What does ‘feminist curating’ mean today?

The need to deal with the category of gender has in the meanwhile found its way into museum debates. Feminist approaches to exhibitions are diverse and – like feminist movements themselves – are constantly evolving. Today, museums are increasingly depicting women* as protagonists of history. However, gender-sensitive issues – especially when they challenge the binary gender order – are by no means included in all exhibitions. In this workshop, we will look at the possibilities of feminist action in (cultural) history museums. In doing so, we will also examine conflicts and ambivalences in exhibition curatorial and design practices: What strategies are there for dealing with gaps and the frequent invisibility of women* and queers at the level of historical sources? How can objects that obviously reproduce gender clichés be exhibited? How important are 'counter-images'? What does it mean to take intersectional perspectives seriously? How can 'frictions' between different feminisms be used productively, and how can networks of solidarity be formed? The aim of this workshop is to reflect on how exhibitions can succeed in consistently thinking about gender and supporting feminist concerns. We are interested in the scope for action in different institutional settings – from special exhibitions and temporary interventions to permanent exhibitions.