Linz09 und die Frauen
"Kopfstand 09", Tuesday, April 3, 2007
8 p.m., Ars Electronica Center/Sky Media Loft
"Is policymaking designed to address women's issues still relevant?"
With: Ulrike Hauffe (Director of Women’s Affairs of the State of Bremen, Germany), Elvira Tomancok (Director of Women’s Affairs of the City of Linz)
(Simone de Beauvoir)
On April 3, the Ars Electronica Center’s Sky Media Loft was the venue for the fifth installment in Linz09’s “Kopfstand” (Headstand) series. This time, the spotlight was on women and equal opportunities for women in everyday life and in the cultural establishment.
Is Frauenpolitik—political policymaking designed to advance the position of women—even relevant anymore? What are the best ways to reach young women who don’t seem to show much interest in Frauenpolitik these days? And what can the Capital of Culture year initiative contribute to providing equal opportunities for women? These were some of the issues that Linz09 raised in the Sky Media Loft. “Kopfstand is a series of get-togethers that poses questions and raises issues that have a European context,” stated Linz09 Deputy Artistic Director Ulrich Fuchs, the moderator of the evening.
Frauenpolitik 2007
Panelists included Ulrike Hauffe, commissioner for women’s affairs of the State of Bremen, Germany, and Elvira Tomancok, commissioner for women’s affairs of the City of Linz. Among the guests were Linz Deputy Mayor Erich Watzl and Linz09 Artistic Director Martin Heller. “Frauenpolitik is by all means relevant—as long as power, money, work and time are distributed unequally,” said Hauffe. Elvira Tomancok stressed: “A lot of young women believe they can make it on their own. They’re a bit stand-offish when it comes to getting organized in groups. This is where we need new strategies.”
Women and Linz09
Hauffe emphasized that women have a different approach to culture, and it’s important to take advantage of this, but in doing so, it’s not enough to carry out individual “women’s projects.” A structural approach is necessary here. “When Bremen applied to be named Capital of Culture, we invited many women to give some though to this, and we got some high-quality input, the results of which are still evident today.” Attendees were interested in the steps that the Linz09artistic directors had been taking with respect to these issues. “At Linz09, women hold key positions. We’re very open here, and we will be taking these considerations into account on many different levels,” Fuchs noted. There was a nice turnout at the Sky Media Loft. The next Kopfstand event will be held on June 24, 2007 in conjunction with sicht:wechsel, an integrative cultural festival.
