[artinfo] [transform_org] [Fwd: ALERT FOR THE AUTONOMOUS CULTURAL ZONE "METELKOVA" - LJUBLJANA]

[birgit at eipcp.net]

Subject:   ALERT FOR THE AUTONOMOUS CULTURAL ZONE "METELKOVA" - LJUBLJANA
Date: 	Thu, 15 Jun 2006 21:29:00 +0200
From: 	Josip Rastko Močnik <josip.mocnik at guest.arnes.si>


ALERT FOR METELKOVA

This Wednesday, June 14^th 2006, at 6 in the 
morning the government Inspectorate for the 
Environment and Spatial Planning brought an 
excavating machine to the /Autonomous Cultural 
Zone Metelkova, Ljubljana/, to tear down one of 
the buildings of the converted ancient army 
barracks which they consider to have been erected 
illegally. The/ c/ultural workers and supporters 
of Metelkova prevented the action. This attempt 
to destroy one of the liveliest cultural and 
intellectual locations in Ljubljana was the third 
one in the past few months. Various inspections 
have recently intensified their interventions 
during cultural events at /Metelkova/.

The government of Slovenia is acting in 
accordance with a recently passed law on catering 
industries. Under the cover of its strict 
provisions regulating commercial activities, 
which cannot be fulfilled by the non-profit 
associations and NGOs of /Metelkova,/ the 
executive might as well put an end to the largest 
agglomeration of alternative cultures in the country.

/Metelkova/ provides 40% of the non-commercial 
music events in the city. Its attendance can 
favourably be compared with that of the 
established Ljubljana Festival. It is the second 
largest provider of cultural events in Ljubljana. 
/Metelkova/ is the only location in the city, and 
one of the few in the country, where youth 
cultures and alternative cultures are 
systematically produced and presented to a large 
and active audience. It is also a forum of 
impressive intellectual irradiation. During each 
academic year, it organises the /Workers' 
Punkers' University/ where the most urgent 
dilemmas of the contemporary world are discussed 
by competent international speakers. /Metelkova/ 
recently hosted the annual meeting of 
TransEuropeHalles. During the 13 years of its 
existence, projects at the /Autonomous Cultural 
Zone Metelkova/ have been supported by the 
Ministry of Culture and by the City of Ljubljana, 
as well as by many international sponsors.

Producers from /Metelkova/ have been 
participating to Documenta, Manifesta, Sao Paolo 
Biennial, Venice Biennale, Wiener Festwochen
 
Many international festivals held in Ljubljana 
locate part of their activities at /Metelkova/: 
The City of Women, The Other Music, Jazz Festival 
Ljubljana, Trnfest
 /Metelkova /has been 
presented as an outstanding phenomenon by 
international media: ARD, Arte, BBC, Belarus' 
State TV, Die Zeit, Falter, Feral Tribune, Los 
Angeles Times, ORF, Russian State TV, Seattle Times, ZDF

/Metelkova/ is a squat initiated in 1993, when a 
group of alternative producers and activists 
occupied the ancient barracks of the army 
headquarters near the centre of Ljubljana in 
order to prevent its illegal destruction, which 
was launched by still unknown agents presumably 
led by speculative real-estate interest. Although 
it has never succeeded in achieving a proper 
legal status, the location was registered as 
national cultural heritage in 2005.

/ACZ Metelkova/ is under attack. Its people are 
ready to defend it. They need support. Please 
circulate this information. If you want to 
express your support, please write to the Prime Minister:

Janez.Jansa at gov.si <mailto:Janez.Jansa at gov.si>

And to the Minister of Culture:

vasko.simoniti at gov.si <mailto:vasko.simoniti at gov.si>

For supporters of Metelkova:

Wasim Alkhatib, Miha Blažič, Maja Breznik, 
Katarina Deskovič, Narcisa Deskovič, Sabina 
Dogič, Žana Fabjan, Damjan Kocjančič, Nina 
Kozinc, Andrej Kurnik, Jadranka Ljubičič, Iztok 
Markoja, Jurij Markoja, Rastko Močnik, Marion 
Murlan, Sabina Schwenner, Andrej Sevšek, Darij Zadnikar