Update 08/21
At Renate and Else, we believe club culture should not reproduce the discriminating structures of our society, but instead create an environment to counter and combat them.
Our team consists of 100+ people who share a strong desire to ensure mistakes of the past are not repeated. We are therefore committed to the ongoing process of assessing and improving structures within our operations which have previously caused harm. This undertaking has required intensive and at times highly personal internal discussions, but we have now reached a point where we’d like to offer the public an update on our progress and outlook.
We aspire to see this ongoing process of (re-)education and awareness reflected at all levels of our operations. At the top, our management and partner structure have fully changed as of August 2020. This includes the arrival of two new owners who share a commitment to building transparent and inclusive structures. The individuals involved in the racist incidents which took place in 2019 are no longer involved in our activities.
In an effort to foster a culture of learning and unlearning within all departments, our team has attended workshops on anti-racism and anti-discrimination led by 7xjung.
A dedicated Awareness Management team has developed guidelines for responding to abusive and discriminatory behavior, and acts as a first point of contact for both guests and staff in this regard. They oversee policy planning which is centered around inclusivity and intersectionality, and meet regularly with the club’s owners to hold them accountable for the implementation of all planned changes. Specialized awareness training for security and door staff has also taken place, including guidance on best practices for responding to sexual harassment and drug overdose. A conscious re-staffing of the door team has been initiated in order to diversify.
Our booking team recognizes the power and privilege inherent in the task of curating lineups, and they aspire to put forward programming which reflects the diversity of the contemporary club scene.
The immersive theatre project Overmorrow, a collaboration with our partners Bad Bruises and Trash Era, provided a paid platform for 140+ performers in 2020, and this year’s shows in the Renate Garten have provided opportunities to an additional 80+ performers (and counting) – all in a time when many are under-employed as a consequence of the pandemic.
This list is by no means exhaustive. It represents a portion of the work we have undertaken thus far, in a process that is ongoing. A lot of voices within our team have needed to be heard and considered, and without ready-made solutions to this approach, it does take time. We thank those of you who have raised concern over our lack of transparency. However, our ambition has always been to sustain Renate and Else as places for acceptance and diversity, and this is the tradition we intend to carry forward. We strive to protect the club as a free space, where everyone feels safe, respected, and welcomed.
If you would like to find out more about our awareness work and the steps we’re taking to ensure safer clubbing, you’ve had experiences in our clubs you would like us to know about, or to share feedback, please reach out to our team: community@renate.cc
Renate x All Out 09/21
Dear family, friends and guests,
On September 12th, 2021, our first solidarity event will take place in cooperation with the human rights organization All Out. We don’t only want to bring the social value of cultural locations such as Renate closer to the public, we also want to inform the public about the massive setbacks the queer community has to suffer.
In the heart of Europe, right on our doorstep and under the eyes of the European Union, human rights are being trampled on.
The Polish government, led by Andrzej Duda (PIS), is leading a nationwide hate campaign against the Polish LGBTQIA + community together with Konfederacia politicians and the Catholic Church. This clearly Machiavellian attack (divide and rule) on the Polish LGBTQIA+ minority on the part of the political and clerical elite of Poland specifically sows fear and hatred against all people whose life plans do not correspond to the supposed “norm.” Aggression and physical attacks on LGBTQIA+ people are not only tolerated, but are actively promoted – all at the highest state level. They even equate LGBTQIA+ with pedophiles in order to stir up fear and hatred. The obvious goal of such condemnable, demagogic missteps is the dehumanization of a minority. Those who stand up for LGBTQIA+ rights or are visible as LGBTQIA+ within Polish society have come to expect criminal prosecution, personal attacks, and violence.To see what follows when politicians use this unscrupulous instrument, it is enough to take a look at the history books and the streets of Poland in 2020/21.
At the moment countless LGBTQIA + activists who bravely stand up to these misanthropic policies are fighting for their existence, which is threatened by criminal trials and associated high fines intended to silence them.
For this purpose we want to collect donations and raise public awareness through panels and information stands.
IN LGBTQIA + RIGHTS WE TRUST!
