Celebrating community, creativity and connection through Barbican Women’s ‘Give To Gain’ programme
Barbican Business Events is reflecting on International Women’s Day 2026 and the Barbican Women programme that brought colleagues and partners together across 10 days in March. With this year’s theme, Give To Gain, the programme championed generosity, collaboration and shared learning through a series of events designed to spark connection, creativity and joy.
Running from Thursday 5 March, the Barbican Women calendar was created in collaboration with teams across the Barbican and offered a mix of networking moments, wellbeing sessions, hands-on workshops and opportunities to engage with the Centre’s cultural programme. Colleagues were invited to take part in a clothing swap and donation drive, create together through collage and scrapbooking, try something new through a boxing session, and connect through a private view in the Art Gallery and Conservatory.
Francesca Pacinella, Barbican Business Events account manager and Barbican Women Network Co-chair, said: “International Women’s Day is a global celebration of women’s history and achievements, a moment to come together in support, solidarity and joy. This year’s theme, Give To Gain, champions generosity and collaboration and has inspired the Barbican Women programme. The Give To Gain programme was shaped around a simple idea: when we share time, skills and encouragement, everyone benefits. Events throughout March created opportunities to meet new colleagues, learn from one another, support wellbeing and celebrate the many ways women contribute to the workplace and wider society.”
For Barbican Business Events, International Women’s Day is also an opportunity to reflect on the role venues can play in supporting equity, representation and belonging. As a destination for conferences, meetings and cultural experiences, the Business Events team works with organisers to help shape experiences that are welcoming, accessible and considered for every attendee.
Across the year, Barbican Business Events supports initiatives that elevate diverse voices and strengthen community. This includes encouraging organisers to think about representation across panels and programmes, wellbeing within event schedules, and the small design choices that influence how people feel in a space, from arrival to close.
Programme highlights included:
- Breakfast and Poetry, featuring a poetry reading from Barbican Young Poets alumna Ishita Uppadhayay
- A Clothing Swap and donation drive, supporting mindful reuse and pre-loved contributions
- A gentle Sound Bath on the Hall Stage, honouring the spring equinox and intention setting
- Private View and Networking in the Art Gallery and Conservatory, celebrating artist Beatriz González and hosted in collaboration with City of London’s W.I.N.
- Collage and Scrapbooking, a creative workshop open to all, hosted by Carmen Okome
- Boxing in the Fountain Room, led by two female coaches including Barbican Women’s own Ellinna Horton, focused on movement, confidence and community
Francesca Pacinella added: “The most powerful part of the programme is what it unlocks, time to connect, to listen, and to be part of a community that supports one another. Those moments matter at work, and they matter beyond International Women’s Day.”
