Bar of all sight: In the early/mid 90s, the idea for a queer center within the community in Mainz came up. Originated the desire for a center because gay people wanted to create a place where they are accepted. The aim was to create a discrimination-free space for homosexuals. The ideas were actually carried out by the volunteers themselves. Our cultural and communication center can be considered a prime example of an autonomous center.
Sparkasse Mainz: running the bar, the cultural center with all its events, the services offered by the advice center and many more, all this certainly incurs costs. How to finance the bar of any sight?
Bar jeder Sicht: The supporting association ensures that the costs of the cultural and communication center 'Bar jeder Sicht' are covered every month. This is done by the supporting association with the help of voluntary work, donations and association contributions. From the service team to the counseling team to the event management team, all of our employees are volunteers. We have a full-time staff, which we finance with funds from the city of Mainz and the district of Bingen. In addition, we receive funds from the city of Mainz to finance our consulting room.
Sparkasse Mainz: Such a project is not established overnight. How was the initial period? What problems there were to overcome?
Board of the Bar of Every Sight
Bar any view: Since the center manages itself autonomously, the setbacks are primarily financial. In the first year, the bar of every sight was operated by a professional tenant. However, it quickly became clear that the bar of every sight cannot support itself as a commercial enterprise. We wanted the Bar of Every Sight to be a safe space for LGBTIQ people and not resemble a commercial catering establishment.
Sparkasse Mainz: Is there a change in the scene over the years? Can any changes be attributed to an influence of the bar from any point of view?
Bar of every sight: In the city of Mainz, the Bar of every sight definitely has a strong impact on the community. The bar of every sight is the home of the community! There used to be more parties in the bar of every sight. Today it is the educational work, the political networking and the self-organized self-help that attracts people to the cultural and communication center. 23 queer groups in the city of Mainz seek out the Bar jeder Sicht every month as a place for their group meetings. Thereby the groups are very diverse: six times a month pedagogical youth work for lesbian, gay, bisexual, inter- and transgender youth takes place in our premises. In addition, the queer group of the city of Mainz and now also the queer group of our ministries meet with us.
Sparkasse Mainz: What is the response today?? More than ever? Or were there times when the bar of every view had more inflow?
Bar of all sight: the increase is steadily rising. In a catering business, the increase in turnover is noticeable; in our case, it is the increase in the number of people and work groups that can be measured. We observe this growth positively. The groups that seek out the bar of every sight as a place to work are more and more diverse than ever before.
Sparkasse Mainz: How important is the advisory service?? Who can contact the bar of every sight with the desire for advice?
Bar any view: Our consulting offer is gratefully accepted. Our consulting team consists of a five-member team of professional consultants. The advisors are LGBTIQ persons (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans*, Inter*, Queer) and therefore advise according to the peer-to-peer approach. This is greatly appreciated by many people seeking help, explicitly in the coming out process. Established counseling centers also seek out our counseling services to obtain information from our counselors*.
Sparkasse Mainz: Which network partners or institutions support the Bar jeder Sicht in its work??
Bar any view: We have very many and very estimated cooperation partners*innen, which support and accompany us in our political work. This includes QueerNet e.V., Schwuguntia e.V., DGTI, the Women's Center, the LSVD, as well as the Allefrauenreferat, the gay department of the University of Mainz and the Sparkasse Mainz. Not to forget the foundations, without which all our free events would not be possible: The Heinrich Boll Foundation, Hannchen Merzweck Foundation, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Friedrich Naumann Foundation.
Sparkasse Mainz: What role does voluntary commitment play in the operation of the bar of every sight??
Bar of Every Sight: Volunteering is the central pillar of the Bar of Every Sight. Without our volunteers we could close the cultural and communication center directly. The entire concept of the center is based on voluntary help. The catering trade is run by volunteers. The counseling service, the cinema, all our events from the planning to the technology, the public relations, all our work is done by volunteers.
Sparkasse Mainz: What are the plans and projects for the future??
Bar any view: At the beginning of the year we have created a professional conception for our organization within the scope of a workshop, furthermore we are currently in the process of modernizing our website. The highlight of the year, however, will be the redesign of the Bar jeder Sicht. We want to give our center a makeover after many years. For a year, a group of four has been working on the new design of the bar of every sight. We will start from August to October with a new coat of paint, new pictures and new lamps. If a generous donor can be found, we will also purchase beautiful seating and tables.
On Saturday, 10. August 2019, the bar of every sight celebrates its 15th anniversary from 3 pm and the 20. Birthday of your sponsoring association. An outdoor festival will also be held to promote acceptance and visibility of the queer community. You are all welcome to do so. The entrance is free.
Besides cakes, cocktails, cotton candy u.v.m. you can look forward to a colorful program: with Cris Cosmo, Linda Bender, DJane Genie and DJane Irinski!