Renate
RENATE SHOW GARTEN 06/21
We are exited to welcome the artists of Overmorrow back to Renate Garten this summer – with stunning performances in a sparkling atmosphere every weekend. Overmorrow is an art collective founded in 2020, especially to support artists with roots in Berlin`s subculture.
Especially artists who are not part of the mainstream are struggling with the pandemic. These artists have been the fertile ground of Berlin`s cultural landscape for decades, making Berlin the diverse, unique and attractive place it is today.
Many artists in the subculture scene have come to Berlin from all over the world to live freely and work without oppression.
Since they are mostly passed over government funding programs, they rely on projects like Renate Show Garten or Overmorrow to make at least a little money and be seen and heard.
An artist without a stage is an artists without a voice. And a silent artist is excluded from social discourse.
In any free democratic society, artists are as important as free press.
OVERMORROW 10/20
Dear guests and friends,
With a heavy heart from all of our team, we unfortunately have to close Overmorrow early, The performances that were supposed to take place this weekend (before the lockdown on November 2th) cannot take place because we have to deal with unreasonable repression from the Police and the Ordnungsamt, which not only means the end of this segment of this wonderful project, but also could result in severe and possibly irreparable financial damage for us as a cultural location.
Before we go into the incidents of yesterday evening, we would like to apologize to our guests and for the inconvenience. We would of course be very happy if you would like to continue supporting the artists and to donate your already bought ticket we would be very grateful.
Of course, we fully understand should you want to cancel your tickets and have them refunded. In this case, please send us the Paypal data you used for the purchase to the following email address. office@renate.cc We will take care of the refund immediately. Yesterday we had a visit from the Police and Ordnungsamt. During the last 3 inspections we had, the Overmorrow project was not found to be violating any rules put in place by the government and our operations were not disrupted during the inspection. And even tho a large police force has been there in the past, only two to three officers carefully inspected the premises.
However During yesterday’s inspection on October 30, 2020, the ordnungsamt came with a reinforcement of around 20 police officers. We had to pause the entire exhibition for two hours, which resulted in considerable financial damage and stress. This action mainly affects the artists, as all profits are distributed directly to the artists Unfortunately the strength and attitudes of the police suggested that the authorities were expecting a large group, party or rave. They were disappointed to find guests peacefully enjoying an exhibition with some of our amazing performers in their Halloweeen themed costumes.
After the officers could not find any violations of the COVID 19 regulations, there was initially uncertainty among the employees of the Ordnungsamt, probably due to the unusual project and the unexpectedly low number of guests.
As a result, hypothetical visitor numbers and scenarios were used that are far from reality, suggesting there ‘could have been’ 500 people there – even tho at this moment the exhibition was at maximum capacity and it was clear that all guidelines were being followed.
The regulations were ticked off point by point by the responsible Managing personal of the Wilden Renate. This resulted in the Ordnungsamt repeating the ‘potential’ failures of the distance rules and the threat of fines of € 25,000. But having seen that we were clearly not doing anything wrong the Ordnungsamt had to determine that they had come across a well enforced hygiene concept they started to search for violations of other Regulations they thought could be a „success“.
OVERMORROW is and was absolutely compliant during the entire season and in particular under the tightened regulations to amend the SARS-COV-2 infection protection regulation, which has been in force since October 29, 2020.
As already mentioned, the regulatory office was repeatedly able to find no violations of the Infection Protection Ordinance, as in this case, when the exhibition was at its maximum capacity.
Even after 3 exemplary checks carried out in the past, yesterday’s action by the Ordnungsamt and the police felt strange and different.
The officials were unnecessarily aggressive yesterday. This mission in question had the character of a raid rather than a control to ensure compliance with the infection control. The number and sheer strength of the uniformed officers was threatening.
At least two of our artists who belong to marginalized groups and who have to deal with mental stress in contact with police officers in the past, suffered from panic attacks and were not okay.
When asked to proceed as carefully as the officers who had carried out the first checks in the summer and a few weeks back , we received the answer
“One can’t disguise as a secret shopper, and best of all come to visit by appointment “.
At this point we would like to make it clear again that controls on our part are not only tolerated, but even welcomed.
