How We Create A SafeR Space

At Festival of Sensations, we strive to create a safeR space for people who are routinely marginalized by society to feel comfortable and catered for. We encourage everyone to actively ask for feedback about their language, behavior, etc. and incorporate it. When getting called in or out, try to stay calm and apologize and check in with the person later, if possible. Remember that acknowledging mistakes and being accountable for your actions only helps with building trust and a feeling of safety. 

Here are some of the ways that we work towards creating a safeR space:

Gender Neutral Language

We strive to use gender neutral language when possible, especially when addressing groups of people or people whose gender we do not know. Please do not assume anyone’s gender, sex or sexuality based on how they appear. Be mindful – if you are unsure, simply use their name and/or ask what pronouns they use before addressing them. Also, when introducing yourself to a group, please mention your pronouns. 

COVID Policy

Creating a safeR environment entails providing for physical safety as well as emotional! Therefore, we would like to share with you our strategy to avoid any complications due to COVID.

We are creating a space where the most vulnerable people in the community are safeR. Therefore everyone, including Construction Crew and Staff members, need to show a negative PCR-Test (not older than 48 hours) at the Check-In. PCR-Tests in Vienna are free of charge for all EU citizens and can be obtained at test sites or purchased at drug stores/pharmacies and fuel stations. If you are arriving from abroad and have no accessible PCR testing methods, we also accept a negative certificated Antigen Test (not older than 24 hours). With this step we want to create a small safeR bubble, meaning that there will be NO obligation to wear masks at the festival nor maintain a 1.5m distance from each other. As Festival of Sensations is an outdoor festival, we believe that these measures are enough to reduce the risk of spreading COVID. 

Please note that these measures will not guarantee a COVID-free environment. If you experience symptoms during the festival, please contact a team member and we will help you get a test as soon as possible.

If anyone tests positive during or in the two weeks following the festival, please inform a team member via the Emergency Number (+43 677 643 084 32) or in person wearing a mask at the festival, or after the event by sending an email to festivalofsensations@gmail.com. We will inform all attendees while maintaining your confidentiality. Contracting COVID is not a moral failure on your part, and we will not judge you for getting sick. It is, however, of utmost importance that we react swiftly and appropriately to ensure that the virus does not spread further. 

(Un)Dress Code

Festival of Sensations attendees should feel free to wear whatever clothes allow us to express ourselves and are suitable for the varied activities arranged to engage all five senses.

The following are some specific points to consider: They are directed towards avoiding harm or misunderstandings and are based on experiences at previous sex- & body-positive and spiritual events.

Nudity at Festival of Sensations

As a Body Positive festival, we will feature nudity both during certain workshops/performances and sometimes informally. 

When interacting with people wearing fewer clothes than you are used to, please remember this basic principle:

Someone being naked does not necessarily make them a threat, and it does not mean that they have provided you with consent.

Consent applies most obviously to physical content, but also to comments and lingering looks.

No Far-Right or nationalist Iconography

Festival of Sensations welcomes attendees of all religions and ethnicities, and for this reason we have a strict ban on symbols and iconography associated with the far-right. This includes (but is not limited to) the symbols covered by the Prohibition Act 1947 (DE: Verbotsgesetz 1947). 

If in doubt, please err on the side of caution rather than ‘reclamation’ (especially if you’re not part of a group directly targeted by contemporary far-right groups.).

National flags should also be avoided wherever possible.

Avoid Appropriative Styles & Costumes

Cultural exchange is a beautiful thing, but it does not take place outside of the context of colonialism and imperialism. Please avoid cultural appropriation from cultures you do not personally belong to. If in doubt, defer to someone from the culture being drawn from (either directly or through reading).

While not everyone from marginalised communities agrees on what constitutes ‘appropriation’, it’s best if conversations around these topics are centered on their perspectives rather than defensiveness. With this in mind, we specifically discourage the following: 

• Usage of Indigenous terms & artifacts by white-privileged people: feather headdresses, tipis, sweat lodges, “Aho”, dreamcatchers, “tribe,” references to spirit animals, etc. 
• Locs worn by non-Black people should be avoided. Inspired by Smut Slam, we invite those who choose to wear appropriative hairstyles to learn more about racist microagressions, and to cover their hair while at the Festival.  

As Smut Slam puts it, we aim to create an event which:

“strives to create a supportive and safer space, both onstage and off, and we recognize that style and behavior of individuals can contribute to an environment that feels unsafe for marginalized people. This is why we are asking non-black people who wear culturally appropriative hairstyles (for example, dreadlocks or box braids) to do research about these racist microagressions, and to cover up such hairstyles at Smut Slam while they are doing the work.” 

Sustainability 

We want to reduce our carbon footprint and create a sustainable space, therefore we have considered a few steps with which you can help us keep Festival of Sensations environmentally friendly.

1.   Eco-Friendly departure and arrival

1. 1. The journey from Vienna to Hainburg an der Donau is easy and comfortable by train. The station is just 10 minutes walking distance from the festival area.
   2. Leave your car at home or use the community for ride sharing.

2.   Food & Beverages

1. 1. We offer 100% plant-based food.
   2. Water is for everyone, so you’ll find free water containers distributed through the festival area. We will not use disposable cups, so bring your own bottle/cup to refill.
   3. You’ll find only glass bottles and sustainable carton cans at our bars. You can always use your self-brought cups/bottles if needed.
   4. Many of our beverage partners compensate co2 with each sold product.

3.   Plastic & Disposable Plastic

1. 1. There will be no disposable plastic at our festival. Help us keep the area clean by bringing back your dirty dishes to the sign posted areas. To save water, we will wash everything with dishwashers. If you feel like it, you can also use our wash tunnel.
   2. You can help reduce plastic by avoiding buying products at the supermarket with non-recyclable packages.

4.   Waste

1. 1. Don’t litter the environment. In the festival area you can throw your waste in designated trash bins. If you are going for a swim at the Donau or a hike in the beautiful forests and mountains outside of Festival of Sensations, just bring back your trash and dispose of it correctly.

5.   Sustainable Purchase and Reuse

1. 1. Lots of our production material and decorations are reused or borrowed from other collectives and festivals. In many cases the material is bought second hand. We welcome you to consider this option for your next private purchase. Recycling purchases save useless additional plastic packages and money.