Awareness work is an essential part of Vienna’s club and event culture. To make visible how many people and teams are doing this work and how diverse it is, we are launching an Awareness Database for Vienna.
In the coming months, changes to Vienna’s Event Law regarding awareness at events will also come into effect. You can read more about this in our article on the amendment to Vienna’s Event Law.
The database is also intended to give organisers, clubs, and organisations an overview and make it easier to find suitable awareness teams.
You can enter your information via this link. The database will be published on the VCC website in the coming weeks.
Who can register?
All clubs, collectives, teams, and individuals in Vienna who do Awareness work.
What is Awareness?
Awareness is a social practice that addresses discrimination and violence in a preventive, de-escalating way, focusing on the needs and experiences of those affected.¹
In feminist and activist contexts, Awareness describes an attitude and practice in dealing with violence, discrimination, and power relations. Awareness work serves to prevent and respond to abusive behaviour – especially (sexualised) violence – while taking societal power structures and individual experiences into account.²
In the club and event context, awareness also sends a clear signal:
No space can meet everyone’s needs. Barriers exist—both structural and situational. Awareness work, however, aims to help people use, enter, and navigate these spaces as safely and confidently as possible while celebrating.³
Just as event formats differ, awareness teams and their fields of work are diverse. Many teams specialise in specific contexts, such as:
- Clubs & afterhours
- Live concerts
- Demonstrations & rallies
- Public spaces
- Art and cultural events (e.g., exhibitions, openings)
- Queer events
- Conferences
- Sex-positive events
- BDSM events
- …and many more
This diversity should be made visible.
The database shows who works where, how, and in which contexts—rather than treating awareness as a standardised service.
You can register for the VCC Awareness Database here. For questions, feedback, or concerns, feel free to contact us at safer@viennaclubcommission.at.
