Basel Tattoo at risk after barracks conversion

Whether the Basel Tattoo will take place in the Kaserne is still uncertain.In July 2014, the Basel Tattoo has for the first time announced its needs to the competent authorities, without any concrete response from the authorities until today. Although the importance of the Basel Tattoo is emphasized, concrete promises as to how the continuation of the event, which in the meantime has received much international attention, is to be made possible have not yet been made. The promises are mainly limited to the reconstruction phase and the use of the public space in and around the Kaserne.Unsuccessful efforts to achieve concrete commitmentsIn contrast to other users such as the mosque or the Rhein Club Basel, the Basel Tattoo has no concrete indications of use after completion of the conversion phase. Efforts to obtain concretizations have been unsuccessful. The unilateral commitments to individual users of the barracks area also mean that the future use can no longer be considered holistically. General conditions, which are necessary for the realization of the Basel Tattoo on the barracks area, must be included in the planning. This includes, among other things, the use of the main entrance and the public space in and around the main building, the façade and window frontage onto the Kasernenplatz, as well as the grounds and the gastronomic use onto the banks of the Rhine. If large parts of the main building are no longer available for technology, participants and material, it must be possible to accommodate these in temporary installations on the banks of the Rhine and in the surrounding streets.Most recently, a meeting with the President of the Government, Dr. Guy Morin, and senior staff of the Presidential Department on February 1, 2017, did not lead to any binding result. The concessions made still leave a lot of room for interpretation and cause concern for the Basel Tattoo. It was confirmed that the public space in and around the main barracks building would be available to the Basel Tattoo, that provisions to limit emissions on the barracks square could be included in the rental agreements and that the gastro-use rules should include conditions for the time during the Tattoo. Furthermore, it is confirmed by the authorities that the Basel Tattoo has to negotiate the concrete agreements with each of the new users. The lack of commitment, coupled with the expected large logistical and financial additional expenses, forces the Basel Tattoo to take a negative stance towards the planned barracks conversion.Rejection of this barracks conversion out of concern for the future of the Basel TattooDespite the obvious need for redevelopment, too many questions remain open with regard to the future use of the site. The Basel Tattoo has no guarantee that the event can continue to be held along spectator expectations. "We regret that it is not possible for the authorities to make binding promises to the Basel Tattoo. The planned barracks conversion involves risks for us, which we cannot accept," says Erik Julliard, producer of the Basel Tattoo. To add further: "I hope that the voters will understand that we reject the conversion under these circumstances. It is my mission to secure the future of the Basel Tattoo for our city, for our employees and last but not least for tens of thousands of visitors." Those responsible for the Basel Tattoo therefore recommend that the planned barracks conversion be rejected.