WMDF

Thanks to our sponsors and good fortune in securing public funding, we have been able to build a festival based on the enthusiasm and dedication of local people. We are expanding quickly, but for WMDF 004 we are still bringing the majority of our events to the public for free. Please take advantage and enjoy, and please also help to spread the name and reputation of our work. To show your support, or to attend the ticketed events, you can purchase a Sponsor Pass.

Sponsor Pass ("Shimin Sponsor Pass")

A Sponsor Pass entitles the holder to entry to the indoor Gala performance, and also free entry to Experience! Workshops, plus reductions at booths on the festival site, and at some shops and restaurants around town.

Price
2,000/pass (500/Kid's Badge)
Availability
Sold at many places across town, inculding Cafe Drip Drop (1F of Machi-Tsukuri Center), Goryokaku Tower, Hakodate Citizen's Hall.
Tickets can also be bought from any Lawson convenience store (L code 12924). Just take the receipt to any WMDF event and you can receive your pass.
Sale Period
First day of Opening Live Tour to last day of WMDF, every year

From 2011, a system of coupons was introduced to help us track pass usage. You get a supply of coupons with each pass to hand over in return for discounts or workshop entry. Additional coupon booklets are available free of charge at all WMDF events, and all sites selling WMDF tickets.

Appeal

WMDF is registered as an official non-profit making organisation. But, we don't want to be a loss-making organisation. The majority of our events are free because we want to touch the lives of as many people as possible. Our theme is "Long Now", but if you want to see us again next year, please show us your support! Our aim is for everyone at the Motomachi site to be inspired to purchase a pass.

The Sponsor Pass is symbolic of the support Hakodate for WMDF, and it expands the time and the space of the Festival: sponsors are encouraged to wear the pass as an advertisement in the run-up to the event.

Important Information for WMDF-goers

Festival Etiquette
We are looking forward to welcoming many people to our event. To promote a happy and successful Festival we hope that WMDF-goers will keep in mind:

• We encourage walking, cycling, or the use of public transport wherever possible.
• Please, if you drink, don't drive.
• We ask you to consider the lines of sight of those around you when taking spaces in the crowd, when using parasols/sunshades/umbrellas, or when carrying children on shoulders. The D in WMDF stands for Dance, so expect that people will sometimes be on their feet. The best place to remain seated is always around the rear and sides of the audience area.
• WMDF is in principle a smoke-free event. However, there will be some clearly marked smoking areas. If you smoke in these areas, please respect the crowd around you, and dispose of cigarette butts properly.
• WMDF is staffed by a team of friendly volunteers who are there to help, but please remember that they cannot know every detail of the event and may need to check things occasionally or refer to someone else.

Conditions of Purchase/Entry
We are grateful to everyone who supports our event, especially those who are mindful of the conditions:

• In 2011, we introduced an "Open Japan" policy to help show the world that the country was recovering from the Great Tohoku Earthquake. We are continuing this policy of encouraging audience members to photograph and video the Free Stage events, and to post online to show to the world. If you like, you can use the hash tag #openjpn. Please be considerate of others when taking pictures and observe the following common sense rules: make sure that no pathways around the stages are obstructed, do not use tripods, as they will affect the view of others, and no flash photography directed at the stage, as it distracts artists and can be dangerous. For videos, we ask audience members to display common sense: we think that around one minute is a fair length to record, and our staff will ask people obviously making recordings longer than this to stop. In general, WMDF reserves on behalf of the artists the exclusive copyright for all photographs and recordings made at any venue, and the above permission to record and use images of Free Stage events excludes any usage that leads to profit-making.
• For any performance with a no photography policy (still/ video) this will be clearly signposted at the entrances to the event. Anyone seen recording at such performance without permission may have equipment confiscated.
• No person shall interfere with plants, water fixtures, or any other installation at any of the venues.
• No unauthorised busking or performing, flyering or pamphleting, or promotion or distribution of goods or brands other than those of WMDF sponsors.
• There will be no refunds given for lost tickets.
• WMDF events (including "colour" such as audience participation) will be archived by accredited camera crews and photographers. Please be aware that images obtained in this way may be used by the WMDF Committee for publicity purposes (both online and in mainstream media). Attendance at any WMDF event indicates acceptance of the "fair use" of your personal image in this way. The entry point for any query about the use of images is email to wmdf.org, user name wmdf.

Lost & Found
In the "Big Here", things get lost. Our advice is:

• Please look after your valuables, but if you do lose something, check if it has been handed in at the main reception area of your event. Items unclaimed will be held at the Festival Office in the Machi-Tsukuri Center until 31 Aug (call 0138-23-8560), and then sent to the West Police Station (nishi keisatsu-sho) (call 0138-42-0110).
• Sometimes groups may be separated. We recommend you organise to meet with children at the main reception area of your event if you do lose each other. If a lost child arrives at the the main reception area, our staff will alert festival security.

We wish you all a big, long WMDF.