Social and Sustainable Fund

Our international dance scene is a wonderful place to enjoy life and express ourselves through dance. And we can make it better!

We are the most fortunate people on this planet. Even though sometimes it might not feel like that, let’s take a moment to show gratitude and to give back to the community, the planet and the African American culture that created this wonderful dance. Learn more in these video.

We invite all participants to contribute to the social & sustainable fund of Upside Down Festival. In fact, you automatically do, because €5 of your standard ticket price goes directly into the fund. We warmly encourage you to donate more, if you can afford it, and help us in making the Festival even more sustainable.

What does the social & sustainable fund support?

We work to make Upside Down Festival a more sustainable event, in the ecological, social and economical sense of the word.

How? By rethinking catering, offsetting part of our carbon footprint, working with refugees, granting less fortunate locals and internationals free or reduced entrance to the festival, organising a secondhand shop, encouraging better ways of travelling to the festival, facilitating training and talks on African American art forms and generating positive and welcoming atmospheres during the event.

Most of these actions are part of our organisational work, but we have more impact thanks to the contributions to the social & sustainable fund.

Where does the money go to?

1. The Fund supports NGOs that fight for our values:

  • Bos+ and Treecological. Our easy way of travelling and consuming comes with a hidden carbon tag. By investing in reforestation and forest preservation carbon offset programs, we give back to nature.
  • Black Lindy Hoppers Funds. It is important to bridge the gap of knowledge, access and development for Black Lindy Hoppers.
  • Collective Voices For Change. This organisation addresses the issues of racial inequalities and cultural appropriation in the Jazz dance community in Europe and around the globe.

2. The fund provides access to local and international dancers in vulnerable socio-economic situations.

What happened with the social & sustainable fund this edition?

  • €6351 was collected. All participants contributed €5, and many dancers contributed a bit more. Of the total sum, €1500 was contributed by the Upside Down (LouisLou) organising entity.
  • 46 participants asked and received a discount through our open call for scene leaders, the sliding scale and UiTPAS kansentarief, for a total of €4685.
  • The remaining €1666 were donated to three charitable organizations that work with our values: Black Lindy Hoppers Fund, the Treecological project by BOS+ and Collective Voices for Change.

How to add or benefit from the Fund?

During registration, you have the option to top your contribution of €5 with a little more. We apply a sliding scale: there is a standard fee that cover mosts costs while being a reasonable price for most participants. Please note that the sliding scale only applies to the festival pass. For other passes, you can still add a contribution to the fund.

  • If you are capable of giving more, you can choose to do so. It is up to you how much you donate.
  • If you cannot afford the standard fee for the festival pass, you can pick a reduced fee of choice, no questions asked. We realise it is not easy to request a discount, but we hope more people will apply for a discount this year. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.
  • Local dancers from the Ghent region can get a discount by using the UiTPAS kansentarief*. If you’re a passholder, please register through the form and send us an email with your UitPAS number.

*Upside Down (LouisLou vzw) is partner van UiTPAS regio Gent. UiTPAS regio Gent is een digitale kaart waarmee je aan cultuur, sport of jeugdactiviteiten kan doen. Je kan met de kaart punten sparen. Die kan je dan omruilen voor een korting, een cadeau of een ander fijn voordeel.

Ben je inwoner van Gent, Merelbeke, Destelbergen, Melle of Lochristi en kom je in aanmerking voor verhoogde tegemoetkoming of ben je in schuldbemiddeling? Dan krijg je extra korting met je UiTPAS.  Alle Info over UiTPAS vind je op: www.uitingent.be/uitpas. Ticket met kansentarief? Mail registration@upsidedownfestival.be.