Tuesday, June 06, 2006

 

Primavera Sound 1st - 3rd June 2006


As I've just started this blog and just been to this music festival it seems like a good starting place. Primavera sound is an annual music festival in Barcelona and brings together the best of the old and new bands from across the world. That's all well and good, but what about the access?

Until 2005 Primavera sound was held at Poble Espanyol at Montjuic where the majority of the Olympics were held in 1992. The biggest problem with this venue for disabled people was that it was situated on a large hill. There were many steps and so disabled people had to find routes which were barrier free. Not only that but to get to many of the smaller stages the only access for wheelchair users was via platform lifts to climb stairs. Most wheelchair users find this a hassle and at the least a tedious waste of time looking for a steward who inevitably doesn't know how it works or doesn't have the key.

In 2005 the festival moved to the all new Parc Del Forum on the other side of Barcelona. This complex was built especially for a year long celebration of cultures from around the world. It's not completely flat but at least it's not as hilly as Poble Espanyol. There are a couple of steep climbs, most notably to the entrance and back up from where the Vueling Stage was situated.

The ground surface isn't too bad, mainly with tarmac but also there are some paving slabs which are circular. Obviously these don't neatly fit together and there were some spaces between them which could cause problems for people with small front casters on wheelchairs. I don't think that this issue is something that Parc Del Forum nor Primavera sound will look into in the near future, but hopefully the will look at some of the other problems facing disabled people.

One of the biggest issues as a wheelchair user at Primavera Sound is getting to see anything. With all of the crowds it's impossible to get a good view and even if you do within five minutes someone decides to stand in front of you. At the smaller stadiums it's not too bad especially during the afternoon but as the day progresses and the larger acts come on stage the problems start to begin. The main stage was the worst, as at any festival, which is the "Estrella Damm Stage" or in the case of disabled people "Estrella, Damn I can't see anything stage".

Right: Mick Harvey playing on the Danzka
CD Drome Stage.

The solution to me seems very simple, as most major music festivals have already discovered it and it isn't a new idea by any means, build a wheelchair accessible viewing platform. The platform serves to raise seated people to a level above the crowd so they can also see the stage, it can be used for wheelchair users and also plastic chairs can be provided for those with other mobility issues that can't stand for long periods or simply for a person with a broken leg or pregnant women.



As I only saw three other wheelchair users I can only imagine that the reason not to do this is because either the organisers of Primavera Sound haven't thought of it, don't care or it's just not economically viable. If they haven't thought of it, then listen up guys, we need an accessible viewing platform and if they don't care then I think we have a problem and we need to make them care. If the third reason is the excuse (which it normally is) , then they need to work out how to compensate disabled people for not being able to see 70% of what they would like. I'm not a fan of giving discounts to disabled people just because they're disabled but in this case I believe it would be justified.

Right: Sisa

On a positive note the Auditori Stage which is an indoor venue at the festival was very accessible. The stewards at the entrance of the building were helpful in pointing out where the lifts are. When I eventually found the correct door to enter the Auditori I was swiftly escorted to a wheelchair viewing space where I could sit with my girlfriend and friends and enjoy the Catalan singer Sisa. Maybe the orgainsiers of Primavera Sound could learn something from him when he sings; "Benvinguts! Passeu, passeu....." This was one of the few acts that was easily accessible and was worth the entrance fee just to see him.

A rather irritating point about the festival was that in the main food area there were toilets for everyone apart from disabled people. Is this because disabled people do not want to go to the toilet before or after their meal or am I missing something. This wasn't the only area where toilets for "normal" people were provided but not for wheelchair users. It strikes me as rather odd that the people with mobility problems have to walk or push further in order to use a toilet because the nearest ones are not accessible (Maybe someone needs to explain what "Mobility Problems" means).

As for everyone that goes to festivals the toilets as usual were pretty disgusting, but this effects disabled people more than most. The first issue is that we get excrement all over our hands when entering a toilet in a wheelchair and that there wasn't a sink to wash them with. If a person then has to do a catheter it can be detrimental to their health through contracting urinary tract infections from other people's urine. There are ways around this such as wearing latex gloves but still it's not the most hygienic situation for what it in actual fact more of a medical procedure rather than just going for a pee. On the same note of the cleanliness of toilets, many disabled people need to sit on the toilet seat in order to do their business. It just isn't an option to hover over the toilet like many women do at festivals (And quite frankly who can blame them for doing that?).

Whilst I realise that toilets are in short supply at festivals for everyone, something should be done to make this safer and more comfortable for disabled people. Maybe the solution is to provide strateically placed accessible toilets which have a key to get in which could be provided to disabled people when they arrive. It would also be an idea for them to pay a refundable deposit for the key so that they return it at the end of the day and the system isn't abused by leaving the key with their able bodied friends. Or there could be a system of VIP toilets, where anyone can pay a fee to use clean toilets and have a key to get in. I for one would be willing to pay for this service as long as they were accessible.

Many "normal" people may think that this is just a whinge of adisabledd guy that wants better facilities and that I should accept that stinking filthy toilets are a part of festivals and everyone has to put up with it. My reply is that if you have ever spent several weeks of the year in hospital with a urinary tract infection you would understand why this is important to us.

All in all I had a fantastic time at Primavera Sound, great music, a wonderful chilled atmosphere and most importantly doing what I enjoy most, spending time with my friends. Lets hope that Primavera Sound 2007 brings us more great acts and better access so that we can see them. In the meantime the 14th - 15th July 2006 is Summercase a new music festival in Barcelona at the same venue. I hope they manage to do slightly better on the access front and I'll write about this in due course.

Useful Links:

www.primaverasound.com
www.summercase.com

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