● MusicaFemina – women made music

Maezenatentum (AT)

City of Women (SI), Gryllus Kft. (HU)

Description of the project

Based on the European Commission's founding value of gender equality, the project MusicaFemina sets the goal of more gender balance in the field of women's composing. This goal is not only to raise the quality of music industries but also to contribute to sustainable audience development and to support a gender-balanced life, free of abuse and violation. The starting point of the project was an extensive exhibition on women's music in Vienna in 2018, creating a women's room designed by the merits of her-story and providing the stage for a wide variety of presentations, panels, performances and multimedia installations. By implementing the aim of gender mainstreaming into the field of women's composing, the project followed three trails that complemented each other: scientific and academic work in papers, panels and introductory presentations, commissions, concerts and performances.

Impact and positive changes

The project raised awareness of gender imbalance, and many of the composers presented in the project got new commissions and engagements. One of the positive results was the invitation to create a monthly TV show on Austrian community TV (Okto), featuring live performances, presenting female composers, female key changers in economy and politics and to show alternative ways of empowerment.

The main challenges were to overcome the prejudice that there are no (excellent) female composers. This goal was achieved.

Creative Europe’s support

Creative Europe provided highly valuable organisational support, essential financial funding, and created the basis for European cooperation. It allowed to connect with institutions throughout Europe and raise awareness and understanding of gender in leading art and music institutions.

#music #gender balance #women composers #creativity of women

Beyond the project

The project created attention in Austria and supported existing plattforms of female composers, as well as motivated Hungarian women to found the Music Women Hungary platform. MusicaFemina became a label for quality in music, gender and diversity.

Contact

www.musicafeminainternational.eu Creative Europe Project Results