Shaping the feminist city | in-person

What does a feminist city look like, and how far away is Scotland and the UK from adopting feminist approaches to urban planning?

In October 2022, Glasgow's City Council unanimously supported a motion to prioritise women and minority genders in city planning decisions. Research from the LSE has shown how women are disadvantaged in their use of urban spaces. From insufficient public toilets and transport systems designed mainly for daily office commuters to concerns around safety, gender-biased budgeting and decision-making, women’s access to urban spaces has been systematically undermined, with physical, social and cultural interventions being necessary to remedy this.

Join this lively and positive conversation to discuss methods and strategies that can shape feminist cities in Scotland and beyond. The event brings together those leading the dialogue and action around this topic and builds on the growing interest, communities and developing networks, particularly since 2022.

Can't attend in-person? Watch online!

This is a hybrid event. This event page is for the in-person tickets only. If you would like to attend online, please book your tickets through the .

About the Curious festival

The RSE’s Curious festival of knowledge is back, from 2−15 September!

Curious, is the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s festival of knowledge. It brings together a range of leading thinkers and invites anyone who is curious-minded to come together to learn, discuss big ideas, ask questions, and get curious across two weeks of free events.

Check out the .

HOST

Daisy Narayanan FRSE

Public Realm Director, The Crown Estate

Daisy Narayanan is Director of Public Realm at The Crown Estate. She was formerly Head of Placemaking and Mobility at the City of Edinburgh Council where she led on delivering a city-wide integrated approach to transport and placemaking. She trained as an architect and urban designer and over the last decade, her work has focussed on sustainable transport and climate action. Drawing on her previous experience working in India, Singapore, England and Scotland, Daisy believes passionately in the importance of creating inclusive places for people: places that reflect and complement the communities that live in them.

HOST

Jude Barber FRSE

Director, Collective Architecture

Jude Barber is an architect and founding director at Collective Architecture, an employee-owned practice with studios in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. With colleagues, she has delivered a range of key strategic, residential and cultural projects across Scotland. Jude is a Fellow of the RSE, an Academician (Elect) of the RSA and Chair of Glasgow Women’s Library. In parallel with her studio practice at Collective, Jude undertakes creative collaborations with writer Louise Welsh (The Empire Café, Who owns the Clyde) and co-runs Voices of Experience with Suzanne Ewing and Nicola McLachlan.

SPEAKER

Dr May East

UNITAR Fellow, UN House Scotland

May East is an international urbanist specialising in nature-positive and gender-sensitive cities. UNITAR Fellow, she works regeneratively with 20-minute neighbourhoods, mining cities, and informal settlements. She recently published her book, What is Women Designed the City, which explores the symbiotic relationships between women and the cities where they live and work. She was awarded ‘Women of the Decade in Sustainability and Leadership’ by Women Economic Forum 2019.

SPEAKER

Councillor Holly Bruce

Glasgow City Council

Councillor Holly Bruce is an LLB and LLM law graduate who has worked in Patrick Harvie MSP’s regional office since 2019. In 2022, she ran a record-breaking campaign to become an elected councillor on Glasgow City Council. She is one of the youngest women to serve on the council, and she is vice-chair of the Environment and Liveable Neighbourhoods Committee and chair of the Glasgow Violence Against Women Partnership. Holly is an intersectional feminist activist who played a key part in the 2021 Young Women Lead research report, Glasgow: A Feminist City?, and successfully passed her Feminist City motion in October 2022, committing the council to embed a feminist town planning approach into its city development plan.

Photo credit to Lisa Marley

SPEAKER

Professor Suzanne Ewing

Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA)

Suzanne Ewing is Professor of Architectural Criticism at the University of Edinburgh. She was Head of the Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture between 2016 and 2018. Her research and teaching aim to activate the role of imagination through a repertoire of spatial, material and visual techniques for rigorous action and collaborative practice. Since 2008, she has been on the steering group of the Architectural Humanities Research Association and was co-editor of the academic journal Architecture and Culture (2012-2023).

Important points to note

• This event is suitable for age 16+

• Accessibility Statement: We aim to make events as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements, please make us aware of this just now during the booking stage. Or if you have any questions about how we can support your requirements, please contact the Curious team on: [email protected].
• Wheelchair spaces: If you would like to book a space as a wheelchair user, please select the ticket type 'wheelchair user ticket' during the booking process. If this is sold out, please contact the Curious team on [email protected].
• To view our full accessibility information please .
• Filming/photography: There may be photography/recording at this event. If you would like to not be recorded, please speak to a member of the Curious team when you arrive.
• Covid-19: If you would like to wear a face mask, please feel comfortable to do so at our events. Please be mindful of other participants and stay at home if you have Covid symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19.

Event Venue

The Royal Society Of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom