The Mauerpark Drumcircle Berlin is here to stay!
Donation protected
We are the Mauerparker Trommelistas and every Sunday we create Berlin's liveliest drum circle in the middle of the city.
credit: Wolfgang Eichberg, @radiomoabit-afreeBerlinvoice
The Drum Circle's existence is currently under threat!
The district's planned new parking rules could mean the end of this unique social project after many years!
Formerly known as the 'death strip' and created between the two German states at the time, the open-air area has been a meeting place for over 30 years.
The Mauerpark is considered Berlin's No. 1 open-air cultural oasis.
At the unique 'friends-and-family-groove-event', beginners, experienced drummers, professionals, people of all ages - with or without disabilities - as well as parents with their children and all other beat enthusiasts drum.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRmV777xluY
credit: Wolfgang Eichberg, @radiomoabit-afreeBerlinvoice
The international crowd at Mauerpark mixes Berliners of all backgrounds with newcomers, travelers and random passers-by.
credit: Thomas Koch, @tomsgigtaxi
We live international understanding and inclusion in a very practical way.
'Who someone is', 'where someone comes from', 'what someone thinks' or 'what someone else does in life' is just as secondary as their own identity or sexual orientation.
All that matters is the common ground in the groove!
Drumming, dancing, singing and celebrating together is the oldest 'community building event' in human history, regardless of ethnicity, nation, religion, political beliefs and other personality-defining factors.
Drums are one of the most archaic and intense instruments in the world.
Anyone who feels the beat knows why!
We want to use the donations for 5 goals:
We want to 1) produce printed material and set up a website. This should not only convey the soul of the free drum session, but also promote understanding, acceptance and tolerance of this beautiful thing in the immediate neighborhood.
2) High-quality instruments of various kinds are to be purchased so that those who are willing to play along and want to play rhythm have the opportunity to use a good drum or a nice percussion instrument of their choice without having to rely on the private instruments of others.
A larger number of instruments requires 3) transportation logistics such as a bicycle trailer, a cargo bike or - in the long term - perhaps even a vehicle.
Since drumming - like music in general - is associated with noise, we are striving for 4) noise protection measures that are of a structural nature and either take the form of mobile noise protection elements or result in a cost allowance for relatively minor construction measures.
These moderate and noise-reducing landscape-architectural modifications in the style of Prof. Lange's original Mauerpark design, which we have been longing for, seem to be easier to implement with a certain amount of own funds than without them, especially in Berlin. Drumming is sexy, but Berlin is poor...
The Mauerpark Drum Circle is currently under threat due to complaints from local residents, and we want to do our best to help ease the situation for the benefit of all.
We are considering 5) setting up a non-profit association so that not only the donations can be managed transparently and used in a traceable manner, but also so that foundation and consultancy costs can be covered. We want to be able to 'drive on sight' at all times with professional legal support.
PLEASE HELP TO KEEP THE DRUM CIRCLE GROOVING :)!
More about the current threat to the Drum Circle and Mauerpark culture in general:
Campaign 'Securing cultural coexistence in Mauerpark'
Drum Corner playlist:
All photos: Thomas Koch, @tomsgigtaxi, Insta: indivisuals.life
Organizer
Thomas Koch
Organizer
Berlin, Berlin