Oerol is a unique festival where the location and the festival are deeply connected. The festival derives its uniqueness largely from the place where it originated and of which it is also a part. Nature, and how we relate to it, is therefore very much present in the DNA of the festival.
Oerol takes nature into account and, in collaboration with Staatsbosbeheer, we take nature into account in all decisions. We contribute as much as possible to a footprint that is as small as possible for a better climate. This is reflected in many of the choices made. For example, we have completely switched to battery packs instead of generators for the performances, visual arts and the festival heart. In addition, we use as little disposables as possible and we prefer to eat vegetarian, sustainable and local. We reuse materials from previous years for our design of the festival heart Deining and theatre locations. We stimulate degrowth and go for a positive impact instead of convenience. Everything in a truly sustainable production has had a previous life. This prevents large amounts of waste and we are economical with water.
As a festival, we want to convey this and pass it on, also to you. This means that we ask you to think about the waste you produce and the materials you work with. And that you keep nature clean and treat it with respect. To give you tools for a sustainable working method, we have drawn up an Ecological Compass. This Compass is a document drawn up by Oerol in which artistic content and practical frameworks are described for a future-proof ecological working method. With this guideline for customization, we take theater makers and artists along in a sustainable and climate-just way of working. This guideline can help you in all phases of your production.
You will receive the Ecological Compass prior to the festival. This is also part of your contract. Do you have any questions about this? Please contact your contact person or production manager at Oerol.
We also strongly recommend working with the Theatre Greenbook.
Ecological Compass
Art, nature and landscape are inextricably linked to Oerol. In recent decades, Oerol Festival has grown from a small-scale event with street artists and performances in sheds to a large location arts festival that takes place across the entire island of Terschelling, in the middle of the Wadden area with vulnerable and unique nature designated as Natura 2000. The interaction with this nature is partly the magic on which Oerol is built. But we are also running up against the limits of what is possible in nature. Limits that we want and are also obliged to respect.
We put nature central and work from a nature-inclusive conviction, in which we give more space to natural and ecological values. The Ecological Compass contains artistic-content and practical frameworks. But given the complexity of working on location, it is mainly a guide for customization.
We consider Oerol employees, employees of companies, volunteers, makers, artists, partners, caterers, technicians, builders or visitors, as part of and partly responsible for Oerol. If we implement Oerol Festival, this Ecological Compass applies everywhere (on location, in nature, in the office, from your work location) where you are working for Oerol and is a guideline for making appropriate considerations.
We request you as participants to implement the Ecological Compass with us. In the implementation of this Compass, Oerol supports the makers to then search for solutions together.