REGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
More co-determination at the Black Forest Voices Festival
The Black Forest Voices Festival (BFV) strengthens cultural participation and founded a BFV Regional Advisory Board on 18 March 2025. The committee of local stakeholders contributes ideas, contacts and implementation proposals, focussing on inclusion, sustainability and participation.
The foundation was made possible by the ‘Weiterkommen!’ funding programme of the Centre for Cultural Participation Baden-Württemberg (ZfKT). The ZfKT is funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts. The applicants were the BFV team together with the Kirchzarten Community Foundation, the Kirchzarten Children's & Youth Office and the ‘Kirchzarten Echt Inklusiv’ initiative.
People (from left to right): Stefan Saumer, Corinna Weingärtner, Martina Peitz, Nina Ruckhaber, Anita Müller, Ina Saumer, Tanja Pannier, Dörte Zillessen, Florian Hahn, Christine Kirchner
The Black Forest Voices Festival has established itself as a high-calibre a cappella event since 2019. The 7th edition (12-15 June 2025) offers concerts, workshops and free formats under the motto ‘Sound of Kirchzarten’. The festival thrives on cooperation with local partners and supporters.
The idea for a regional advisory board came from the organisers of the BVF festival, as although they are anchored in Kirchzarten with the festival, none of them live in Kirchzarten. The regional advisory board was set up to strengthen local networking in Kirchzarten and knowledge of regional and cultural issues. The aim is to develop creative solutions for accessibility, sustainability and greater involvement of the Kirchzarten population. ‘However, the aim is also to ensure that in future, people who can advise on the topics of inclusion, sustainability and participation from their own experience will also be part of the Regional Advisory Council - in line with the motto: not talking about people, but with them,’ explains Stefan Saumer (Kirchzarten Community Foundation).
Next steps & measures: The ideas collected at the first regional advisory board meeting will be checked for feasibility for the festival by May, with the first implementation starting in June. Plans may include transport services, an inclusion guide, waste separation, reusable crockery in the festival merch, cooperation with schools, a senior citizens' centre, mobile “song tables”, a festival newspaper and much more. In the long term, a ‘BFV Circle of Friends’ could provide financial support for the work of the advisory board over and above the sponsorship.
Photos: Ellen Schmauss
Press
The Badische Zeitung reported on the founding of the Regional Advisory Council on 25 March 2025: >> read the article
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