SavasRock

Arts, Culture, and Sports

Regional; Finland

Events are often designed exclusively for persons with disabilities, due to barriers and prejudices. SavasRock is an inclusive rock festival that gathers everyone to enjoy music in a friendly atmosphere, providing a real festival experience with top artists and restaurant services, alcohol and street food.  Participants have emphasised social interaction as one of the most valuable experiences in the event, highlighting its capacity to promote interpersonal relations and build a sense of community.

People's special support needs have been taken into account in every aspect, for example, the environment has been illustrated using Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) images and the event has a quiet space where participants can calm their senses if needed. Sign language interpretation of the music is also available. The employees of the event are the foundation's workers and experts in the field of intellectual disabilities and thus know the needs of the target group and their special needs.

The event has been organised seven times, with the event’s audience expanding each edition. In recent years, the number of participants has ranged between 350 and 400 people annually.

The event concept is both transferable and replicable as it harnessed pre-existing supports that disabled people need, placed in a for-all setting. This allows the festival to be attractive to persons with and without disabilities alike, and their ticket prices can also contribute to funding for the event.

http://www.savas.fi/