View source for Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies (KSEVT)

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{{Infobox
| name               = Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies (KSEVT)
| local name         = Kulturno središče evropskih vesoljskih tehnologij (KSEVT)
| logo               = Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies KSEVT (logo).svg
| street             = Slovenska cesta 54
| town               = SI-1000 Ljubljana
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| website            = 
| email              = info@ksevt.eu
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| founded by         = 
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{{Contact
  | name        = Dragan Živadinov
  | role        = KSEVT Art Conductor
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|accounts=
http://twitter.com/KSEVT
http://www.facebook.com/KSEVT
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{{Teaser|
{{image|Architectural Union for Vitanje 2012 KSEVT.JPG}}
{{TeaserImgDesc|Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies KSEVT}}

The [[Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies (KSEVT)]] engages in the research and development of the Slovenian Cultural Space programme.  

For the first 5 years, the centre ran its programmes in the newly-constructed building in Vitanje. The KSEVT's programme was based on the concept of the culturisation of outer space, introduced by [[Dragan Živadinov]], [[Dunja Zupančič]] and [[Miha Turšič]] within the [[Delak Institute]]. In 2014, the KSEVT team represented Slovenia at the Architecture Biennale in Venice with the project ''The Problem of Space Travel &ndash; Supre:architecture''.  

Since 2017, the KSEVT programme continues at other locations in Slovenia and Europe.
}}

==Architecture/Design==

The project "Integrated Revitalisation of the Vitanje House of Culture into KSEVT" received funds in 2009 through the Development Investing in Public Cultural Infrastructure programme, run by the [[Ministry of Culture]]. 

The building design is the work of four architectural bureaus which established the Architectural Union for Vitanje (AZZV): [[Bevk Perović Arhitekti]], [[Dekleva Gregorič Arhitekti]], [[Ofis Arhitekti]] and [[SADAR + VUGA Architects]]. The fascinating building of 2500 m² is inspired by [[Herman Potočnik|Herman Potočnik's]] plan for the first geostationary space station from 1928. 

{{image|Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies KSEVT 2012 04.jpg}}

The ground level includes the [[Slovenske Konjice Public Library|Vitanje Library]] and a multi-purpose circular hall with 300 seats. The first floor with research facilities was dedicated to the KSEVT programme.

{{image|Architectural Union for Vitanje 2012 KSEVT.JPG}}

==Programme in Vitanje (2012&ndash;2016)==

===Exhibitions===
The permanent exhibition ''Herman Potočnik Noordung: 100 Monumental Influences'' (authors: [[Miha Turšič]] and [[Dragan Živadinov]]) is based on 100 of [[Herman Potočnik Noordung|Herman Potočnik Noordung's]] drawings, used in his book  ''The Problem of Space Travel &ndash; The Rocket Motor''. The display covers Potočnik's life and time, early rocket technologies, space architecture, the usage of the Earth orbits, space wear, the ''Treasures of Modernity'' collection, and, last but not least &ndash; Slovenia in space.

{{image|Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies KSEVT 2012 permanent exhibition 01.jpg}}

Next to the permanent exhibition, in October 2013, the exhibition ''VOYAGER/DR. MAVRETIČ'' was set up by its authors [[Miha Turšič]], [[Dragan Živadinov]] and [[Dill Hunley]]. The exhibition presents the work of Dr [[Anton Mavretič]] and the space probe Voyager. On the occasion, Mavretič donated his archive to the [[National and University Library]]. In November 2014, the exhibition ''Spectral Modulator'' by [[Edvard Zajec]], a Trieste-born Slovenian and one of the world pioneers in computer art, opened for the wider public. Zajec had conceived the ''Spectral Modulator'' some decades ago, and now finally found the right team of people and the resources to set it up.

In September 2015, the international symposium ''Out of the Cradle '15 / Habiton'' in Vitanje encompassed presentations of the first art satellite in orbit (Artsat1: Invader) and lectures by international guests, among them Dr Yuri Baturin. ''Matters of Gravity'', an exhibition of a group of 9 artists and 1 scientist from Mexico, was on view until 3 January 2016.

Afterwards, the temporary exhibition entitled ''The Slovenian Space Academy'' presented the collaborative projects between the Slovenian organisations and the European Space Agency (ESA).

