With the motto of Listening is the Way Forward, Le Guess Who? exists to promote sounds that are often overlooked, and to platform fresh perspectives on what is possible in music. Artists from all over the world push the boundaries of expectations and offer an insight into the unprecedented diversity of human creativity. Our mission:
We strongly believe that music and art form a language that transcends cultures, words and borders. With a focus on equity and diversity, we see music and art as a way to bring people together: a means to combat stereotyping and stigmatization, and to foster understanding for each other and for different ideas.
In order to fulfill our mission and vision, attention to sustainability is a necessity. Without it, equity and diversity cannot arise within our festival. Diversity is what we strive for in our program, audience, partners, and team. Battling our current climate crisis is equally important, as it disproportionately affects the vulnerable on our planet and greatly exacerbates their situation, including people from the same regions that Le Guess Who? platforms on stage.
We’re aware that, as a festival, we have a negative impact on the climate. At the same time, we want to take steps to reduce this impact where we can. Below, we list some of the ways in which we commit ourselves to a better world. This is by no means a finished plan or approach, but rather a starting point to explore more possibilities to create a sustainable festival model.
Social Sustainability
• From 2022-2025, Le Guess Who? was a member of the Green Deal Circular Festivals: a partnership between European festivals who collaborate to become circular and climate neutral.
• LGW is a member of PACT: a network of Utrecht cultural players who, together and within their own organizations, look for ways to become more diverse and inclusive.
• Social safety, inclusivity and equity are indispensable for our infrastructure, our audience, team and art. During the festival, besides our own crew, a Social Safety Team & Hub is located in TivoliVredenburg. They are there to welcome you when you feel unwell or have experienced any form of harassment or discrimination — no issue is too small to address. Here you can also make (anonymous) reports of incidents you have experienced with either visitors or staff.
• We understand that it is not always easy or possible to report an incident in the moment itself. If you want to share your experience after the festival, we encourage you to contact us via support@leguesswho.com. You will always receive an answer within a week.
• LGW has created a Code of Conduct which is available on our website and sent to artists, partners, and team members.
Accessibility
• LGW has made the Accessibility of venues visible on our website. We also offer Mobility Passes to those who need it during their visit to the festival.
• LGW collaborates with Possibilize for the project ‘Superkracht’, to develop the talents of young people with disabilities and make them visible in the cultural sector.
• LGW has collaborated with Marianne Dijkshoorn of Welkom Toegankelijkheid & Evenementen to give us advise and critical feedback on how we can make the festival more accessible for people with an (in)visible disability.
• LGW offers the 'Grant an Entry' initiative to welcome people who are interested in visiting the festival but do not have the financial resources to do so. For this, we collaborate with local partners such as Buddy to Buddy.
• LGW offers discounted tickets via CJP (for students and people under 30) and via U-pas and our own Low Income Day Tickets initiative (for people with a low income).
CO2 Compensation & Travel
• Where possible, LGW offers train travel for festival artists. To compensate for the CO2 emissions of air travel by artists, LGW collaborates with Natuur en Milieufederatie Utrecht (NMU).
• LGW also offers visitors the option to compensate for the CO2 emission of their travel in the ticketing process; these compensation funds will go directly to NMU.
Food, Waste & Production
• LGW strives to be free of single-use plastics, both front- and backstage. Plastic cups, glass bottles and cans used at the festival are being recycled.
• All LGW merchandise is produced by local partners Katoenfabriek and Kapitaal, who are committed to sustainable production. For our merchandise, we use organic and/or recycled materials.
• LGW is committed to reducing the amount of printed materials and has stopped producing program guides. Recycled paper is used as much as possible for print materials.
• For the artists, crew and via food stands in TivoliVredenburg we only offer vegan meals and snacks.
Photography by Rogier Boogaard & Tim van Veen.