[clear throat] Once again it has happened. Once again, the Upper Austrian Provincial Culture Prizes have been awarded to men* without exception.

And because this is not the first time this has happened, we would like to say a few new/old words about the case.

The Upper Austrian Culture Prize has a long tradition. it was first awarded in 1961. It took until 1975 (!) for a female* artist to be honored...

The renowned visual artist Waldtraud Cooper was the first. It then took another 9 years before Brigitte Schwaiger was chosen for her literary work.

In between, her male* colleagues were invited to the podium one after the other. It's not to say that they didn't do a good job - no question! And yes, those were still "different times" in terms of equality and its institutionalization BUT what makes the whole thing really tragic is the fact that today, more precisely in 2020, it is apparently not a bit better and no responsible politician* and no female politician* makes a peep about it!

All cultural awards this year would go exclusively to men*!

Of the 31 "major cultural prizes" awarded so far, no less than 4 (!) have gone to women*.

With results like these, the question is more than justified as to how seriously the state government takes itself when the "Upper Austrian Cultural Mission Statement" (2009) talks about "gender balance (...) and reducing deficits in this regard". And because this is obviously not enough fine words, it also states "... that women and men benefit equally from the goods, resources and opportunities of society and can draw benefits from them."

FIFTITU% calls for 52% of prizes to be awarded to female artists* and for gender to be taken into account as an important criterion in the selection of artistic and cultural activities.

And we invite the members of the Upper Austrian state government to reflect on their award conditions in order to represent the diversity of the art and cultural landscape in the awarding of prizes. #alteweissemaenner

With feminist greetings!
FIFTITU%

PS: A small consolation is that at least talent development awards are always given to women*.