The Eclectic Tech Carnival is a gathering of women interested in open source technology. It is usually held once a year, in a place where there is an interested group of women willing to host it, and is usually about a week long - but every /ETC is different!

The next /ETC will take place in March 2012 in Ljubljana - click here for more information

A carnival typically includes hands-on workshops on installing and using open source and free software, building web sites, understanding network security, and exploring alternatives to commercial/mainstream social networking sites and other tools. The programme usually also features cultural discussions and presentations, art exhibitions, performances and community events.

Each carnival is organised by the local group, with the support of the international network via mailing lists, IRC and IRL meetings. This means that while the philosophy and themes are continued from one /ETC to the next, each event has a distinct local flavour and focuses on specific local needs and contexts. Women travel from all over the world to participate, share skills and have cultural exchange.

Herstory / Background
The first /ETC was held in Pula, Croatia in 2002, and was an extension of the hardware and FLOSS courses for women held in Amsterdam by the Genderchangers. These regular "open doors" and "skills from scratch" events successfully combine technical skill sharing and networking amongst women, and women visiting Amsterdam from other places were inspired to organise similar events in their own locations.

Click on the links at the right for documentation of previous /ETCs; and scroll down for a list of upcoming events.