MATRESCENCE FESTIVAL
A SPACE TO EXPLORE THE METAMORPHOSIS OF M/OTHERHOOD
Matrescence Festival was founded in 2024 by Lizzy Humber (UK) and Claire Tonti (Australia) with a shared vision to combine art, education and community to explore the matrescence.
Matrescence is a term coined by anthropologist Dana Raphael in the 1970s to describe the profound transformation a woman or birthing person undergoes when becoming a parent. Similar to adolescence, matrescence encompasses significant physical, cognitive, emotional, hormonal, and social changes that reshape a person’s identity and worldview.
Matrescence Festival brings together expert speakers, vibrant discussion, poetry, songs, art making, nature walks, workshops, dancing, with lots of breaks & good food. This is space for village thinking and support.
Open to anyone interested in learning more about matrescence, the festival is daytime event, designed for the rhythms of caring responsibilities. Children of all ages will be welcome alongside and are invited to be their curious, freethinking selves.
The inaugural 2 day festivals took place in Exeter UK in June 2024 and Melbourne Australia in March 2025. We also hold a satellite events with shorter morning and afternoon events. Listen to all the talks from Melbourne 2025 over 13 episodes in this special podcast as part of TONTS.
Exeter 2026 programme coming soon.
“During pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood, women undergo a far-reaching physiological, psychological and social metamorphosis. ”
ABOUT US
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.
lizzyhumber.com
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
Clairetonti.com
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