HER*STORY
Since 1998, FIFTITU% has continuously campaigned for better conditions for women* in the arts and cultural sector and is the only platform of its kind, not only in Linz and Upper Austria, but nationwide.
In addition to cultural and women's*political work, regional, national and international networking in this field and diverse artistic projects in and on these topics, the activities also include concrete advice and support for the professionalization of women* in art and culture.
FIFTITU% is an initiator, activist, partner and supporter and sees itself as an open and innovative association that bridges the gap between experimental regional culture and contemporary art. In process-oriented collaborations with women's* associations and with the inclusion of current site-specific cultural work, art and cultural projects are realized that achieve a high level of sustainability.
Many achievements in Upper Austria that are taken for granted today would not have existed without FIFTITU%, for example the inclusion of quota regulations in the promotion of art and culture, the preparation of regular women's reports in the cultural sector or the anchoring of women's political demands in cultural development plans of the state of Upper Austria and the cities of Linz and Steyr.
Regular awareness-raising work is also part of FIFTITU%'s day-to-day business, because as we all know, we are still a long way from an equal society.
The arts and culture sector is already characterized by precarious structures and poor working conditions, and this affects women* even more. This is precisely why FIFTITU% fulfills extremely important functions here, on the one hand in the implementation of women*-specific art and cultural work and on the other hand in advising working artists, cultural managers and workers. This requires a high level of expertise and good networking skills - both qualities that have characterized FIFTITU% for two decades.
In 2018, the networking center was awarded the Outstanding Artist Award 2018 - Cultural Initiatives of the Federal Government and in 2002 the Great Cultural Award of the Province of Upper Austria for Initiative Cultural Work .
WORKING POINTS
NEW(S)BASE: With the database NEW(S)BASE - Calls & Skills from Arts, Culture and Gender Studies, FIFTITU% clears up the mosaic in the funding jungle for you. In the Calls section, we provide information on calls, competitions, scholarships and artist-in-residency programs. In the Skills section, we provide information on relevant conferences, lectures or seminars relating to careers, further education, legal advice or networking.
Individual advice for women** working in the arts and culture: Personal consultations with FIFTITU% staff on calls for proposals, forms, funding, art and culture awards, cultural contacts and much more
Procurement of artists and experts: FIFTITU% arranges qualified artists and experts in the respective subject areas for lectures, exhibitions, readings, discussion events, podiums, concert stages, etc.
Cultural policy: Cultural policy demands and interventions both at an institutional level and within their own environment (free scene), e.g. through: Demand for quotas in institutions, committees and at events, consideration of gender equality goals in tenders, etc.). As long as gender equality is not also lived practice, the cultural policy of FIFTITU% in Upper Austria is indispensable.
Art and cultural projects: Artistic, feminist projects that bridge the gap between experimental culture and contemporary art.
Events: Artistic/conceptual development and organization of cultural events such as symposia, conferences, readings, discussion events, concerts and exhibitions.
The aim is to strengthen the participation of the women*'s community in and in cultural life.
Artivism: Concrete artistic positions are developed, contextualized and located for specific spaces. People are thus directly confronted with feminist art in the respective space (open space, safe space, cyber space, etc.) and at the same time motivated to spontaneously participate in the action and, as a result, in the debate.
Media work: Support for feminist media work and own productions such as the monthly radio show 52Radiominuten.
Networking: Upper Austria and Austria-wide networking of creative women*. Specifically through regular meetings at the Kulturstammtisch Schwammfiscas well as international networking and maintaining contacts.
- Organization of further education offers and workshops (e.g. media and technology workshops)
- Commissioning scientific studies on artistic/feminist topics.
- Provision of a small but fine women*specific library mainly with artistic positions from Austria.
- A research room is made available to artists and cultural workers on request.
FIFTITU% - Newsletter: The newsletter informs you about current events at irregular intervals and provides you with feminist perspectives and positions.
HER(SHORT)STORY
In 1998, FIFTITU% was founded as an "Association for the Promotion of Art and Culture for Women in Upper Austria". A few years earlier, activists from Upper Austrian contemporary culture initiatives had already come together to form the so-called "Women's Discussion Group" of the KUPF Upper Austria (the cultural policy interest group for autonomous initiatives in Upper Austria)
Due to the lack of feminist cultural work and politics in Upper Austria, they founded FIFTITU%.
From the very beginning, one of the association's main goals was to establish a networking center for women in art and culture. This has existed since 2001.
Queer-feminist linguistics
Due to the inflexibility of our language, FIFTITU% also uses the terms "woman" and "man" in its texts. However, we would like to point out that this is a construct that serves to maintain social norms. The female/male designations used therefore include all those physical persons who are socially categorized as such or who define themselves as such.
We want to address all people in our texts and contribute to a culture characterized by respect and appreciation. Because heteronormative language produces and perpetuates injustice. It standardizes behaviour and social expectations in relation to heterosexuality and belonging to a strict gender binary. And this necessarily implies oppression. In order to address all social genders and gender identities, the underscore, asterisk or inline I is used or gender-neutral terms are used.