Womanifesto is an international art event initiated by a group of women artists living in Thailand. Held biennially since 1995 (exhibitions were organized in Bangkok in 1997 and 1999), this event has successfully created an extensive network of artists, curators and art historians.

Unlike its previous manifestations Womanifesto 2001 was designed as a ten-day Workshop in a remote setting of northeastern Thailand with no formal exhibition of works planned thereafter.

At Boon Bandaan Farm near Kantharalak, Si Saket, an international group of 18 professional women artists, curators and art administrators including 5 student volunteers studying cultural management were invited to interact and exchange not only with each other, but also with the local community. In our contemporary environment, the gaze is generally focused on urbanisation and city centres. Traditional methods of production and rural knowledge of living are frequently overlooked and quickly forgotten. Focusing particularly on the position of women, and the wealth of stored knowledge that has been handed down from generation to generation and shared amongst men, women and children in rural areas, the emphasis at Womanifesto 2001 was on exploring local materials, engaging with craftspeople, sharing experiences and a traditional way of life. The participants of the Workshop were not required to produce “work” in the ten days although some artists decided to create site-specific works on the farm.

Womanifesto Workshop 2001 was organized and planned to initiate dialogue and create a dynamic environment for process and exchange. Womanifesto Workshop 2001 was fully funded by the Chiang Mai office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, a publicly funded German organization. One of the areas of focus of the Foundation is promoting contemporary art events that present a critical analysis of society.