While we think our “value proposition” (to speak
that language for a moment) is quite good, we also understand that the price of admission might seem steep to some. As we strive for inclusion & diversity, this is an issue we consider a lot and we want to be completely transparent about it.
Running the festival does cost some money, and we can’t rely on any kind of extensive external funding (as of now, we have none of that), so it’s basically a question of our existence. It also means that your support is invaluable – we wouldn’t be here without it. Don’t just think of your payment as a transaction where you get everything mentioned above, but as a contribution to the life of the festival and the playful community surrounding it.
We assume that most of our participants are representing organisations/companies that pay their registration fee, as we are primarily targeting people “who (ought to) think about the potential role of play in their work.”.
None of this is any help if you can’t afford it, though, and we try to accommodate the problem by offering student tickets at a reduced price, and by covering all expenses for our contributors. The latter means that people doing interesting playful work can participate, even if they wouldn’t be able to cover the costs of doing so.
Whatever you may think about our pricing, we hope you trust this: there is nothing in CounterPlay that is about generating profits. If we do end up with more money than we spend, we will invest it in future festivals, and (in the longer run) support other playful initiatives.
