Pop-Kultur is a festival for everyone! That sounds nice, but what does that actually mean in practice? For example, it means we see accessibility as a quality feature of a good festival, planning and implementing it at all levels in close consultation with experts in their own field.
Because supporting the cultural participation of people with disabilities is of particular importance to us.
Inclusion on stage, in the audience and behind the scenes is a high priority for us. With the help of activists and cultural workers with disabilities, we have developed programmes to promote the visibility and artistic self-determination of people with disabilities.
In close cooperation with self-advocacy organisations, we want to promote inclusion in pop culture and offer a platform for the interests of artists with disabilities.
We’re looking forward to the following performances, concerts and talks:
The two deaf performers Inna Shparber and Mark Petersen will have the world premiere of their Deaf performance »four elements – natural and human powers« at Pop-Kultur. Together they have dedicated themselves to real worlds that many people today are still unaware of. Do you want to get an insight into these worlds? Then join them on this fantastic and exciting journey of discovery through space and time! Full of energy, Inna and Mark slip into different roles as they make life their main topic.
Furthermore, in the talk »Pride & Performance,« they will join the 2nd Vice President of the German Deaf Association Elisabeth Kaufmann and the Deaf journalist and presenter Wille Felix Zante to talk about their work for and with the Deaf Community, about raising awareness and inspiration. What potential is there for Deaf performers in pop culture? Where do difficulties arise? Do deaf people celebrate music, and how? And what does music mean to them?
Felix Brückner, recognisable as one of the few front musicians in a wheelchair, returns with FHEELS. Where La Dispute would invoke post-hardcore, the Hamburg band echoes the gritty, grunge-rock guitars of Soundgarden and the melodic arcs of Eddie Vedder. Brückner’s recitative style of singing, which comes close to the spoken-word freestyle of the usual wave bands, always keeps a certain minimum distance from the four-four platitudes of rock music.
21 downbeat are regulars at Pop-Kultur. This time, the RambaZamba Theater’s house band takes on the classic album »With the Beatles,« bringing it to the stage in a modern, bold and yet respectful way: Beatles songs with the inclusive band’s usual anarchistic spin – unapologetically unfaithful to the originals. Beyond conventional boundaries and ideas, 21 downbeat create a sound that follows the inclusive band’s core principles: exhilaration and ecstasy, or in other words, noise and confetti!
Drag Syndrome are the world’s first and only collective featuring drag queens and kings with Down syndrome. Since forming in London in 2018, the group has wowed millions of people from Canada to Mexico, Spain and Finland. That’s because Drag Syndrome are known for their captivating, joyous and innovative take on drag and performance art. Each Drag Syndrome artist has developed their own personality with their own distinctive style – with androgynous, »genderfuck« styling and charming DIY outfits.
In the talk »Disability Pride – (Wie) Feiern wir in Deutschland unsere Behinderung?«, queer-feminist rapper and activist Sookee will explore the question of whether and how people in Germany celebrate their disabilities, joined by actress Kübra Sekin, performer Saioa Alvarez Ruiz and musician Johanna Krins. Experts from the community will discuss networking, putting pride in their disability above anger in a world of structural discrimination, and with whom they negotiate this.
In the talk »Jung & Behindert« (»Young & Disabled«), we talk to young people with disabilities about the fact that they still do not have full access to all areas of pop culture. Stairs to the basement club, lack of translation into sign language at concerts, technical hurdles when buying tickets, and prejudice and discrimination are among the obstacles they face, especially within nightlife. In this talk, we want to encourage disabled youth to share their perspectives and concerns. In doing so, we will also focus on the positive opportunities for participation by asking disability youth groups what they are doing and how, as well as their visions for pop culture’s future.
Beyond the programme, we are implementing physical and communicative accessibility at Pop-Kultur as follows:
- All event rooms are wheelchair-accessible.
- There are several accessible toilets on the premises (also for guests with invisible disabilities).
- There will be mobile communication assistance in Leichte Sprache (»easy language« in German).
- A selection of the discourse programme will be translated into German Sign Language.
- The inclusively staffed awareness team is available to support visitors with disabilities or other limitations:
Hotline: +49 1573 879 5555 (also via WhatsApp)
Meeting point: during festival hours
Email: inklusion@pop-kultur.berlin
Get there – get in – get along:
An overview of all services for visitors with disabilities can be found in the FAQ:
https://2023.pop-kultur.berlin/en/accessibility/
INKLUTHEK – Pop-Kultur’s accessible media library:
Before and after the festival in our Inkluthek, you can watch music videos with image descriptions, programme contributions with German Sign Language, Deaf performances, four expert talks on inclusion & culture and numerous videos with subtitles and explanatory videos in Leichte Sprache.
https://2023.pop-kultur.berlin/inkluthek/
We look forward to welcoming you to the Kulturbrauerei from 30th August to 1st September 2023 to experience three inspiring and inclusive festival days together!
Here is an overview of our programme recommendations featuring participants with disabilities:
Wednesday, 30th August 2023
Talk: Fabulous Drag Night Talk – Chit Chat with Drag Syndrome
19:20–20:20, Kinosaal 5 (In English with interpretation in German Sign Language)
Talk: Leuchtturmprojekte für ein gerechteres Miteinander in der Musikbranche
20:00–21:00, Haus für Poesie (In German with interpretation in German Sign Language)
Live: 21 downbeat (the house band of the RambaZamba Theater)
21:20–22:00, Frannz Club
Thursday, 31st August 2023
Talk: »Pride & Performance – (Wie) Feiern Taube Menschen Musik?«
18:00-19:00, Haus für Poesie (In German Sign Language)
Talk: »Disability Pride – (Wie) feiern wir in Deutschland unsere Behinderung?«
19:20–20:20, Haus für Poesie (In German with interpretation in German Sign Language)
Live: Drag Syndrome
20:40–21:30, Palais
Live: Deaf Performance »four elements« mit Inna Shparber & Mark Petersen
22:00–22:40, Maschinenhaus
Friday, 1st September 2023
Talk: »Jung und Behindert – (Was) Feiern Jugendliche mit Behinderung?«
19:00 – 20:00, Haus für Poesie (In German with interpretation in German Sign Language)
Live: FHEELS
21:40 – 22:20, Palais