs through every element of the programme, from the creative works on stage to the conversations happening in foyers and courtyards.
The festival is made possible by the generous support of the City of Cape Town, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, and the Suidoosterfees.
For full details and the programme, visit www.artscape.co.za.
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za
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