First Women's One World (WOW) Festival

First Women's One World (WOW) Festival

1980, October 2: First Women's One World (WOW) Festival opens at the Allcraft Center at 25 St. Mark's Place in New York City's East Village. [should timeline text be repeated in entry?]

From October 2-19, 1980, a group calling itself Allied Farces (made up of Pamela Camhe, Jordy Mark, Peggy Shaw, and Lois Weaver) organizes and produces a 18-day long international festival highlighting the work of women as performers, musicians, dancers and artists. The popularity of this festival would eventually lead to the formation of New York City's highly influential year-round women's performance collective and space known as the WOW Cafe.

"The Festival celebrates the diversity of women and represents many diffeent interests, ethnic groups and lifestyles. Whatever women are is what the Festival will be."

<Reproduction of first WOW Festival program cover>

Cover from 1980 WOW Festival program. Artwork by Peggy Shaw. From the collection of Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver.

<Reproduction of first WOW Festival schedule of events>

Schedule of events from 1980 WOW Festival program. Artwork by Peggy Shaw. From the collection of Peggy Shaw and Lois Weaver.