Background

Bildwechsel

Founded in 1979 mainly by students of the Hamburg college of fine arts, bildwechsel is one of Hamburg’s longest-running women+’s projects.
When it was first launched, its main aim was to strengthen the presence of women in the audiovisual media arts.

[the conception]

The conception that the founding members had of themselves was oriented on artistic or political ‘groupings’. The project did not provide for proper jobs or paid work. Everything was paid by the project itself and we provided the equipment and materials ourselves – with the help and support of others. This type of project work had the advantage of offering its members shared work spaces and production equipment. Another equally important objective was acting as a women’s center and a public space where the artistic work of other women could be shown.

[the structure of the organization]

In 1986, the structure of the organization changed. The group had dwindled in size and was no longer willing or able to act as a base for the various associated project activities.

[the idea]

The idea of a bildwechsel umbrella organization emerged from this situation: at present, various differently organized sections and shorter and longer-term activities coexist on the basis of a common space and a common infrastructure.
The objective they all have in common has remained the same: promoting women+(‘s) art and culture in the audiovisual media arts. However, organizing this aim for the women+ interested in project work and for the artists involved requires imagination and a willingness to adapt. The sections, activities and associated initiatives that are part of the bildwechsel umbrella organization are presented in brief here.