WOW Women festival comes to Beijing

General manager of the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center Zhang Li (right), Artistic Director of London's Southbank Centre Jude Kelly (2nd from right) launch the WOW-Women of the World festival in Beijing on Saturday, April 15, 2017. [Photo provided to China Plus]

The WOW-Women of the World festival, a comprehensive arts and science event that features talks, performances, music, exhibitions and workshops, opened Saturday in the Tianqiao Performing Arts Center in Beijing.

Jude Kelly, Artistic Director of London's Southbank Centre, initiated the WOW festival in 2010.

"Every festival begins with a Think-in, where we ask the local population, 'what do you think should be talked about, what are the subjects that you are interested in, and what speakers do you want to hear from?' because although the WOW festival started in London, it's not a British thing, it's a global thing. It belongs to China, belongs to Kathmandu, belongs to Pakistan and belongs to Australia, anywhere that the girls and women, boys and men want to gather to speak of what the future could look like and how to make that future happen," said Kelly in Beijing.

The ongoing event marks the first time that the WOW-Women of the World festival has been held in Beijing. WOW Festivals have been held in 20 cities, attracting more than 20,000 participants.