Reflection Year
SHOUT BACK! FEST OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
After much consideration, the organizers of Shout Back! Festival have decided that instead of organizing a festival this summer, the year will be spent on a community reflection project.
For the last three years (2012, 2013 and 2014) Shout Back! Festival has been organized entirely on volunteer labour with the intention of creating/building safer spaces for musicians, artists, activists and organizers. In that time, we’ve had 194 bands perform (47 in 2012, 83 in 2013, 64 in 2014). The number of workshops offered increased from 4 in 2012, 8 in 2013 to 12 in 2014. In addition, we’ve worked hard to increase physical accessibility of venues as well as free meals offered at shows. Last year, with the help of an amazing kitchen and food committee, we were able to offer meals at almost every show! Other improvements/additions last year included IPOC and Trans Meet-ups, IPOC showcase event, and through the safer spaces committee, we developed festival-wide policies on accessibility + childcare, abuse + consent and cultural appropriation. (read more: http://shoutbackfest.tumblr.com/saferspaces).
We also hosted an Anarchist bookfair featuring 37 tables (zinesters, artists, groups and organizations).
We, as a collective, realize that in order for the spirit of Shout Back! to be maintained, it is necessary for us to spend a year reflecting on the success of the festival, as well as the growing pains of such a large-scale project. We feel that a community debriefing process is necessary, and would like to take this time to consider our capacity moving forward. We feel it is important to be transparent about our intentions when making a decision like this. As organizers, we recognize the emotional labour put into creating a festival that attempts to challenge oppressive structures and strives for inclusivity, and further recognize that as individuals coming from varying locations of identity and backgrounds, we hold responsibilities to many communities. We take this very seriously and understand that we make ourselves vulnerable to negative responses (IE righteous anger, differing ideologies, and missed opportunities). To further the radical potential of Shout Back! (making safer spaces for marginalized voices, radical politics, and inclusivity) we need everyone to participate!
What does a community reflection project look like?
SBF needs you! In place of the festival, we will be working collaboratively with a researcher who focuses on safer spaces in community organizing as part of our year long reflection project. All involved in Shout Back!, organizers, participants, volunteers, performers, and observers, are encouraged to participate. We will be actively seeking input and feedback through the following ways: anonymous surveys,focus groups, questionnaires, community reflection, and submissions of memories and experiences associated with time spent at SBF throughout the past 3 years. We will be emphasizing the experiences of IPOC and TRANS individuals as a major priority of this community reflection.
More news!
We are so excited to announce that proceeds from last years festival have allowed us to give to three very important regional projects. As a celebration of the the festival’s success we are proud to announce that $1500 from Shout Back Fest! will go to each of the following projects: Unist'ot'en Camp Healing Centre, Madii Lii Camp and PACE Society. All of these projects/people do important radical work within their communities.
FYI: Shout Back! supports ongoing organizing in the community and are happy to be affiliated with like-minded projects and events. We are also happy to share resources!
A huge heartfelt thanks to all those who have performed, facilitated workshops, made meals, lent gear, made flyers etc.. over the last three years. We hope that folks (from organizers, musicians and attendees) will contribute feedback to our reflection project so that we can continue to do this vital work to the best of our abilities.
-Shout Back! Fest