The field of work dedicated to Women in Culture & Media aims to enhance the discourse on gender equality and support it through the implementation of concrete measures such as a mentoring programme, further studies, nationwide network activities across all fields of culture, own events as well as the phrasing of political demands – to ensure that, finally, more women occupy leadership positions, enjoy family-friendly working conditions, and are able to realise their full artistic potential.
This website has been set up with the intention of providing an overview of these activities, shining a light on the various stakeholders/participants as well as national and international initiatives and compiling scientific findings.
Mentoring programme Deutscher Kulturrat
The mentoring programme is directed at highly qualified women who want to improve their career prospects, have set their sights on a management position in the cultural and media sector or want to enhance their position in the marketplace.
Experienced mentors, men and women, who work in the field of design, visual arts, music, theatre, literature, dance, museums, librarianship, architecture, cultural management and politics, the creative sector, media and film assist the mentees year after year. They are all experts in their chosen field and want to help qualified women to gain leadership positions and realise their potential in line with their talents – with and without children.
Studies on gender justice
Year after year, more studies are published covering the vast field of gender justice in culture & media. Some investigations focus on individual cultural sectors such as music, literature, or film – to mention but a few. Others produce international comparisons or concentrate on topics such as the gender show gap or the gender pay gap, the compatibility of family and artistic activities or role stereotypes and old-fashioned leadership methods. Since even those interested in the topic have difficulties to keep track of the many research projects and papers published, we have set up a database compiling all studies undertaken over the last few years that we were able to research. The studies are only linked and they direct users to external websites. In addition to the full-text search, we offer various filter functions. We do not claim to have covered them all but hope that this service will be of use to you.
The publications and articles produced by the German Cultural Council can also be found in this list. They have been compiled once more and are available for downloading.
Exchange of data & joint use of resources
Not only in recent years have networks of and for women been established. Since, however, the #MeToo movement developed a whole new dynamic – regionally, nationally, and internationally – we decided to set up a database covering the various initiatives so that people interested in the issue get an overview, people dedicated to the topic can find groups to join, unnecessary double structures are avoided, and collaborations can be planned more easily. Apart from the personal exchange of information, the combining of expertise, the organisation of conferences and mentoring programmes, networks engage in socio-political lobbying at national and international level. We do not claim that our list is complete. Hence, do not hesitate to inform us if you want your network included in our database.
This report by the German Cultural Council dated 10 August 2020 draws attention to the continuing need for action and formulates suggestions on how to further improve equal opportunities in the cultural and media sector.
It goes back to the activities of the working group on Gender Justice that came into being in November 2017 and whose members continued to meet until 2021. Working groups, like expert committees, play an advisory role at the German Cultural Council. Apart from exchanging information and reporting on their own work, their principal task consists in producing reports on individual subject areas. Such reports are then passed on to the Speakers’ Committee (Sprecherrat) that discusses and ultimately approves them.