===International cooperation===

On the regional level, KSEVT generates connections between Trieste, Italy (liaising it with the ''Trieste Constructivist Ambient'' from 1927); Pula, Croatia (Potočnik's birth town); and Graz, Austria. KSEVT already cooperates with the Russian State Museum in St Petersburg and the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

In 2011, the centre prepared the ''Memorandum on the Culturalisation of Outer Space'' which the Slovene President [[Danilo Türk]] presented to the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev as a new dimension of cooperation between Slovenia and Russia. The document foresees the first (professional) artist human spaceflight, presumably occupied by the Slovenian prima ballerina [[Mateja Rebolj]], who has also collaborated with [[Dragan Živadinov]] in the [[Noordung Cosmokinetic Cabinet]].

At the 14th International Venice Biennale Architecture Exhibition in 2014, the exhibition at the Pavilion of Slovenia (Arsenale) was curated by the [[Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies (KSEVT)]]. The project delved into the fundamentals of architecture through the opus of the pioneer of space architecture, [[Herman Potočnik Noordung]].

From 30 September to 4 October 2015, at KSEVT Vitanje, an exhibition entitled ''The Slovenian Space Academy'' presented the collaborative projects between Slovenian organisations and the European Space Agency (ESA). ''Vitanje in Space: Sunita'', an art documentary, which addresses the problem of living in space through the eye of science and art, was premiered on the occasion.


==Background==

Initially, the Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies (KSEVT) was founded by [[Miha Turšič]], [[Dragan Živadinov]], the [[Municipality of Vitanje]], [[Delak Institute]] and Planit Institute.

From 30 September till 16 October 2015, [[Miha Turšič]], KSEVT's co-founder and acting director, was on a hunger strike with a plea to the Government of Slovenia to reconsider the status of KSEVT, and the role of arts and culture as development agents, respectively. He demanded also a raise of the budget for culture to 2% of the Slovenian Government Budget. The hunger strike took place in the reconstruction of the ''Trieste Constructivist Cabinet'' at the [[Moderna galerija (MG)]]. The strike's archive is available on the blog ''J'Accuse ...!'' (see external links). In December 2015, [[Miha Turšič]] resigned from his position as KSEVT Director.

In March 2017, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology became a co-funder of the Center, matching the funds of the [[Ministry of Culture]] and the [[Municipality of Vitanje]]. With the new direction of the new institution K-SEVT or the [[Herman Potočnik Noordung Space Center]] alias the Nordung Centre, the programme has undergone significant changes, its programme focused on technology and tourism, respectively.

Since 2017, the programme and activities in the building in Vitanje are no longer related to the [[Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies (KSEVT)]] programme.

== See also ==
*[[Herman Potočnik Noordung and Vitanje]]
*[[Delak Institute]]
*[[Noordung Cosmokinetic Cabinet]]

==External links==
*[http://noordung.blogspot.si/2015/08/habiton-symposium-matters-of-gravity.html ''Habiton, Out of the Cradle'' symposium programme]
*[http://jaccusesite.wordpress.com/category/eng/ ''J'Accuse …!'' blog], an archive on the KSEVT’s cofounder [[Miha Turšič|Miha Turšič's]] hunger strike, October 2015

International projects
*[https://issuu.com/ksevtvitanje/docs/suprearchitecturecomposite Venice The catalogue of ''The Problem of Space Travel &ndash; Supre: Architecture'' project] presented at the 14th International Venice Biennale Architecture Exhibition

*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmb2ROoR0G4 Dušan Petrač who worked at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, presents KSEVT]

Architecture
*[http://www.archdaily.com/101196/in-progress-the-cultural-center-of-european-space-technologies-bevk-perovic-arhitekti-dekleva-gregoric-arhitekti-ofis-arhitekti-sadar-vuga-arhitekti/ The KSEVT architecture in progress on Archdaily]
*[https://www.dezeen.com/2013/01/16/space-habitable-wheel-by-ofis-bevk-perovic-dekleva-gregoric-and-sadar-vuga/ The KSEVT architecture in progress on Dazeen]

General information
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Centre_of_European_Space_Technologies KSEVT on Wikipedia]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Poto%C4%8Dnik Herman Potočnik Noordung on Wikipedia]


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