News / Sistaland
New festival promises a ‘year’s worth of creative fuel’
“A year’s worth of creative fuel” is coming to Bristol, as 700 people from the fields of film, culture, art and beyond will unite for the first edition of the Sistaland festival.
Described as “a rally, a creative reset and an act of resistance” by founder Nikita Dare, the festival is built by and for a community of women, trans women and non-binary creatives who wish to reshape the creative industry from scratch.
The two-day celebration at the Prospect Building in November will feature speakers like British survival expert Megan Hine, video game writer Kim MacAskill and disability inclusion leader Abbie Hills – with the full lineup yet to be announced.
Megan Hine, Abbie Hills and Kim MacAskill are the first speakers announced for the Sistaland festiva’s first edition – photo: Artists’ own
Sistaland festival is an initiative by the Sistaland community, which was founded in 2024 and has grown from five to over 500 members in just over a year.
Emphasising the festival and the community’s spirit, Dare said: “So many of our members are incredibly skilled, yet consistently undervalued in a system that was never built for them.
“This pilot is about making space – creatively and emotionally – for those of us who are still here, still making and still leading. It’s a reminder that our stories, our ideas and our presence matter – not in spite of everything we’re carrying, but because of it.”
Unlike most festivals that are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sistaland recognises that for some freelance workers “weekends are often impossible”, explaining their midweek schedule.
The festival that’s planned for Tuesday, November 11 and Wednesday, November 12, Dare hopes will help accommodate those who are otherwise “working, parenting or catching up” during the weekend.
“A midweek format felt right. It lets people step out of the chaos and into something restorative,” she added.
Other than talks and workshops, a special ‘dreams wall’ curated with help from a national women’s organisation will be one of the main attractions at Sistaland.
A full list of speakers and events is yet to be announced, but tickets for the festival are on sale and can be purchased here: https://www.sistalandfestival.uk/
Main photo: Sistaland
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