KUD Mreža Arts and Culture Association

VNESI SODELOVNAJE Z MOTO VNES KONCERTE, PA DA PREJ META

Established in 1997 at Metelkova mesto Autonomous Cultural Zone, the army barracks-turned-cultural complex in the centre of Ljubljana, KUD Mreža (meaning KUD Network) nowadays carries out a wide range of activities, from leading an art gallery to maintaining an archive, promoting concerts and mediating information on fundraising. Since 2003, KUD Mreža has also been managing the renovations of buildings within ACC Metelkova Mesto with the support of the Ljubljana City Council.

1280pxAlkatraz Gallery, established in 1996 as an artist run space, located in Metelkova mesto Autonomous Cultural Zone, Ljubljana

Backgeound

Initially, KUD Mreža Association was primarily engaged in visual arts projects at Metelkova, and was one of the formal vehicles available for various collectives that were active there.

Together with the Society for the Protection of Atheistic Feelings (DZAČ), it also converted the Metelkova mesto venue Klub Menza pri koritu into a popular club that hosts concerts, poetry events and various workshops by local and international musicians, performers, artists, and more. Yet, as of 2015, the association is not active there any more.

Core projects

Since 2000, KUD Mreža is organising the International Feminist and Queer Festival Red Dawns, which features performances, concerts, exhibitions, urban interventions, as well as video projections, round tables, book presentations, and lectures. For a time, it also organised the similarly diverse, modern improvised music, dance, and visual arts oriented [[Personal–Collective Festival].

It also runs the music concert cycles FriForma (for improvised music) and Metabonma (for contemporary classical music), operates the Alkatraz Gallery (contemporary art exhibitions, performances) and the Studio Asylum, runs art auctions and organises art workshops (painting, graphic art, sculpture, metal sculpture, etc.), and also manages an archive of photographic, audio and video materials regarding Metelkova mesto and the events occurring there.

The "Urban Art Projects" [Urbani likovni projekti] are devoted to the renovations and art exhibitions in public spaces at Metelkova mesto, such as creating and arranging Hajlends Park at Metelkova mesto, making mosaics, etc.

International cooperation

KUD Mreža participates in international co-operation and together with ACC Metelkova holds a membership in Trans Europe Halles, a European Network of Independent Cultural Centres.

Since 2007 the association manages an artist-in-residence programme (Atelje Azil - Studio Asylum) intended for artists from different disciplines. It has hosted numerous artists from a number of countries, including Croatia, France, Japan, Great Britain, Germany, and Norway.

KUD Mreža is the Slovene host for the international project La caravane des dix mots that takes place in more than 40 countries world-wide.

In 2013, it became a part of the international research project called "The Future of Work, financed by European Cultural Fund (ECF). The Future of Work is 4 episode web-documentary “The Future of Work” Abel Heijkamp (NL) and Julij Borštnik (SI) research the growing insecurity of work and living in the Netherlands, Slovenia, Germany and Europe, with Projekthaus Potsdam-Babelsberg (GE) and Zaaigrond filmproductions (NL).

External links

Gallery

Alkatraz Gallery, interior, 2009

Alkatraz Gallery, established in 1996 as an artist run space, located in Metelkova mesto Autonomous Cultural Zone, Ljubljana

Tomaž Tomažin, V čast klobuku [In honour of the hat], light box, detail, in the Tomaž Tomažin and Damijan Kracina / Serious players exhibition, curated by Jadranka Ljubičič, Alkatraz Gallery, 2010

Naoko Mashiba dance concert at Asylum Studio, KUD Mreža, 2016

The Revolting Women Social Workers present their calendar I Want My Part Of The History! at the Metelkova mesto Autonomous Cultural Zone, A - Infoshop, in the scope of the International Feminist and Queer Festival Red Dawns in 2014