25 years of FrauenOrte: districts celebrate the heroines of history!

25 years of FrauenOrte: districts celebrate the heroines of history!

A very special anniversary was celebrated in Halle on October 27, 2025. The project “Women’s Places – Women’s History in Saxony-Anhalt” looks back on 25 years full of significant experiences and achievements. It commemorates the life achievements of courageous women in the history of the state. The work of these inspiring women is honored with a total of 52 plaques set up in 37 cities and towns. Saxony-Anhalt reports that the first plaque was inaugurated on May 31, 2000 at the “Rotkäppchen” daycare center in Zörbig. This initial spark of the project took place as part of EXPO 2000 and has since established itself as a nationwide pioneering project.

The Equal Opportunities Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Petra Grimm-Benne, congratulated at the ceremony in the Halle town hall and emphasized how important it is to make the lives of women visible and to recognize their influence on our society. The success of the project is also Dr. Elke Stolze and the Courage e.V. association. Thanks to V. Halle, who were recognized for their valuable contribution. “It’s not just about preserving the past, but also about questioning clichés and drawing attention to the stories that are often in the shadow of history,” emphasized the minister.

Diverse anniversary activities

As part of the anniversary year, numerous events are planned that show how lively and important the project is today. A cinema day is planned for October 10, 2025 in Naumburg, where the focus will be on film discussions. “Harz trips to writing women” will also take place in Halberstadt on August 25, 2025. The celebrations culminate in a soirée on June 21, 2025 to mark the 25th birthday of the Wernigerode Women's Place. In addition, a kick-off bike tour to the Dessau Women's Places will be organized on May 25, 2025. A program will also take place at the Bauhaus Dessau on October 24, 2025. The Halberstadt Women's Week begins with an exciting start on November 8th, while a sand theater performance is planned in Weißenfels on November 30th. WomenPlaces also provides information about a podcast that has been running since August 2020 and highlights exciting topics relating to women historically.

The aim of the project is to increase the visibility of women's history and thus sustainably change public awareness. Saxony-Anhalt did not skimp on support: around 50,000 euros were provided annually for over 20 years.

A nationwide pioneering project

The “FrauenOrte” project is the first nationwide project of its kind and has since established itself as a valuable institution. A joint appearance in Berlin is on the agenda in 2024 to present the achievements of the women's places. The plans for further thematic postings, such as in PRIDE MONTH in June 2025, show how contemporary and adaptable the project is.

Essentially, the anniversary is not only a look back at what has been achieved, but also a drive to continue telling women's stories and promoting their visible presence in social discourse. Because the legacy of the women who worked in Saxony-Anhalt and beyond deserves a place in public consciousness. Their stories are part of the collective memory that needs to be preserved and passed on.