At the latest with the publication of the Correctiv investigation in January, it has once again become abundantly clear just how real right-wing extremism is at the heart of our society and how urgent it is for civil society to engage with this reality continuously and consistently. We are also observing that right-wing extremism is becoming more prevalent within club culture. Club spaces take on particular significance in this context, as they are precisely the places where collective encounters, social cohesion, free expression, and diversity thrive. This makes us all the more concerned when right-wing-friendly or far-right tendencies infiltrate club spaces. In particular, the potential and actual impacts on the well-being and safety of marginalized visitors are a cause for great concern and undermine the cultural integrity and inclusivity of our spaces. We invite you to shed light on and analyze this current social landscape and to exchange ideas on concrete strategies and measures to actively counter right-wing extremism in club culture.

The current reality of Berlin’s club culture is defined above all by one thing: rising costs and prices, and extreme economic pressure. Since clubs reopened after the pandemic, the deep-seated nature of these structures within neoliberal capitalism has become painfully apparent. Everything is getting more expensive, working conditions are becoming increasingly difficult, and the question arises: Who actually still has access to club culture, and under what conditions? How can diverse and open spaces still emerge under these circumstances?

Accessibility means that all aspects of daily life are equally accessible to everyone without the need for outside assistance, and it is an issue that is playing an increasingly important role in the context of events and club culture. Nevertheless, people with disabilities are rarely seen in clubs, bars, or at concerts because going out independently is impossible for them in many places in Berlin. When a club, collective, or event organizer tackles the issue of accessibility, there are many different factors to consider. This complexity, combined with the fact that most people lack firsthand experience of being prevented from participating in social life due to barriers, can lead to uncertainty and feeling overwhelmed—and may even result in the issue not being addressed at all.

For some time now, we have been receiving reports of spiking in Berlin clubs. We take these reports very seriously and are in contact with various experts and organizations. Our goal is to create spaces where everyone can feel safe. Rather than telling potential victims how to protect themselves from spiking, we must do everything in our power to prevent these acts and bar perpetrators from our venues. 

With clubs and venues reopening, and after more than two years of intensive work, dialogue, networking, and mutual learning, we are once again focusing specifically on one of the core visions that inspired us to launch the Awareness Academy project in 2020: Awareness & Diversity—minimum standards and values for club culture.

On the one hand, the use of G—as well as its use as a knockout drug—places a burden on clubs that are already struggling, as well as their operators and staff. On the other hand, the stigmatization of users, as well as fear and overwhelm on the part of the clubs, unfortunately also lead to situations where, in emergencies, help is sometimes not called for, people in need of assistance are not approached within the club, and intoxicated users are kicked out onto the street. This is a vicious cycle that must be broken through constructive dialogue, education, sensitization, training, and awareness-raising.

In this roundtable, we want to talk, discuss, and reflect together on what constructive processes for taking responsibility might look like and how they can be shaped within our clubs, collectives, and communities. How can we work together to create a safe and supportive environment for those affected by violence? What steps and skills are needed to recognize when boundaries are crossed and to reflect on this seriously? How can this lead to real change, making club culture a bit safer and more inclusive?

We’re seeing and hearing the terms “Awareness teams,” “Awareness work,” and “Awareness” itself more and more often in the context of club events, festivals, and open-air concerts. But where does “awareness” actually come from, and from which movements did it emerge as a practice? What is the nature of the particular mindset that should underpin every concept of awareness, regardless of the space for which it was developed? How can mindful and safer spaces—especially for marginalized communities—be created and maintained within our club culture? How could “aware” action become an attainable guideline for all our club culture spaces while maintaining our integrity?

Clubs can serve as safe spaces for people who face stress in their daily lives due to discrimination or marginalization. The loss of these spaces during the pandemic, in turn, can lead to increased stress. For the people behind the scenes at clubs, these spaces sometimes also represent workplace strain or financial insecurity. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 crisis, this roundtable discussed the tension between mental well-being, socializing habits, and working within club culture.

The pandemic not only threatens the livelihoods of many people within club culture; it also acts as a magnifying glass, highlighting the inequalities and injustices in our society. Much of this occurs without a concrete awareness of racist mechanisms within one’s own structures. However, racist practices and actions also take place in club culture across various dimensions and areas—in teams, in communication, on the dance floor, at the door, and in programming. For this roundtable, we invited individuals and initiatives that actively work against racism and for equal treatment within club culture. Together with all participants, we discussed and analyzed the current state of affairs regarding this issue and developed countermeasures and possible courses of action.

From door policies and discrimination-sensitive codes of conduct to infrastructure for support services and accepting drug work—awareness-raising efforts can take many different forms. Each of these comes with its own set of challenges. For the second roundtable, the Berlin clubs ://aboutblank and Mensch Meier were invited to present their many years of practical work in the field of awareness. Together with all participants, various approaches, possibilities, and problematic situations were discussed.

This opening roundtable brought together key players from the club and festival scene to jointly shape the working group and set its goals. Only through ongoing and open dialogue with all stakeholders can a diverse club culture free from discrimination emerge. The Awareness Academy presented its work to date and its projects.