Girls I Rate gala dinner to be held on International Women’s Day
The third annual fundraiser is set for Thursday, March 8
Girls I Rate founder Carla Marie Williams has announced that the organisation’s third annual gala dinner fundraiser will take place on International Women’s Day, Thursday, March 8.
Launched by Williams back in 2016, Girls I Rate (GIR) is a not-for-profit organisation that offers a platform and networking hub for women in the arts. The gala dinner will raise funds that go towards delivering more educational events and programmes.
Held at 100 Wardour Street in Soho, the event will be hosted by Sarah Jane Crawford and feature a performance from Tanya Cracknell and a DJ set by BBC Radio 1Xtra’s Melody Kane.
“I founded Girls I Rate to celebrate, inspire and empower, and by doing so redress the lack of female representation and recognition in the creative industry,” said Williams (pictured). “Experiencing first hand the imbalance and inequality, I was compelled to create a movement that is a platform for pushing for positive change and establishing a stronger female presence now and for the next generation of female talent. Three years in, I’m so proud of what GIR has achieved, but the gender diversity gap still exists, and so does the glass ceiling. With important recent causes such as #MeToo, #TimesUp, #Vote100 and #WomenInMusic, the groundswell of support for women’s equality has grown and grown, but there is still much work to be done and as long as change is needed, then GIR still has a purpose. The Gala event on International Women’s Day is pivotal to the cause. I urge the industry to get behind it. I’ve been fortunate to have some influential men support and champion my work and Girls I Rate, I think it’s important for men to use their male privilege to help push gender equality forward. But above all, when women support women, anything is possible. I can’t wait to bring all my girls together.”
Guests will include Alexandra Burke and Ray BLK. “The Girls I Rate movement is so important for the industry and Carla’s work is vital, especially in the current climate,” said Burke. “I am proud to be a part of it and be an advocate for positive change in gender equality.”
The event will be open to just 100 women, comprising GIR members, advocates, celebrities and creative industry insiders. Tickets cost £65.
“We are so proud to be supporting GIR and the gala dinner,” said Safiya Lambie-Knight, head of music and talent at Vevo UK, which is sponsoring the event. “We have been following Carla and her work closely for some time and seeing the network of creative women that she has built is truly inspirational.
“Now, more than ever, it’s up to business and individuals to come together and ensure a fair and equal future for our creative industries and the next generation of talent on and off stage. I’m really pleased that through our platform we too can play a part.”
Source: mi-pro.co.uk
