Verenigd in Afwijking: Recommendations and Best Practices for the Accommodation of Neurodivergence in Dutch Music Festivals

Abstract

Neurodivergence is a recent term describing a minority group deviating from normative neurological patterns (e.g., autism, ADHD) often labelled as ‘disability’. Neurodivergent people might have special needs, such as low-stimulus zones, which leads to discussion on diversity, inclusion, and accessibility. The Netherlands is internationally renowned for its festivals, yet neurodivergence accommodation is frequently poor or not accommodated at all. This thesis analyses the current state of inclusive practices in Dutch music festivals and provides recommendations for desirable future policies or practices, while adding to the still-growing body of literature of neurodivergence accommodation in a musical context. I explore the Dutch cultural sector and Dutch music festivals by means of policy process analysis and critical discourse analysis, revealing that the roots of the lack of neurodivergence accommodation lie in history, culture, the legal system (which includes Dutch law, the UN, and the EU), and the policy framework. I also provide an example of successful neurodivergence accommodation in the form of the UK’s Glastonbury Festival and its extensive policy on neurodivergence. This is followed by a case study of the Dutch festival Castlefest, in which I employ my own participant observation and participant interviews. The neurodivergent experience of Castlefest is a positive one, despite its lack of policy, instead relying on a strong practice involving the community, further revealing several best practices which a focus on policy could not reveal. I close with recommendations for best practices as revealed by Glastonbury, Castlefest, and literature. These are often realistic undertakings for which many tools are readily accessible to many music festivals. Introducing these best practices into policy and putting them into practice would massively improve the quality of music festivals for neurodivergent people. I urge the Dutch music festival scene to adopt these as soon as possible.