However the threat of more checks and more officers has made us feel intimidated. When we were more than clearly well within all guidelines.
Our Hygiene protocol –
Here is a brief explanation of our processes: Only two people from two households are allowed into the exhibition every 5-10 minutes. The exhibition is divided into 16 stations with 16 stages. The shows of the performance artists that take place on these stages last 5 minutes each. After 5 minutes the guests have to switch to the next stage. the artists keep the prescribed distance of 1.50 m at all times. We also employ employees who are solely responsible for meticulously enforcing this rule.
we all have a common goal. The Ordnungsamt is welcome at any time. We have nothing to blame. However, we would like the authorities to take action that does not directly threaten our existence and our artists and us as a cultural location. Overmorrow was a lifeline for so many artists and cultural workers. With this project we were able to distribute over 94,000 € to our artists and production staff in the last 3 months. It is important!
Overmorrow is a project that was launched together with the Bad Bruises and Trash Era collectives to support artists who have no income, no stage and therefore no voice during the pandemic. The cast of the exhibition consists of 95% LGBTIQ * artists.
We absolutely understand that in times like these, controls have to be carried out. These controls are in our interest and we are ready to make sacrifices. We all want to leave this pandemic behind us as soon as possible. In order to achieve this goal, we have developed alternative concepts to support our artists and to keep the cultural landscape of our city and ourselves alive as a cultural location.
Unfortunately this has now come to an early end. We cannot bear the risk of the threatened repression. Thank you and stay with us.
Your OVERMORROW team
STATEMENT FROM WILDE RENATE TO ADDRESS RACIST INCIDENTS
This is a statement to address incidents of racism that occurred at Wilde Renate in 2019. Discussing this publicly allows us to openly apologise to the affected person, take ownership of our mistakes as a company, communicate the actions we have taken since then and continue to take towards anti-racism and anti-discrimination practices within our organisation.
We are deeply sorry for what happened and for the hurt that was caused. We have been taking steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again within our team, club or event space moving forward.
What happened
A former employee of Wilde Renate (who was working with us from April 2017 to October 2019) was subject to racist incidents within the company involving two other staff members in 2019. The management were made aware of the incidents at the time and they were discussed in depth between all parties involved. At that time we believed the matter had been amicably resolved between all parties.
In July 2020 talks related to this incident were reopened. As soon as it became clear there were unresolved issues related to the incidents mentioned we have been active in attempting their resolve including actively seeking mediation by a third party. We understand more must be done including a public apology and outlining our commitment to anti-racism as an organization.
Apology to our former employee
To our former employee, the management of Wilde Renate are deeply sorry for not taking more direct and clear action in response to the racism you faced while employed within our organization. We see now how offering more options to support you in the investigation and mediation with these racist incidents were necessary to their proper resolve. We are also sorry that so much time has passed between these conversations, it is disappointing for everyone involved.
What We Are Doing
As a result of the incidents that took place at Wilde Renate and the BLM movement we have begun to understand our personal privileges and responsibilities and are implementing necessary organisational structures to prevent similar incidents happening in the future, and if they should happen, how to deal with them in a clear and urgent manner. We recognize there is an immediate need to improve our practices as a company.
Here are some of the things we have been doing:
• On 6 August of this year we started anti-racism training for the entire team, the next session will happen on 20 October. Topics covered: understanding white privilege, how to become actively anti-racist, how to respond in situations involving racism.
• A company wide anti-discrimination policy was implemented. This includes improving our HR processes for dealing with staff discrimination and dismissals.
• We have appointed two Awareness Managers. They are the first point of contact for staff and guests to interface between management and staff for incidents. They are in charge of internal mediation as well as input regarding the diversity of our bookings and HR. They will hold regular meetings ensuring diversity standards and accountability for the company are met. They will also coordinate workshops and learning resources for the staff.
• Starting in November our security staff will undergo separate anti-racist / anti-discrimination training, which will be provided by the Berlin Club Commission.
