Equal Opportunity

Those associated with university who have the feeling that they have experienced discrimination, as defined by the anti-discrimination bylaws, are encouraged to take advantage of paragraph seven of the rules for low-threshold intervention services. These services offer mediation, in order to come to an agreement with the person or persons who originated the perceived act of discrimination.

Goals include: 

• Support for victims, including identifying the discriminatory act(s)
• Support for persons who have been accused of discriminatory acts, for the purpose of developing a respectful, constructive way of dealing with the accusation, while keeping in mind sensitivity to discrimination
• Cooperation on developing ideas for future encounters, shared communications, and collaborations

To take advantage of this service, please contact the university staff directly at the Arbeitsstelle gegen Diskriminierung und Gewalt (Office Against Discrimination and Violence, or ADE). 

Using the low-threshold intervention services is not a replacement for filing an official complaint. Furthermore, accusers also have the right to file a complaint when, for instance, the result is not considered satisfactory.

Before filing a complaint, it is strongly recommended that those affected take advantage of the free, confidential counseling offered by the contacts and counseling agencies listed in the Overview.

At the HfK, the rector is responsible for the AGG Complaints Office. The Complaints Office can assign a person or an agency to carry out the procedure. A written complaint must be sent via email; or the accuser can go in person to the Complaints Office to file a verbal complaint, which will be transcribed there.

A complaint should contain the following information:

• A description of the incident
• Place and date of the incident
• Individuals involved
• Witnesses, if any
• Proof, if any
• Information concerning measures already taken, if any
• Information about anyone who already has knowledge of the incident, if any

Confidentially will be maintained for everyone involved in the process, as far as it is procedurally allowed. Categorically speaking, no one is entitled to an anonymous handling of a complaint. To maintain the right to privacy for everyone affected, however, care must be taken to keep the circle of those involved as small as possible. If so desired by the accuser or the accused, a trusted individual may attend hearings at any time.

Based on the results of investigations into measures and sanctions, the rector will make a decision according to paragraph ten of the bylaws or else put a halt to the procedure, if appropriate. Results will be conveyed in writing to the persons involved.

Based on the Satzung zu Diversität sowie zum Schutz vor und Umgang mit Diskriminierung an der Hochschule für Künste Bremen (Antidiskriminierungssatzung) the HfK provides a variety of accompanying materials to ensure more security and transparency when dealing with and preventing discrimination. 

The bylaws are based on legal requirements, so questions may arise when they are applied; thus, more extensive explanations and definitions of terms may be helpful. The accompanying materials and the glossary of terms in particular have been developed to make the content of the anti-discrimination bylaws more accessible, thus making it easier for everyone associated with the university to apply them.

In-house and external counseling services, as well as other options for assistance and protection against discrimination, conflicts, and violence are available to everyone associated with the university. 

It is recommended that anyone affected take advantage of the counseling offered by the entities listed above before filing a complaint.

Counseling services are free and confidential:

The HfK offers lactation rooms as quiet places for parents with a child or children. Access to each location can be had at the respective gates.

Flummi e.V. is a parent-child initiative that offers childcare at the HfK Bremen. Places are also available to HfK faculty at no charge. Altogether, Flummi e.V. offers a total of eight places for children under the age of three.

Information about open places will be regularly posted at various locations, such as the Blackboard (Schwarze Brett) on the HfK campus portal.

The Studierendenwerke Bremen offers a children’s table in each of their cafeterias. Upon presenting their Kidscard, young guests up to the age of six can eat gratis. Highchairs are also available. For more information, please see the Studierendenwerke Bremen’s web page.

To make up for the additional difficulties and drawbacks that can arise due to chronic illnesses or disabilities, students affected have the opportunity to compensate for them. Here, the goal is to make it possible for students with such limitations to have an equal chance to succeed in their studies and exams and to balance out existing disadvantages.

To receive an application or advice regarding compensation for disadvantages, please contact the Department 1 – Student and Academic Affairs. For questions, feel free to contact the Equal Opportunities and Gender Equality Unit.

Students with chronic illnesses or disabilities who need counseling and support for their studies or compensatory actions can also turn to the Social Counseling of Studierendenwerk Bremen.

All three offices also offer counseling for university applicants undergoing hardship.

The Gesamtschwerbehindertenvertretung (General Representation for Severely Disabled Persons) represents the interests of every differently abled person when dealing with agencies, courts, and municipal entities of the state and city of Bremen. Support and information can be had at their website.

With a few exceptions, facilities at Speicher XI, Speicher XI A, and Dechanatstraße are mostly accessible. 

The MS Dauerwelle is not barrier-free. 

For more information on the accessibility of individual locations, including parking areas: 

At the HfK, it is possible to change officially registered names and genders, thanks to the Self-Determination Act (SBGG), which went into effect in Germany on November 1, 2024. The SBGG makes it easier for transgender, inter-gender, and non-binary persons to change their genders and/or first names in the civil registry. Change(s) can be made by making an independent declaration at the civil registry office (Standesamt).

Students who have changed their names or genders in accordance with the SBGG can also make the change at the university without having to fill out any other forms, simply by presenting official proof of the change (e.g., a scan of their identity card or a certificate of change in the civil registry) to Department 1 – Student and Academic Affairs.

All others associated with the university are requested to please contact Department 3 – Human Resources with proof of their eligibility. 

To apply for a change without having made an official alteration in accordance with the SBGG, please contact your department for advice. For questions regarding this issue, see the Equal Opportunities and Gender Equality Unit.

Free, confidential counseling is also available to students and employees at the Advisory & Information Centre on Discrimination & Violence (ADE) at the University of the Arts Bremen.

To offer everyone non-discriminatory access to sanitary facilities, there are several unisex bathrooms at the HfK.

No gender signage on the bathrooms. Only the type of facilities are designated (e.g., “Toilette + Urinal” or simply “Toilette”).