For 20 years, a group of young people in Basel and the region have been demonstrating how youth culture, creativity and social commitment can be effectively and enjoyably combined. This is imagine basel, the self-organised project of terre des hommes switzerland. On 4 and 5 June, an alternative programme suitable for Corona will be taking place to the world-famous sound festival in Basel for diversity and against discrimination, which under normal circumstances attracts several tens of thousands of people every year.
This time it's off to the Sommercasino, which doesn't have quite as much space as the good old Barfüsserplatz. But the SoCa is a proven hotspot for youth music culture in northwestern Switzerland that has remained young and agile.
Small but mighty!
The new virus has also thrown imagine's plans into disarray. But the crew of imagine basel has not given up and that's why on June 4 and 5 there will be a small, fine Festival of a different kind takes place at the Sommercasino, SoCa for short.
"Even though the big festival plans for Barfüsserplatz have already had to be ceremoniously buried, we are all the more pleased to be able to offer an alternative programme this year! True to the motto 'Small but mighty!' there is not only something for the ears, but also something for the hearts!" This is what imagine basel writes in their Media Release May 25, 2021.
Like a Family
imagine, the self-organized youth project of terre des hommes switzerland, is known for its popular music festival for tolerance and diversity. It takes place every year over two days at the beginning of June on and around the Barfüsserplatz in Basel and attracts more than 20,000 young and old. imagine basel is much more than that, however, as a glance at the Website or shows on the Instagram and Facebook account of the creative lab.
The concern behind it has been the same for 20 years, says Joshua Rössle, program coordinator at imagine with a focus on music programming, in the June Magazine of terre des hommes switzerland: "There are unpleasant things in our society that have unfortunately never completely disappeared." "At imagine, we promote diversity and stand up against discrimination," he says. "imagine builds bridges between youth culture and awareness-raising events."
And what is the driver for this great work? Joshua Rössle, one of the many dedicated young people behind imagine basel who are braving the corona blues: "The nice thing is that you don't manage your area alone, but everyone helps everyone. We are like a family. If someone needs help, the others are always there."
Festival imagine Basel goes Sommercasino: https://imaginebasel.ch/festival
Interview with Roger Gafner, Project coordinator imagine basel at terre des hommes switzerland: https://www.terredeshommesschweiz.ch/es-braucht-gegensteuer-zu-ausgrenzung-und-radikalismus/
