In mid-November 2025, a closed retreat of the Feminist Council is planned at Medienwerkstatt Wien. This is particularly noteworthy, as the Feminist Council—an organ of an anonymous feminist observation and action unit—rarely appears in public. The retreat, which will address both current issues and projects as well as a fundamental restructuring of a mobile, multi-diverse, and gender-perspective-based university concept, will not be open to the public—but its effects are expected to resonate publicly.

The choice of Medienwerkstatt Wien as the location is no coincidence. It is one of Austria’s oldest non-commercial, independent cultural institutions. Rooted in the socio-political movements of the late 1970s, its self-managed organizational structure supports clandestine working methods, while its longstanding professionalism ensures excellent working conditions. Its medium scale guarantees focused attention, away from spectacle and sensationalist media. Due to early signs of potential disruptions—despite efforts to keep participants and times confidential—details about the meeting will remain deliberately vague for now.

A public slot is scheduled for Friday, 14 November 2025, allowing interested visitors to explore the site of the retreat and review the results available up to that point, selected working materials, and detailed information on the activities of the Feminist Council. This event is part of VIENNA ART WEEK 2025 and is conceived as a hyper-political contribution through artistic means. After VIENNA ART WEEK, there will be two additional public viewing days: Sat, Nov 15 and Sun, Nov 16, from 3 to 6 PM.

About the Feminist Council

The Feminist Council was established in 2016 by women* with a resistant disposition, aiming to create a reliable body for providing (specialist) knowledge, social awareness, and political independence. Its strategic focus includes identifying and assessing risks, and reviewing adherence to guidelines and procedures that align with feminist legal and ethical standards. The council’s composition is not made public to safeguard its partially clandestine operations. It acts from the background and is responsible for making visible phenomena linked to gender- and queer-specific inequalities.