20 Years Later – Between The Past And The Future Of The City Of Women

Panellists: Uršula Cetinski, Vera Kozmik, Darja Zaviršek, Mirjam Milharčič Hladnik

Moderated by: Vesna Leskošek

The twentieth anniversary of the festival, created mainly by women, is a huge accomplishment. Over these years, the festival has had its ups and downs, until now, when those in power increasingly consider culture in general either as an amateur or a market-oriented activity.

The festival has always been international but with a focus on the work of Slovenian female artists. This anniversary is an opportunity to take a brief look into its past, remember its beginnings and reflect on the principal development features.

The discussion will evolve around the fact that this is a gender specific festival, focused on women, though hardly ever without the participation of some male artists. The main questions reflected from the historical perspective refer to the perpetual theme of the festival: Why gender specific? Is this really necessary; have we not overcome this yet; is a gender still a category that includes the diversity of gender identities and artistic expressions? To what extent is the festival’s history related to feminist theoretic and activist tradition, and does feminism have a place in Slovenian creativity in culture?

These and other topics will be discussed by the former Presidents of the City of Women – Association for the Promotion of Women in Culture, who each in their time had an effect on the position of women within the festival. (Vesna Leskošek)