| SILVIJA TOMCIK on Wed, 11 Feb 1998 08:46:52 +0100 (MET) |
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| <nettime> About ATtack (Zagreb, Croatia) |
===================================================================== ## Original Conference: [email protected] ## Original Author: [email protected] =============================================== Evo kako sam ja to prebacivala u word ispravio kompjuter neke rijeci i rjecice! About Attack/Autonomous Cultural Factory Some time now on civil/NGO scene in Zagreb there is a great need for open social space, where different initiatives and actions(exibitions, performances, discussions...) could take place.Alternative political and artistic scene for years have not the independent and specific place to work and present itself to wider public. Especially young people today don't have a chance to express their creativity, to get informed and educated about civic activism.It is crucial to offer such a possibility now in the post-war situation, with increased street and domestic violence, crime, drug abuse, and general low level of political tolerance and democracy. Autonomous Cultural Factory - Attack is oriented towards multicultural and trans-national exchange and cooperation, and with it's activities can contribute to democratization and opening of Croatian society. Attack is supported by 20 different civic groups (women, peace, human rights, ecological, artistic...) and in this way foresters the networking of the existing NGO scene. Our actions and activities were covered by major media (all daily newspapers, HTV - national TV, OTV - independent TV, several radio stations...), which helps in bringing civic values to wider population. Short history Initiative has started around political pop mega.zin Arkzin in September 1997. In very short time many groups and individuals get involved, and financially supported the project by becoming the members. First public action was flee-market, held on October25th. With this initial money we started to search for the space to rent. In the meantime we used the Antiwar Campaign office for our weekly meetings. Very soon the e-mail mailing list was created on Zamir BBS. In order to keep public attention, we organized weekly street performances (in cooperation with several alternative theater groups). First issue of Attack newsletter was published in the end of November. More and more people from different Croatian towns are calling and offering support and benefit actions. Our plan is to develop a broad network of similar initiatives all over Croatia and to support (financially and by offering programs)similar centers in other towns. The action group is formed, 40-50 people are regularly taking part on the meetings - and we decided to start with the workshops for the group building and nonviolent actions (in cooperation with Volunteers' Centre and Peace Studies), and we had 5 workshops already. In the end of November we have found the space in former Factory of computing machines (TRS) in the center of Zagreb, but the owner of the building canceled the signing of the contract, after reading the (very positive) article in the newspaper in which the journalist mentioned as supporters of Attack, among other 20groups, one lesbian and one anarchist. (This was first big obstruction we've faced and which showed us where possible problems in future can appear: prejudices about minority groups and values systems). Next day we held the peaceful demonstrations in front of the building. Ten days later, in cooperation with women and human rights groups (B.a.b.e. - women's human rights group, Contra - lesbian SOS line, Electra - women's art center, Group for direct protection of human rights, Amnesty International...), on 10thDecember (International human rights day), we organized whole day event Right to be different. During December we were invited to organize Attack-week in student club on University for philosophy. Group of young people from Donji Miholjac organized benefit concert for Attack in the end of December. Inspired by recent street violence between skinheads and punks, we started the series of talks and workshops about urban violence, and with the preparation of the team, which will held different actions(one of the planned activities are talks on nonviolence with pupils in high schools). Since the end of January Attack has one hour weekly program on Radio Student. Second issue of Attack newsletter also appeared(again designed and supported by Arkzin). Beside all this activities, people involved in Attack are more and more getting involved in ongoing projects of existing NGO's (like Iskorak u sutra, Miramida plus, Green action...). As you can see, Attack has in very short time attracted a lot of young people (not engaged before), successfully created a lot of events and activities, showed a high awareness about self-organizing and media self-presentation. All this has been done with out almost any external financial support. Among the people involved, there is a high level of motivation and serious approach to the project. It shows that Attack became huge School of activism and has a great potential to influence social improvements. Plans After 4 months of searching - we have finally found the space and signed the contract (it's part of the Toys factory close to the town center). Now we can start with some of the planned and wished programs (info-shop, exhibitions, round tables, lectures, workshops,promotions, video- events...). While waiting on substantial financial support, we plan to organize different benefit actions in order to collect necessary equipment, furniture and money. We'll continue with all established activities (newsletter, radio program, street performances, workshops...). The registration of Attack as separate NGO is in process. Attack newsletter As a part of our activities around ATTACK we have started a monthly newsletter. The newsletter editorial board is formed and meets regularly in Arkzin office. Two issues have been published so far (both in 5.000 copies, second on increased number of pages).Beside posting it to the members, we distribute it mostly during our street actions. The aim of the newsletter is to inform wider public as well as the members of Attack, about all events, activities and discussions held on our weekly meetings and internal e-mail list. Reactions of the public were extremely positive and it shows that producing of newsletter is very good way of keeping the public attention on the project and attracting new members (which is essential for the future of Attack). Beside that, participation in the production of the newsletter is very good way to educate young people about journalism and using of new technologies. We plan to continue with producing it on monthly basis. Beside the information about Attack activities, interviews with people involved, theoretical discussions connected with our activities and goals, announcing the monthly program, we'll try to include more and more information about whole alternative scene. So, we hope that after few months, we'll be able to produce commercial product, which can be sold. The planned preparation period for commercial production is 6months, during which we have to find financial support for basic expenses, which includes pre-print and printing costs. --- # distributed via nettime-l : no commercial use without permission # <nettime> is a closed moderated mailinglist for net criticism, # collaborative text filtering and cultural politics of the nets # more info: [email protected] and "info nettime" in the msg body # URL: http://www.desk.nl/~nettime/ contact: [email protected]