As autumn paints the landscapes of Europe in warm hues, women from diverse backgrounds come together for Women Reclaiming the Arts 2025, a vibrant celebration of female voices in drama, visual arts, and cultural expression. Running from October 5 to November 22, 2025, this initiative spans Greece’s historic Drama region, the futuristic Atomium Square in Brussels, Belgium, and the coastal charm of Gdańsk, Poland. It empowers women artists to revisit ancient myths, modern designs, and forgotten stories through performances, exhibitions, and workshops. Rooted in themes of empowerment and heritage, the event invites global audiences to witness how women are reshaping artistic narratives with bold, inclusive energy.
A Celebration of Empowerment and Heritage
Women Reclaiming the Arts began as a small project in 2019, inspired by ancient Greek festivals where women gathered in secret rituals. Over the years, it has expanded into a pan-European platform, blending drama with visual arts to highlight female perspectives often sidelined in history. The 2025 edition builds on last year’s success, where over 5,000 attendees joined virtual and in-person sessions amid global challenges. Organizers focused on recovery and renewal, featuring stories of resilience from women in conflict zones.
This year’s theme, “Echoes of Strength,” explores how women reclaim spaces, from ancient theaters to urban squares. Held across three locations, it fosters cross-cultural dialogues, with artists collaborating on pieces that mix Greek tragedy, Belgian design innovation, and Polish folk motifs. The event stays true to its grassroots origins, prioritizing community over commercial hype, and creates safe spaces for sharing personal and artistic journeys.
Set against autumn’s crisp air, the program evokes intimate gatherings under olive trees or by Baltic waves. There are no grand red carpets here, just raw performances, heartfelt discussions, and moments of quiet reflection that make every participant feel seen and heard.
The Sites: Ancient Ruins, Modern Icons, and Seaside Galleries
Women Reclaiming the Arts unfolds in three evocative venues, each chosen for its ties to women’s hidden histories. In Drama, Greece, a region named after the Muses of inspiration, events center on ancient amphitheaters near Philippi, where echoes of classical plays still linger. These outdoor spaces, surrounded by pine forests and mountain views, host dramatic readings and site-specific installations that revive female figures from Greek lore.
In Brussels, the gleaming Atomium Square serves as a hub for contemporary art. Built for the 1958 World’s Fair, the Atomium’s nine steel spheres symbolize atomic progress, now reimagined as pods for women-led exhibits on design and technology. The square below buzzes with pop-up stages and interactive displays, blending mid-century optimism with feminist critique. Attendees stroll between spheres, pausing for talks on how women engineers and artists shaped modern Europe.
Gdańsk, Poland, rounds out the tour with its maritime vibe at the historic Crane House and nearby galleries like Łaźnia Center for Contemporary Art. Overlooking the Motława River, these spots nod to Poland’s shipbuilding past, where women laborers played key roles during wartime. The venues feature misty Baltic sunsets as backdrops for performances, encouraging visitors to wander cobblestone streets lined with street art by female creators.
The layout across sites promotes connection, with hybrid online streams linking participants. Local food stalls offer Greek yogurt dips, Belgian waffles with a twist, and Polish pierogi, all sourced from women-owned businesses to support community ties.
A Line-up of Voices and Visions
The heart of Women Reclaiming the Arts lies in its diverse roster of women artists, blending established names with rising stars in drama, painting, and multimedia. In Drama, expect reimaginings of Euripides’ works, like a fresh take on “The Bacchae,” directed by Greek theater pioneer Katerina Evaggellatou, who spotlights Dionysus’s female followers as symbols of untamed power. Workshops led by Polish performer Marta Zięba explore body movement in ancient texts, drawing from her Gdańsk roots.
Brussels hosts visual feasts, including installations by Belgian designer Rebecca Ballard, whose sustainable fashion pieces challenge industry norms. Emerging talents like Brussels-based sculptor Amina Beloufa create sphere-inspired works that critique atomic-era gender roles. Panel discussions feature voices like Tracy Reese, discussing how women reclaim economic agency through ethical art practices.
