NEW CONTENT IN OBSOLETE FACTORY CREATES NEW URBAN CULTURAL HOT SPOT

By: Vid Mesaric, Croatian Radio

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MULTIMEDIA EVENT OF THE ZAGREB INDEPENDENT CULTURAL SCENE «OPERATION: CITY», 8. – 17. 9. 2005.

Maturing of independent cultural scene in Zagreb has triggered several important processes. The most prominent one – besides rising awareness for new media and cultural practices – is launch of a policy process that should solve the main infrastructural problem of the scene: the physical space for their activities. The event “Operation : City” has gathered 26 ngo-s, artistic collectives and initiatives which strive for a common ground and public space where they could perform and produce their ideas and where the wider and firmer network for collaboration could be established. The perfect spot for this action is the old distillery and alcohol factory in the central part of Zagreb which has been neglected and left to decay, although the Badel complex is listed among Croatian industrial architecture heritage. Through this project independent scene is showing its interest and capacity to run a multicultural centre in such a space. Through cooperation with The City of Zagreb’s mayor’s office they got the opportunity to create “incubator” for future headquarters of their activities in several old factory halls and yards of the Badel complex.

“Operation: City” has been conceived as a project that brings together the whole independent cultural scene in Zagreb, so each of 26 engaged associations have created their own particular programmes. The visitors can thus find there theatrical and musical performances, literally circles, lectures, screenings, exhibitions, installations and much more. Main international events in the course of “Operation: City” are two festivals. The first one – “Urban Festival” traditionally held in September – deals with interpretation of public/private in the sense of urban spaces, infrastructure, habits, etc, and the second one, which offers several provocative programs goes by the name “Touch me”. Tomislav Medak from Multimedia institute told Heritage Radio more on the letter event:

 

touch me – tomislav medak.mp3

 

To learn more about the specific projects of the “Touch me” festival, listen to the sound-bites featuring some of the contributing artists: Marta de Menezes from Portugal, Marnix de Nijs from The Netherlands and William Linn from USA.

 

Touch me – marta de menezes.mp3

Touch me – marnix de nijs.mp3

Touch me – William linn.mp3

 

More information on the event: www.operacijagrad.org

 

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