(founded in 2000)

Austria’s only Women’s Museum is located at Hittisau in the Bregenzerwald region, an area noted through the ages for its exceptional women. Here, in a building distinguished by its prizewinning architecture in wood, a setting for cultural encounters has been created. In a fascinating confrontation between tradition and innovation, exhibitions are put on to illustrate the lives of women yesterday and women today, partly from a distinctive regional perspective, partly taking a wider view. Seen through feminine eyes, all life’s various facets come up new and fresh – and there can be surprises. Wherever possible, the creative teams call in the help of a wider range of ordinary people to make an exhibition come alive: they record oral history as people tell it, they assemble and document everyday objects loaned from private households, and they set up co-operative projects involving ordinary people, older or younger.

The Women’s  Museum makes  a point of using the human touch in explaining what an exhibition is about. Thirteen local women of varying ages help the museum by escorting visitors individually round the exhibitions, on request.

For children, there is a range of activities designed to help them enjoy the museum and begin to appreciate its purpose.

Exhibitions in progress are linked to supporting events such as talks, seminars, readings, concerts and workshops.

Exhibitions held at the Women’s Museum since it opened in July 2000

A 1 “Mythos und Alltag – eine sozialgeschichtliche Installation” (Myth and the Everyday World – an Installation reliving social history), summer 2000

A 2 “Bosna Quilts”, winter 2000/01

A 3 “Brennpunkt Küche: planen, ausstatten, nutzen” (Spotlight on Kitchens: Planning, Fitting Out, Using), summer 2001

A 4 “frauen – hand – arbeit” (women – hand – craft), winter 2001/02

A 5 “Gezeiten. Keramische Plastiken 1985 – 2001 von Elisabeth Wieser Schlestl” (Tides. Ceramic Sculpture 1985 – 2001 by Elisabeth Wieser Schiestl),
summer 2002. This exhibition subsequently moved to the Women’s Museum in Merano. The catalogue was a joint production in German and Italian.

Summer School : FRAUENLEBEN. Biographie/ Autobiographie (WOMEN’S LIVES. Biography/ Autobiography), summer 2002

A6 “Frauenbilder” (Portraits of Women), b/wphotographs, exhibition linked to the Summer School 2002

A 7 “Wege nach Ravensbrück” and “Widerständige Vorarlberger Frauen im Nationalsozialismus” (Paths to Ravensbrück and Vorarlberg Women’s Resistance under National Socialism), winter 2002/03

A 8 “Tracht für Einheimische und Zweiheimische” (Traditional Costume for Homeland and Second Homeland),summer 2003

A 9 “Die zweite Haut” (Second Skin), winter 2003/04

A 10 “Familie und Beruf in Balance” (Balancing Family and Career) (an F&M Power project), winter 2003

A 11 “Göttin – Hexe – Heilerin. Zu einer Kulturgeschichte weiblicher Magie” (Goddess – Witch – Healer. On the cultural history of women’s magic), summer 2004
(presented subsequently at: Liechtenstein 2005, Merano 2006, Kempten 2006/07)

A 12 “Die Welt hinter den Dingen” (The World behind the Things we See), winter 2004/05
This concept was later adopted by Immenstadt Municipal Museums for the Alpine Farm Museum
at Diepolz, summer 2005.

A 13 “Kopftuch Kulturen” (Headscarf Cultures), summer 2005 
Co-operative project with the Nuremberg Women’s Museum; exhibition extended to other localities regionally

A 14 “Kleidung trägt Kultur” (Clothes embody Culture), autumn 2005 (project by Marienberg schoolgirls)

A 15 “Frauenatelier” (Studio of a Woman Artist), winter 2005/06 (one project, four exhibitions)
Exhibition 15: “Achtmal Filz” (Felt Eightfold)
Exhibition 16: “Eine Decke für mich...und Maschenzeit für uns” (A Rug for Me – and New Ideas Time for Us)
Exhibition 17: “Übergriffe” (Textile Objekte) [Incursions. (Textile Objects)]
Exhibition 18: “Patchwork. Vom kleinen Teil zum großen Ganzen” (Patchwork. From a Tiny Scrap to the Big Picture)

A 19 “Philosophinnen – Liebhaberinnen der Weisheit” (Women Philosophers – Lovers of Truth), summer 2006
and “Quo vadis MaDONNA?” (Quo vadis MaDONNA?)