Matrescence Festival
A SPACE TO EXPLORE THE METAMORPHOSIS OF M/OTHERHOOD
Hosts Claire Tonti & Lizzy Humber held Matrescence Festival Melbourne in March 2025, supported by a groundswell of community members in the field—creatives, professionals, and friends.
Date: 29 & 30 March 2025
Time: 9am - 5pm (Optional 8am yoga for a gentle start)
Venue: Eltham Community and Reception Centre, 801 Main Road Eltham
Over two days, we wove together a composition of expert speakers, vibrant discussion, poetry, songs, art making, nature walks, workshops, and dancing, with lots of breaks and good food.
This was a daytime event, designed for the rhythms of caring responsibilities. Children of all ages were welcome and invited to be their curious, freethinking selves. Participants were also welcome alone, with a friend, partner, or parent. This was a space for village thinking and support.
The festival was open to anyone interested in learning more about matrescence. Everyone was encouraged to engage as much or as little as they needed, including the invited artists and speakers. We created spaces to rest and reflect to support neurodiversity and parenthood.
Click here to download the full schedule & timings for Saturday and Sunday. Attendees were welcome to come and go as needed.
Children and dependents attended for free.
Morning/afternoon refreshments and lunch were provided, including tea and coffee.
Hosts / Founders
Lizzy Humber (right) is a mother, community artist and producer working in the UK. She specialises in curating parent-friendly live art and culture events. She is a change maker and champion of m/other artists continuing to make work professionally on their terms. Lizzy’s current projects include The Daylight Collective, a network for artist parents, Daylight Sessions daytime gigs for parents, M/Others on the Mic and Parents on the Mic performance platforms, and Creative Journalling for Matrescence. Lizzy’s participatory art projects aim to support parental mental health and community connection.
Claire Tonti (left) is an Australian indie folk artist, podcaster, Matrescence activist and mother. She released her debut album Matrescence in February 2023 with sold out shows both in her hometown Melbourne across the UK and Ireland. 11 songs about love, loss, identity, motherhood, creative freedom and overcoming birth trauma. Claire also hosts the podcast TONTS. where she celebrates women’s stories - talking to writers, experts, thinkers and deeply feeling humans
Speakers & Faciltators
Amy Taylor Kabbaz
Dr Sophie Brock
Dr Winnie Orchard
Tamica Wilder
Jane Hardwicke Collings
Vicki Chan
Melanie Watkins
Michelle Hall
Laura Wheeler
Dr Melanie Jackson
Mandy Hose
Lauren Beatty
Mietta
Natarsha Bamblett
This project was assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.
We were so grateful for the support of Creative Australia, which helped subsidise ticket prices. We also offered a range of tickets depending on attendees’ needs and circumstances. Our aim was for the festival to be accessible and supportive so that everyone could attend.
“Helping Us” tickets went towards providing a number of free tickets to the festival.
