Social commitment
Statement about the Music Diversity Initiative
The desire for appropriate financial support for the independent scene, whether in music or other art forms, is understandable. The Basel Chamber Orchestra also supports this concern. However, this must not be at the expense of existing structures.
The music diversity initiative is driving a wedge between the players in Basel as a city of music by playing them off against each other. Instead of calling for an increase in the cantonal music budget, it aims to redistribute existing funds. This jeopardises established structures and institutions and deprives many freelance musicians of their livelihood.
The Basel Chamber Orchestra makes a significant contribution to the national and international reputation of Basel as a city of music with around 100 concerts a year in Basel and around the world, as well as with its extensive promotion of young talent and educational work. The orchestra employs 48 musicians on a project-related basis - the musicians define their workloads independently and do not receive a fixed salary in the traditional sense, but are paid per project. For some musicians, the chamber orchestra is their main source of income, depending on how often they play, while others combine several sources of income. In addition, the orchestra engages around 140 other freelance musicians on an annual and project-related basis.
The success and consistency of this artistic endeavour at the Basel Chamber Orchestra is based on minimal basic public funding. Accepting the music diversity initiative would jeopardise the continued existence of this long-standing work, which involves considerable artistic and entrepreneurial risk, and thus also seriously threaten the existence of the freelance musicians.
Promoting musical diversity is right and important. It includes both creative, freelance artists and institutional structures, which provide many of them with the basis for their freelance work. What is needed is to work together instead of against each other, co-operation instead of confrontation.
For this reason:
No to the music diversity initiative.
Basel Chamber Orchestra, October 2024
MyClimate
The Basel Chamber Orchestra is aware of its responsibility for climate protection and ecological sustainability.
Together with myclimate, the Basel Chamber Orchestra is evaluating its carbon footprint. In this way, we are trying to make climate-damaging processes visible and to have a basis for targeted action in climate protection and the introduction of sustainability measures.
The evaluation of the carbon footprint and the result, which will lead to changes for the Basel Chamber Orchestra, is a project that requires not only time but also financial resources. We are delighted that EuroAirport is supporting us financially in this project.
myclimate is an international climate protection organisation registered as a Swiss foundation. The aim of the organisation is to promote measurable climate protection and sustainable development worldwide.
Kultur Inklusiv
As a label partner, the Basel Chamber Orchestra is supported by the "Kultur inklusiv" ("Inclusive Culture") specialist unit in enabling active participation in public life by all people. We are constantly trying to improve information and accessibility and welcome suggestions.
In order to enable all people to participate in our concerts, we pursue the following goals:
- Transparent communication about the accessibility of the venues.
- A website that is as barrier-free as possible
- Print products with text sections in simple language
- Participative education projects for people with and without impairments
The Basel Chamber Orchestra is building up targeted cooperation with selected associations and institutions in Basel in order to motivate people with disabilities who are interested in music to attend the regular concerts and events.
We are increasingly implementing our outreach projects with inclusive groups of children and young people with and without impairments. In June 2022, a participatory project took place with the REHAB Basel, Clinic for Neurorehabilitation and Paraplegiology, under the title "The day we knew nothing about each other".
In the evening programme booklet there is a text in simple language about the concert programme. The colour contrasts, the font sizes and the allocation of titles and texts have been optimised. We are also involved in the Basel pilot programme "Culture Plus 1" for people who cannot or do not want to attend concerts alone.
On our website and in the season programme, we indicate the available wheelchair spaces at all venues. Guide dogs for the blind and assistance dogs are welcome and assistants of people with impairments receive free admission to the orchestra's concerts and events.
