Women get a great space for making stuff

A creative new space for female voices has emerged in the west.

Females for Equality Making Stuff (FEMS) is the brainchild of Cassandra Martin, of Moonee Ponds, and Freya Alexander, of Newport, who met while studying at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Ms Martin said the group allowed women to share their experiences creatively in a safe, supportive environment.

“We wanted to give women the opportunity to ask the questions they’re often shamed for asking, to learn things about themselves they should have been taught in sex ed, and, most importantly, build a strong support network of women,” she said.

FEMS has been holding group sessions and workshopping a new zine (small magazine), which will be launched as part of an exhibition in Maidstone later this month.

Ms Martin said the zine captured the creative outcome of the sessions and acted as a resource for women.

While art remains a primary driver of the group, FEMS is open to any women who would like to be involved.

The group intends the zine to be the first of many such projects and Ms Martin is encouraging women to become involved.

“We’re definitely looking at it as the start of something, a chance for people to express themselves,” she said.

The zine and exhibition will be launched from 5-8pm on Saturday, March 14, at MREAM Studios, 32 Hampstead Road, Maidstone.

Contact Cassandra Martin through cassmartinart@hotmail.com.