• Our booking team have an ongoing commitment to diversity on our line ups and are working to develop this further
• Continuing to host a workshop series in the Wilde Renate garden: Open Culture Lab – free music workshops committed to supporting and the inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers, female identified, non-binary and LGBTQI+, and people of color
• From 2018 – 2020 we have supported Kuniri, which hosted sewing workshops for refugees to prepare them for future jobs and design for the fashion label itself.
• A small anti-racist library in the Wilde Renate beer garden was set up in May for our guests and team to read. All resident DJs also agreed to reading and sharing books on the subject between themselves and continuing to discuss how to actively be anti-racist in the club, and in their lives.
Our priority is to listen, learn and develop further this plan of action with clear targets and a timeline for accountability. We will continue to update this list on our website. More plans are also in discussion but cannot be implemented immediately due to the ongoing pandemic and its effects on our daily business. We are committed to this work.
Moving forward
We hope that positive change will come from this and will encourage a wider discussion around how clubs can make the necessary steps to become more inclusive and to challenge discrimination in all its forms within our institutions. We are committed to diversifying our team and seek to employ more people in key positions (including bookers and resident DJs) that offer a better representation of our community, and the wider history of dance music culture.
In addition it is our responsibility to protect the livelihood of our staff and those who were indirectly involved as a result of the mentioned incidents and the subsequent actions by management. Ultimately we want our patrons, guest DJs, resident DJs and staff to feel that Wilde Renate is a safe place for them.
We are open to receive feedback from the community and to have meaningful and constructive discussions around these topics. If you or a friend has ever felt unsafe or experienced anything untoward by a staff member or patron then we want to hear from you: community@renate.cc
UPDATE 21.10.2020
We would like to start by sharing that an official and sincere apology on behalf of the club, its new management and the entire team was sent to our former employee, who was a victim of racist abuse during the time in which he worked in Salon zur wilden Renate. No one should tolerate discriminatory behavior in the workplace, in private communications or anywhere else.
The events took place between January 2019 and June 2019 between three persons who were employed by Salon zur wilden Renate at the time. During that period, two former employees of the club made several racist and discriminatory comments against the person concerned in the course of professional as well as private communication between the then friends.
Since then, extensive personnel consequences were drawn and structural changes were executed. All persons involved, including the club’s management, no longer work for Salon zur wilden Renate.
In the context of the intensive investigation of the incidents by the new management it has become evident that already in the summer of 2018 there were racist and discriminatory remarks in a private communication between another former employee against the affected person, which we strongly condemn. When this was brought to the attention of the former management, it was not handled well and the affected person rightfully felt that he was not taken seriously. We acknowledge this mistake, regret it deeply and do not see it as representing the new direction we started in Salon zur wilden Renate.
From its very first day of establishment and up to now, Salon zur wilden Renate was and is a welcoming home to staff, guests and events of all backgrounds – a space that enabled the creation and development of an open minded and free spirited culture. A place of such nature cannot harbor nationalism, racism, sexism, homophobia or discrimination of any kind.
Creating this safe environment, free of any discriminatory behaviour, was therefore always on top of all priorities in the Renate family. We promise to use this opportunity in order to learn from past mistakes and to meet what is rightfully expected of us.
14.1 •• Friday 17/09 22:00-10:00 (Club)
Anastasia Kristensen, DJ Fett Burger, False Witness, Franz Scala, Johannes Albert, Jus-Ed, Maayan Nidam, Sebastian Voigt, UFO95
14.2 •• Saturday 18/09 14:00-10:00 (Open Air + Club)
Afriqua, Ben Sims, fka.m4a, Ignez, Juan Ramos, Killa, Levon Vincent, LOLSNAKE, Minor Science, Privacy, Souci & Tamila
14.3 •• Sunday 12/09 14:00-10:00 (Open Air + Club)
Claudio PRC, DJ sweet6teen, Gramrcy, Homeboy, Katiusha, Key Clef, Marco Shuttle, Michal Zietara, O-Wells & 41ISSA, Roman Flügel, Terr
DESCRIPTION OF THE SHOW
Puddles the Pelican is a broken, scrappy, one-eyed bird of a cabaret singer, who lives on a cruise ship at the end of time and performs night after night in a sub-level night club bunker called Minus Level 9, “Who doesn’t like a classy shithole?!?.” A survivor of the Deep Horizon Oil Spill, Puddles sings, squawks, moans, and tells stories of love and loss to keep the cruise ship passengers awake as they sail towards a howl – blind, eternal, and empty – on a sea that is no longer blue, but a rusted dark orange. Choking on bits of tar, flailing, all-fantastic Puddles quacks: “Once a glorious bird, now covered in oil. Which one of you bitches has a match?”
