What will it take to create a level playing field for women in arts, culture, and media? Join us for an engaging panel discussion on the status of women in the creative and cultural industries. The conversation will explore key challenges, share personal experiences, and compare policies across seven economies, including Germany, the US and Sweden, offering valuable insights into advancing equality in the cultural sector.
This event marks the launch of Gender Equality in the Cultural Economy – Comparative Perspectives, a new book by Hertie School Senior Professor Helmut K. Anheier and Analytics Consultant Darinka Marković.
Our panel features Anja Schneider, renowned Berlin techno DJ, Anneli Strömqvist, Cultural Counsellor at the Swedish Embassy, Sarah Wedl-Wilson, State Secretary for Culture in the Berlin Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion, and Els van der Plas, Director of the Allard Pierson in Amsterdam. Moderating the discussion is Amira El Ahl, an experienced journalist and moderator with a rich background in international media, including Der Spiegel.
Programme:
• Summary of the research Gender Equality in the Cultural Economy – Comparative Perspectives.
• Panel discussion on the status of women in the creative and cultural industries.
Don’t miss this thought-provoking dialogue on shaping a more inclusive future in arts and culture!
Panelists
Helmut K. Anheier
Helmut K. Anheier is Senior Professor of Sociology at the Hertie School and served as its President from 2009 to 2018. He is also a faculty member at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and a Visiting Professor at LSE Ideas, London School of Economics and Political Science. His research focusses on indicator systems, governance, culture, non-profits, philanthropy, and organisational studies. Anheier has authored over 500 publications in leading journals and is the recipient of numerous national and international awards.
DJ Anja Schneider
Anja Schneider is a DJ, producer, radio broadcaster, and label boss celebrated for her innovation and influence in electronic music. Honoured with the Honour Prize by the Berlin Music Commission in 2021 for her “outstanding impact on the music scene”, Anja continues to shape the industry as one of its most vital figures. She helms Sous Music, a label showcasing her innovative productions and spotlighting avant-garde artists she admires. Additionally, she hosts Club Room, an internationally syndicated weekly radio show, and Club Room: Backstage, a vibrant interview podcast series.
Anneli Strömqvist
Anneli Strömqvist, born in 1966 in Stockholm (Sweden), studied film studies and philosophy and has extensive experience as a cultural manager, primarily in performing arts. She has held key roles, including producer at Kulturhuset and Dansens Hus in Stockholm, director of the dance company Pretty Ugly at Theater Freiburg (Germany), agent at The.Lab Art & Media in Berlin, chief producer and managing director of the Swedish Cullberg Ballet, and producer and strategic development manager at KammarensembleN, an ensemble for contemporary music in Stockholm. From 2012 to 2024, she worked at Konstnärsnämnden, Sweden’s government agency for artist support, where she led international programs for dance and contemporary circus, among other responsibilities. Since August 2024, she has served as Counsellor for Cultural Affairs at the Swedish Embassy in Berlin.
Darinka Marković
Darinka Marković is a versatile professional with expertise as an academic researcher, policy strategist, and data analyst. She has contributed to numerous research projects on international cultural cooperation and the cultural economy. In her current role as an analytics consultant, she specializes in leveraging data to provide meaningful insights for organizations and decision-makers, particularly in the public and healthcare sectors.
Els van der Plas
Els van der Plas has been the Director of the Allard Pierson in Amsterdam since 1 April 2022. Previously, she served as Managing Director of the Bonnefanten in Maastricht. An art history graduate from Utrecht University, van der Plas has held leadership roles at institutions such as the Gate Foundation, Prince Claus Fund, Premsela, and the National Opera & Ballet. With extensive experience in connecting scholarship, heritage and the arts, she is recognised for her ability to inspire and bring people together.
Sarah Wedl-Wilson
Sarah Wedl-Wilson is a British-Austrian cultural manager and, since April 2023, State Secretary for Culture in Berlin's Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion. She previously served as Rector of the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music Berlin (2019–2023) and Vice-Rector and Interim Rector at the Mozarteum University Salzburg (2014–2018). Wedl-Wilson has held leadership roles including Chair of the Salzburg Easter Festival Supervisory Board and President of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. She has also been a member of the Berlin Opera Foundation's Board of Trustees.
Moderator: Amira El Ahl
Amira El Ahl is a journalist and moderator with extensive experience in international reporting and cultural discourse. As a correspondent based in Cairo, she covered societal, political, cultural, and artistic topics for major media outlets, including Der Spiegel, Die Welt, and Deutsche Welle. In 2017, she served as Editorial Coordinator for documenta 14 in Kassel. Her professional development includes training at esteemed institutions such as Oxford University, the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, and the Goethe-Institut.