It’s packed—more than packed. The Joseph Haydn-Saal is filled to the last seat, with people sitting on the floor, perched on windowsills, and leaning against the walls despite the live video feed in the foyer and the hot summer temperatures. The programme that’s brought everyone here consists of welcoming addresses, a programmatic introduction, and a keynote, all revolving around questions of gender, performance, and the performative. It’s the official inauguration of the International Research Center – Gender and Performativity (ICGP).

12 June will witness an international symposium and, with it, the opening of the International Research Center Gender and Performativity (ICGP) chaired by the theatre studies scholar and gender studies professor Evelyn Annuß. In view of current anti-gender politics, the establishment of the ICGP is a clear statement by the mdw concerning academic and cultural policy.