YORK’s Mansion House is to host a series of events to mark International Women’s Week next year.

An evening celebrating the achievements of professional women and young female entrepreneurs who contribute to the social, cultural and economic vibrancy of the York community will be among the events being planned by the Lord Mayor, Coun Julie Gunnell.

She said she was also looking at staging events involving health and beauty experts, flower arrangers and people from International Service York. Sue Lister, co-ordinator of the women’s week, which is between March 8 and March 15, says it will feature a wide diversity of shows by local thespians and guest artists, dance and drumming workshops, an art exhibition and a Palestinian cookery exhibition.

She said: “The ideas are rolling in. The York Settlement Players are auditioning for Githa Sowerby’s The Stepmother. Written in 1924, it is riveting stuff and lays bare the travails of a northern industrial family.

“The Spoken Word open mic will be hosting its 99th consecutive monthly meeting and Rose Drew is organising a visit from Hollie McNish, an exciting poet who performs across the UK as well as abroad. We also hope that award winning comedian Rosie Wilby will be with us with her new show, Nineties Woman.

“The York Feminist Network will be screening a film and the York Feminist Reading Group’s book for YIWW week is Delusions of Gender by Cordelia Fine.”

She said women would be able to “Dance Your Inner Fire” with Karen Michaelsen, indulge in facial treatments at the Healing Clinic, understand anxiety and how to balance their mind, body and weight with Christine Bailey, and participate in a soul drumming workshop with Lesley Eastman. “The newly-opened Kyra Women’s Centre is contributing an evening with Catherine Inglis, who is an award-winning artist. Catherine works predominantly in soft pastels with a wide variety of subjects and is well known for her wildlife.

“The York Carers Forum wants to be involved in the festival as does the Madhyamaka Buddhist Centre.”

Event forms for the Women’s Week programme can be found at yorkwomen.org.uk

The programme deadline for 2014 is January 24.

Sue urged people to phone her on 01904 488870 to discuss their ideas.