Women of the World festival deemed a massive success

A festival featuring a host of high profile Scottish women welcomed more than 1,000 people through its doors, it has been revealed.

The Women of the World (Wow) event, which was held in Perth at the weekend, has been deemed such a success by its organisers that plans are now being made for it to return to the city from September 28 to 30 next year.

This year’s gathering was the first showcase of its kind in Scotland.

The festival featured First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in conversation with Wow festival founder Jude Kelly, as well as a keynote speech from Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop.

The programme also included appearances from crime writer Val McDermid, broadcaster Kirsty Wark and comedian Luisa Omielan.

Domino Pateman, senior programmer for the Wow Festival, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Scotland’s very first Women of the World Festival was so successful, bringing together inspirational women from across the country to co-create a vibrant weekend of discussions, debates and performances on how to really move gender equality forward in society.”

Ms Sturgeon said: “Events such as Wow are extremely important. They help to open up the debate about gender parity, how we can accelerate progress, overcome the obstacles facing women today and how we can deliver an age of true equality.”

Planning sessions, known as Thinkins, will take place in March to allow local residents to suggest who they would like to see at the 2018 festival.