FEM*Festival Ingolstadt

Ingolstadt's Stage for Feminism and Diversity

The FEM*Festival was launched in 2023 by the Equal Opportunities Office and the Department of Culture of the City of Ingolstadt. It takes place annually around International Women's Day (March 8th) and Equal Pay Day. The festival aims to provide a platform for artists while critically examining structural discrimination and power dynamics – in a feminist, intersectional, and diversity-conscious manner.

A Ten-Day Program Week

Over approximately two weeks, the program is spread across numerous venues in the city center: the Ingolstadt City Theatre, the City Museum, the Museum of Concrete Art and Design, the Department of Culture on Donaustraße, and other locations. Offerings include visual arts (exhibitions, openings), performance, theatre, concerts, readings, films, lectures, panel discussions, and participatory workshops. Thematic city tours, which highlight feminist and queer urban history, are also now a regular part of the program.

Equal Pay Day and Wage Justice

A recurring focus is the Equal Pay Day, symbolizing the wage gap between men and women. In Ingolstadt, it is observed at the FEM*Festival with speeches, a Speakers' Corner in front of the theatre, and prominent guests. In previous years, guests included Reyhan Sahin (Lady Bitch Ray), moderated by Antigone Akgün. Political scientist Emilia Roig also gave a lecture during the fourth edition.

International Women's Day in the City on the Danube

Ingolstadt is the largest city in Upper Bavaria after Munich, with around 140,000 inhabitants. With the FEM*Festival, the city on the Danube positions itself within Bavaria's cultural calendar as a hub for engaged discourse on gender equality. The festival is curated in close cooperation with the Ingolstadt City Theatre, local associations, the BBK Bayern (Association of Visual Artists Bavaria), and independent artist groups. Most events are held in German, with some also in English.

Diversity of Formats

Exhibitions such as »Nothing I ever wanted« by artist Belia Brückner on reconciliation mechanisms, performances, dance evenings, concerts by feminist bands, film nights with subsequent discussions, and accessible workshops on topics like empowerment, care work, or the visibility of FLINTA* individuals shape the program. Many events are free or low-cost.