In Gdańsk, the focus turns to narrative depth with painters like Paulina Ołowska, whose collages revive forgotten Polish heroines from theater and folklore. Performances by the Solidarity of Arts collective include spoken-word pieces on ecofeminism, echoing projects like Cecylia Malik’s river rituals. Past editions spotlighted Natalia LL’s boundary-pushing photos, and 2025 promises similar bold curation, with open mics for audience stories woven into evening shows.
Days and Nights of Stories and Reflection
Mornings at Women Reclaiming the Arts start slow and thoughtful. In Drama, yoga sessions amid ruins prepare bodies for dramatic rehearsals, while families join child-friendly myth-telling circles. Brussels buzzes with coffee-fueled sketch jams under the Atomium’s shadow, and Gdańsk offers riverside walks with audio guides narrating women’s labor histories.
As day turns to dusk, energy builds. In Greece, torchlit readings of Sappho’s poems fill amphitheaters, voices rising like ancient choruses. Brussels’ spheres glow with projected films on women innovators, paired with live jazz from female ensembles. Gdańsk nights hum with folk dances by the Motława, where lanterns float as metaphors for carried dreams.
Late hours bring intimacy: fireside chats in Drama on healing through art, quiet gallery lingering in Brussels, and harbor jam sessions in Poland. The pace honors emotional flow, with no rigid schedules, just invitations to linger, create, and bond.
An Event Rooted in Shared Stories
Beyond performances, Women Reclaiming the Arts champions values like equity and sustainability. Drama hosts eco-drama labs, using recycled materials to stage plays about earth’s feminine spirit. Brussels panels tackle intersectional feminism, linking art to labor rights, while Gdańsk workshops on digital archiving preserve women’s oral histories.
The initiative partners with local women-led groups to minimize impact, from zero-waste catering to accessible transport. Schedules weave in rest spaces and mental health talks, ensuring the event nurtures as much as it inspires. It’s a reminder that art thrives when everyone contributes.
Planning Your Visit
Tickets range from free community days to €25 for full passes, covering all sites via a digital bundle. Early bird options include workshops, and group rates encourage school trips. Book via the official site to secure spots, as last year’s virtual surge led to quick sell-outs.
Travel is straightforward: Fly into Thessaloniki for Drama, Brussels Airport for Atomium, or Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa for Poland. Trains connect cities efficiently, with shuttles from hubs. Stay in eco-lodges near Philippi, boutique hotels by Heysel Park, or harbor hostels in Gdańsk. Pack layers for autumn chills, comfortable shoes for ruins, and an open heart for connections.
Why Women Reclaiming the Arts Stands Out
In a crowded festival scene, this event shines for its quiet revolution. No flashy sponsors or elite gates, just women stepping into light, from mythic stages to steel icons. It’s where a Greek actress might co-create with a Polish painter, birthing works that challenge silence.
Attendees leave transformed, carrying tools to amplify voices back home. It’s not about applause, it’s about rewriting the script together.
Explore the Surroundings
Between sessions, dive deeper. In Drama, hike Philippi trails dotted with Byzantine ruins, or taste local wines at women-run vineyards. Brussels offers Atomium-adjacent Mini-Europe for whimsical monument views, plus chocolate tours led by female chocolatiers. Gdańsk tempts with amber markets, WWII shipyards turned museums, and beach strolls at Sopot, where sea air sparks new ideas.
These side trips enrich the journey, turning travel into a tapestry of discovery.
Women Reclaiming the Arts 2025 is more than events, it’s a movement of reclaimed narratives. With its mythic echoes, innovative spheres, and Baltic whispers, it calls you to listen, create, and belong. Join the chorus, and let these women’s stories reshape your world long after the final curtain falls.