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International Women’s Day and our manifesto for a fairer future
Illustration by Kumi McKenna
International Women’s Day 2026 falls in the lead up to the Scottish Parliament elections. With this in mind, we are reflecting on our 2026 Manifesto: Transforming Culture for a Fairer Future. In this final blog, EMCC Project Manager Katie Goh reflects on women’s experiences across the arts, culture and creative sectors and what steps need to happen to improve equity for women and marginalised communities.
Last September, at our inaugural conference, we launched our manifesto Transforming Culture for a Fairer Future ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election. The manifesto was sent to all MSPs and major political parties, so that they can keep women’s equality and the culture sector top of mind when developing their party manifestos and cultural policies.
GUEST POST: IWD 2026 – Alycia Pirmohamed on the underfunded, unequal literary landscape
Illustration by Kumi McKenna
International Women’s Day 2026 falls in the lead up to the Scottish Parliament elections. With this in mind, we have asked women working in the arts and culture sectors to reflect on our 2026 Manifesto: Transforming Culture for a Fairer Future. In her blog poet, writer and co-founder of Scottish BPOC Writers Network Alycia Pirmohamed reflects on funding, the resulting labour around it, and the experience of marginalised communities facing systemic barriers in the sector.
Last September, I sat in an immigration office in Edinburgh where I was going through the motions of applying for permanent residency. This was just two days after anti-immigration protests attended by over 100,000 people swept the nation.
GUEST POST: IWD 2026 – Iona Fyfe on meaningful change in music
Content Note: This blog contains references to sexual harassment and violence against women.
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