The CircusDanceFestival tries to make access as uncomplicated as possible for people from diverse backgrounds.
Here, you can find information about existing barriers.
During the online ticket purchase process, you have the opportunity to directly communicate your needs to us. If you would like to get in touch with us beforehand, feel free to contact us at barrierefreiheit@overhead-project.de.
It is also important to us that everyone feels comfortable and seen at our event. To achieve this, we have developed an awareness concept and want to create a community-driven and inclusive festival with our Community Guidelines. If you do feel uncomfortable at any point, there will be an awareness team and quiet spaces available on-site.
Accessibility
ccessibility of the Festival Grounds
The festival grounds consist of two parts. The upper part belongs to Latibul, the Circus and Theater Pedagogical Center, and is accessible via the street "An der Schanz."
From the Boltensternstraße train station, it is about 300 meters. There are elevators at both tracks of the station that take you up to a bridge. From there, you can access the street without any further barriers and continue on to Latibul.
Directly in front of the entrance to Latibul, there are several parking spaces. Designated parking spaces for people with disabilities are available at the youth hostel, just 200 meters from the festival entrance. The path to the festival is level.
The venues on this part of the festival grounds include two circus tents and a cinema, all of which are accessible at ground level. There is also a bar and the restrooms. A barrier-free toilet for wheelchair users is located in the restroom container and is accessible via a ramp.
The second part of the grounds is the large field at the bottom, between Latibul and the Rhine. You can reach it from the upper part (Latibul) via stairs or a paved path with a slight incline. Alternatively, you can also access it from the paved bike and pedestrian path along the Rhine. Between this bike and pedestrian path and the stages is a patch of grass. On this lower part of the festival grounds, events take place in another circus tent and on the concert stage. There is also a small tent with an open library and various activities to engage in conversations and get creative, as well as another bar.
The lower tent is accessible via a paved path. The incline upwards may be too steep for wheelchair users to navigate on their own. The other stages are only accessible via the grass.
There is a video that takes you through the grounds, so you can get an idea of the conditions. The video is available with subtitles.
Awareness
Where people meet, discriminatory and abusive behavior unfortunately occurs, both consciously and unconsciously. Those affected by sexism, queerphobia, or racism are particularly exposed to this. The harm is not only in the transgressive situation itself but also in how it is handled: much is left unspoken and without consequences, which can intensify feelings of insecurity and fear. The term awareness refers to an understanding of these structures.
Together with the initiative of feminist circus, we have developed an awareness concept to make the CircusDanceFestival a place where everyone can feel comfortable and safe.
We expect all visitors, artists, and team members to adhere to basic rules for respectful and considerate interactions. This will be communicated in advance and during the festival. Not all discriminatory or abusive behavior stems from malicious intent, but it can still be hurtful. Since there is often a lack of awareness and many are unsure how to react when something happens, we have established ourCommunity Guidelines here. These will be shared in advance with all staff, artists, and supporters.
What individuals perceive as a transgression is subjective. Therefore, we do not question the perspective of those affected. We stand in solidarity with those who seek our support.
Definition of Awareness:
Awareness describes that everyone collectively creates a respectful environment in which each person can feel comfortable and safe. This includes: organizers, crew, artists, and the audience. Translated as "attention," awareness at events means looking out for and taking responsibility when situations of overload, violence, or discrimination occur. Awareness involves both preventing these situations in advance and providing support to the affected person according to their needs, so they can feel comfortable and safe at the event again.
Awareness Team
Contact Points & Availability:
- Pink Shirt with A
- Bars and Info Stand
Our Awareness Team moves around the festival grounds and can be identified by pink shirts with an "A" on the back. If you can't find the team right away, feel free to approach one of our bars or the information stand. The staff there will direct you to the right person. The Awareness Team can also be reached by phone at +49157 54251181 during the festival, in case direct contact is not desired or possible. The phone is also available if you need support at an event at one of the external locations.
Support Options:
Support may involve talking about what happened, sharing how you are feeling, or expressing your needs to help you feel better. We offer a quiet space where you can step away from the festival activities to talk, relax, or take a break.
In consultation with the festival team, individuals who have committed (sexualized) violence may be asked to leave the festival grounds. We will try to assist you with any matters to the best of our ability.
After the Festival:
If you need support following the festival regarding an incident or if you would like to share something with us, please feel free to contact us. If necessary, we can also refer you to professional support services.
We would also greatly appreciate feedback on how we handle these issues, as we are still in the process of improving. So, please feel free to reach out if you notice anything missing or bothersome in this text or during the festival.
You can email us at awareness@overhead-project.de if you would like to contact the festival production team.