This bird is paying homage to a political legacy of drag. Every joke, every cringe-worthy moment of silence, every tear shed on stage is an effort to reciprocate with a queer community, to weave trauma, loss, and non-belonging while walking through the swamp and moving onwards to the clearing. The show addresses many socio-political issues of our time; we repeatedly receive feedback from people that not only does the work create a video in their minds from start to finish, but that some of the songs and jokes help people work through their overwhelming existence and help them to get home at night. This performance is in service of queer communities as a connection-hub for both mourning and celebrating the complicated now.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RESIDENCY
“With that DELICIOUS Martin Sound system on Renate’s Black Floor and all those laser lights, fuck seatbelts, they are going to need airbags,” quacks Puddles!!
Puddles the Pelican, Trash Queen, Address of Mother Earth, Lover of Shiny Things, and Dedicated Member of Several Space Opera Book Clubs is so fucking honored to rise to the occasion of The 1 Year Concert Residency @ Renate. Quack Quack Quack!! 2 shows every 2 weeks for one year! The show structure will be constant, since Puddles is Double Taurus w Libra Rising but inside that structure she is going to shake it up every single week! Practice makes a practice and keeps the audience culty.
Set 1, Blood and Guts Cult Cabaret with a Pelican and her BELOVED Pianist, Sunny the Anemone aka Quentin Tolimieri. Get ready for new stories, songs, covers and originals every fucking week.
Set 2, Puddles and smokin hot band, The Creatures from the Deep, perform their cruise ship famous original hits sure to spin your chakras good.
QUOTES
“Puddles is holding the space for everything at once, it’s not singing or dancing it’s a body, breathing, sounding and moving. It’s a body taking many forms and shape shifting, I just feel like it’s, it’s beautiful.” ANOHNI
“Puddles the Pelican is the address of Mother Earth, childlike then fierce, moaning, cringing in pain and mourning. This Bird is engaging, disturbing, desperate singing nightclub act that fills you with emotions, paints vivid imagery in your mind, lifts you up with her twisted humor and then tears you down at an impasse of great loss in a matter of seconds. Her vocal fragility and delivery are masterful. Book her!” PEACHES
TRIGGER WARNING
Few parts of this show consist of material situating intense emotional moments that could affect some spectators, Puddles will work hard to turn the breakdown into a breakthrough. However, please consider this before coming to the show. If you are having a hard time, it could make you feel a lot better, it could also make you feel worse. Don’t take a risk. “Hang in there but not off the edge of the ship.” Love Puddles
CREDITS
Front Bird: Puddles the Pelican
Piano: Sunny the Sea Anemone aka Quentin Tolimieri
Back Up Vocals: Zoe Jamileh
Drums: Liliana Zieniawa
Bass:Ranjit Prasad
Collaborator in Crime: Darcey Bennett
Texts: Allison Wiltshire & Puddles the Pelican Dramaturgy: Maika Knoblich
Artistic Mentor: Katerina Kokkinos-Kennedy Costume: Claudia Hill & Josa Marx
Wig: Benjamin Kiss + Anita Christ
Lights + Sound: Marco Pelaic
Special thanks to Flo Wozny, Geovane Pedro De Bortoli, Michael Rollnick and Yoav Admoni, to the incredible Ezra Green for the contribution of his poetry, to Hari Stojan for his feedback.
Thanks to Marc Lohr for his original arrangement of numerous songs in Act 1.
Puddles first appeared as part of “The Clearing”, a co production by HAU Hebbel am Ufer, supported by Hauptstadtkulturfonds.
‘Lost at Sea with Puddles and Sunny’ is a production by Puddles the Pelican, in coproduction with Künstlerhaus Mousonturm. Special thanks to Württembergische Kunstverein Stuttgart
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