Berlin Pool Reserves Hours for Black Communities

The operators of the swimming pool in front of Berlin’s Volksbühne theater have set aside a specific time slot exclusively for Black communities, according to Bild.

According to the schedule, on 14 August, the pool will be open exclusively to Black communities from noon to 6 p.m. The Volksbühne has also called on visitors to respect “collective self-identification” and the spaces associated with it.

The project was conceived as a free summer swimming pool with no ID checks and was promoted as a space against exclusion and commercialization. The temporary pool is 25 m long, 1.3 m deep and can accommodate a maximum of 46 people at a time. The costs are estimated at approximately 300,000 euros ($346,000), and the organizers expect about 20,000 visitors.

The program was developed in collaboration with the publicly funded organization EOTO, which focuses on social and cultural activities for Black communities.

Critics point to a contradiction between the project’s original presentation as a space “for everyone” and the fact that part of the program is reserved for a specific community.

Supporters, on the other hand, argue for the need for “safe spaces” for people who face racism. The Volksbühne receives more than 20m euros ($23.1m) annually in public funding.

(mja)