WAF-International
Women*s Action Forum – World Café on the topics „Women* in Culture“ 6th of June 2024
WMN Amplified in Varaždin
The Women*s Action Forum was organising an exchange of experiences for women in culture in the form of a World Café at the WMN Amplified in Varaždin. The event aims to promote knowledge transfer and networking in order to explore common challenges and tackle them with a variety of options for action
Starting from an exchange between women* working in this field, we will analyse regional differences based on experiences in order to develop possible practices and actions to improve gender-sensitive cultural work. The focus will be on three main topics:
- strategies (e.g. strengthening and/or building women’s networks, visibility of women* in (print) media)
- Formats (e.g. one-dimensional, participatory, festivals, discourses)
- Funding (funding models, framework conditions for the equality of women* in the cultural sector)
Together, we thematise and discuss these issues, work with artistic means and are committed to successful coexistence on the WMN Amplified:
Women’s Music Network Amplified (acronym “WMN Amplified“) is a music project held from June 6 to 8, 2024, at the Varaždin Varteks complex, in partnership with the festival KVART, which for the sixth consecutive year is made possible by the Center for Youth and Independent Culture P4.
The goals of the project WMN Amplified are to introduce talented regional female singer-songwriters to the local community and to provide young people in music and culture with increased professional capacities and networking opportunities with professionals from these fields.
The project opened with a conference where cultural organizations from the region presented to young people opportunities for involvement in international projects. Additionally, representatives of Women Action Forum held an inspiring World Cafe on the topic “Women* in Culture.“
After activities that provided young people in the fields of music and culture with numerous networking and experience-sharing opportunities, WMN Amplified culminated in a musical lineup of regional female singer-songwriters on the KVART stage: Tam (Serbia), Fani Solomun (Croatia), Dina Jashari (North Macedonia), and LAV (Slovenia).
These singer-songwriters were introduced at the opening of KVART by DJ niniva (Iva Neljak), as part of her typically brilliant performance. The WMN Amplified project, with Favela as the leading partner, includes six partner cultural organizations, which are: Styrian Summer Art, Grrrls Kulturverein,Varaždin Tourist Board,Croatian Cultural Centre on Sušak, MIKK Murska Sobota, Agent Benda.
We no longer accept the things we can’t change – WE CHANGE THE THINGS WE CAN’T ACCEPT!
Networkers Women*s Action Forum on 6th of June:
Irina Karamarković is a singer, composer, arranger, ensemble leader, artist and author. She studied jazz singing at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz. Irina is one of the chairwomen of the Women*s Action Forum.
Gunilla Plank, independent cultural worker, project manager of murauerInnen and Iron Women, and newly elected deputy chairwoman of the Styrian Cultural Board of Trustees.
Michaela Zingerle, independent cultural manager and is actively involved in several roles, including her company Art Connect. As the founder of the cultural association Styrian Summer Art. Michaela is also one of the chairwomen of the Women*s Action Forum.
