Regionality Prize 2025: Zehetmayr and Fraustadt in focus!

Regionality Prize 2025: Zehetmayr and Fraustadt in focus!

Freistadt, Österreich - Regionality is capitalized in Freistadt! On July 22, 2025, it was announced that Zehetmayr Raumakustik GmbH from the Kefermarkt and the Kulturverein Fraustadt Salch will be among the nominees for the regional prize. This event is characterized by outstanding projects and people who work for local added value through their offers. Particularly noteworthy is the commitment of the cultural association, which was only founded in 2020 and is active for the concerns of women in the region.

A highlight in the coming year will be the annual topic of "women and poverty". In the Freistadt Castle Museum, the exhibition "Shattendasin. Women's poverty" is presented. This exhibition will be seen in Freistadt and St. Georgen an der Gusen in cooperation with the Perg women's advice center. The topic is not only relevant locally, but also takes a look at the above -average concern of women through poverty, which is underpinned by various studies.

women and poverty: an urgent topic

The social structures that lead to poverty are deeply rooted and influence women in particular. According to a anthology about feminist perspectives, questions about the role of gender relations and historical developments are raised. The editors, including Prof. Dr. Regina-Maria Dackweiler, address aspects such as poverty risks and political discourses on the subject of women's poverty in the EU, which, according to the European Parliament, has increased in recent years. It is particularly emblematic that in 2020 the risk of poverty for women was 22.9 %, while it was only 20.9 % in men.

The European Parliament has dealt with a resolution to combat women's poverty. This not only calls for measures against discrimination, but also a gender -sensitive approach in climate policy and tax policy. The challenges are diverse: women are often employed in precarious employment relationships, which increases their risk of living in poverty.

creative minds and initiatives

The cultural association Fraustadt not only is a topic, but also organizes various events as part of the women's culture month in March. In autumn 2023, a joint exhibition with works by regional artists will be presented. In addition, the association is planning a future topic for 2026 entitled "Women and Health". Chairman Julia Schober, who works as a biomedical analyst at the Freistadt Clinic, shows a good feeling for the concerns of women in the region.

On the other hand, Zehetmayr Raumakustik GmbH, which with 22 employees, including three apprentices, offers innovative solutions in the field of acoustic optimization. Managing Director Oliver Zehetmayr already acoustically equipped the Linz State Theater in 2010 and has brought a good knack for spatial acoustic projects into the region since then.

to August 3, 2025 can be submitted to the regional prize, and several categories are covered, from gastronomy to renewable energies. A special prize is also awarded: "Upper Austrian from the bottom of my heart" to appreciate special local personalities. In addition, an Interreg project for digitization and regional doctorate is launched, which promises a new image video for excursion destinations in the Innviertel.

The initiatives that are currently blooming in Freistadt are not only important for the region, but also a strong sign against poverty, the women are still above average. By working together local actors such as the Kulturverein Fraustadt and Zehetmayr Raumakustik GmbH, it becomes clear that it wants to be tackled in the community - a promising path to a fairer future.