declaratie de intentie, ladyfest romania (bucuresti) 2007:

festivalul “ladyfest” a luat fiinta in olympia, sua, in anul 2000, si s-a extins de atunci la nivel international. din colectivul ladyfest romania fac parte fete si femei care au pus in scena si au participat la primul ladyfest din tara noastra in 2005, la timisoara, sau care s-au alaturat grupului ulterior. suntem o echipa din ce in ce mai inchegata dedicata organizarii acestor fest-uri diy, grassroots si non-profit, feminist- si queer-friendly, cu un continut cat mai diversificat.

inainte de toate:
– suntem de parere ca exista un consens social care perpetueaza/reproduce relatiile interumane si institutiile responsabile de asimetria de putere dintre sexe si la care contribuie barbati, cat si femei;
– stim ca in societatea noastra violenta domestica, violenta sexuala, hartuirea sexuala, rasismul, homofobia, saracia, limitarea libertatii de reproducere si accesul neadecvat la servicii de sanatate sunt cateva din nedreptatile care ingradesc vietile femeilor in mod special.
– suntem …
— in mod vadit sustinatoare ale feminismului in versiunile cele mai diverse (asemeni lui bell hooks, vedem feminismul ca pe o “miscare [si a femeilor, si a barbatilor] pentru eradicarea sexismului, exploatarii sexiste si opresiunii”);
— un grup cel putin non-profit, non-institutional, non-ierarhic;
— nepasionate de jocuri cu suma zero, patriarhat si misoginism;
— de diferite varste, identitati sexuale si nesexuale, preocupari si ocupatii;
— critice la adresa institutiilor sociale existente pentru fete si baieti pentru ca nasc mai multe frustrari decat perceptii sanatoase despre sine;
– nu …
— facem atac la persoana si deci nu ne cerem scuze pentru opiniile onest formulate;
— suntem sexiste si nici heterosexiste;
— excludem pe nimeni.

ca si in 2005, prin festivalul nostru urmarim sa punem in evidenta expresia artistica si implicarea sociala a fetelor si femeilor si in acelasi timp sa impartasim idei prin muzica, “spoken word”, “performance”, film si video, expozitii, prezentari, ateliere, discutii. organizam un ladyfest deoarece vrem sa promovam fetele si femeile active, care produc arta si muzica dar nu numai, si deoarece suntem de parere ca fiecare dintre noi poate sa contribuie cu ceva important. ne dorim un festival original, divers si plin de viata, care sa prezinte publicului unele din cele mai inovatoare fete si femei din mediul artistic underground, sa ofere o perceptie despre femei alternativa celei existente in cultura dominanta si sa dea peste cap conceptele conventionale despre gen.

suntem ferm convinse ca activismul – actiunea directa cu un mesaj explicit – si implicarea pe baza convingerilor, in special pe principiul do it yourself (fa-o chiar tu), este un mecanism puternic de a ne face auzite si vazute si de a formula in public o alternativa la realitatea sociala ce privilegiaza doar pe unii.

in acest spirit, al doilea ladyfest din romania va avea loc la bucuresti intre 12 si 14 octombrie 2007, impreuna cu un mars “take back the night” de protest fata de violenta impotriva femeilor, pe baza urmatoarelor considerente:
* organizarea ladyfest nu se face in jurul unui nucleu organizatoric ierarhic-functional;
* organizarea ladyfest se vrea o incercare de punere in contact a cat mai multor persoane pentru care feminismul este un modus vivendi;
* organizarea ladyfest va insemna concertarea de idei si activitati intr-un mod non-ierarhic, deschis initiativei si in spiritul cooperarii;
* ladyfest se vrea celebrarea tuturor fetelor pentru care societatea nu ofera posibilitatea recunoasterii si canonizarii;
* ladyfest se vrea semnalarea unei prezente “feminine” care ramane putin vizibila in public;
* ladyfest se vrea negarea stereotipurilor si normelor societale atribuite fetelor, femeilor si feminitatii;
* ladyfest se vrea o actiune colectiva a celor care sunt ferm convinsi ca umanitatea ne uneste mai mult decat ne despart genul si sexul.

in ultima instanta, speram ca ladyfest romania va inspira femeile din toate colturile tarii sa devina active in comunitatile lor si sa ia initiativa de a crea spatii similare ce le vor permite sa-si etaleze creativitatea, sa fie vazute si auzite.

english version:
mission statement, ladyfest romania (bucharest) 2007:

“ladyfest” as a festival saw the light of day in olympia, usa, in 2000, and has spread internationally since then. the ladyfest romania collective is made up of women and girls who staged and took part in the first romanian ladyfest in 2005, in timisoara, or who joined later. we are an increasingly more closely-knit group, dedicated to the organization of these diy, grassroots and non-profit, feminist- and queer-friendly festivals, with as diverse a content as possible.

first of all:
– we believe that there exists a social consensus that perpetuates/reproduces the interpersonal relations and institutions responsible for a power imbalance between the sexes, to which both men and women contribute.
– we know that in our society domestic violence, sexual violence, sexual harassment, racism, homophobia, poverty, limited reproductive freedom and access to health services are a few of the injustices that restrict women’s lives in particular.
– we are …
— explicitly advocating feminism in its most diverse forms (like bell hooks, we see feminism as “movement [of both women and men] to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression”);
— a group that’s at least non-profit, non-institutional, non-hierarchical;
— uninterested in zero-sum games, patriarchy and misogyny;
— of different ages, identities (sexual and otherwise), interests and occupations;
— critical of the social institutions existing for girls and boys because they give rise more to frustration than healthy self-perceptions.
– we don’t …
— do personal attacks and therefore don’t apologize for our honest opinions;
— tolerate sexism or heterosexism;
— exclude anybody.

as in 2005, our festival aims to both showcase the artistic expression and social involvement of women and girls and share ideas through music, spoken word, performance, film and video, exhibitions, presentations, workshops, open discussion. we are organizing a ladyfest because we want to promote women and girls who are active and who produce art and music – among other things – and because we believe that all of us have something important to contribute. we want a unique, original, diverse and fun festival that will present to the public some of the most innovative female artists from the underground, will offer an alternative perception of women from that found in mainstream culture, and will turn conventional ideas about gender on their head.

we are absolutely certain that activism – direct action with an explicit message – and involvement based on ethical beliefs, especially with the do it yourself approach, constitute a strong mechanism for making ourselves heard and seen and for publicly formulating an alternative to the social reality that only privileges some people.

in this spirit, the second romanian ladyfest will be held in bucharest between 12 and 14 october 2007, together with a “take back the night” march protesting violence against women, based on the following points:
* the organizing of ladyfest doesn’t take place around a hierarchical organizational core;
* organizing ladyfest is also an attempt to establish a network among as many people who embrace feminism as possible;
* the organizing of ladyfest will mean putting together ideas and activities in a non-hierarchical way, open to new initiatives and based on cooperation;
* ladyfest aims to celebrate all the girls to whom society doesn’t offer the possibility of recognition and mainstreamization;
* ladyfest aims to signal a “feminine” presence that is currently afforded only limited visibility;
* ladyfest aims to counter stereotypes and social norms attributed to girls, women and femininity;
* ladyfest aims to be a collective action by those who are persuaded that humanity unites us more than gender and sex divide us.

ultimately, we hope ladyfest romania will inspire women everywhere to become active in their communities and to take the initiative of creating similar spaces that will allow them to show their creativity, and to be seen and heard.