KUMA TALKS 2.0 Talk Five: City and Culture - Between Impact and Alibi 09.10.

2013 Introductory article: The use and reinvention of urban spaces through cultural projects is booming. The concept of "Creative Cities" is enlisted equally by artists and city governments, foundations and NGOs as a starting point for new projects. With the hope of participation and dialogue, cultural projects seem to open up new spaces in urban contexts. But can cultural projects actually be methods of and stimulus for innovative urban development? Or are they rather used as a temporary "pretty showpieces"? And: how do artists and cultural actors deal with the challenges of constantly changing cities? Together with two guests, we want to cast a critical eye over the approaches of "urban development through culture" in Europe. We will approach the topic from two directions: while Mustafa Tazeolu of Urban Rhizome operates - with regard to social structures - between urbanity, (inter)culturalism and economy, Ivana Dragi works as an artist and political activist - with a focus on spatial structures - at the interface of art, political activism and urban planning. Cultural projects as a platform for proxy-democracy presentation by Ivana Dragsic Keywords: Cultural (artistic) projects projects, individual and collective actions and initiative often designed and programmed by artists, curators, theoreticians, cultural managers and collaborative groups of members of various profiles. These projects rely on the political notion of the culture as a source for the alternative, the other, the various. We see the culture as a tool for the minorities of any kind, especially in a society with repressive tendencies towards the Other. We draw upon the social dimension of culture due to the monolithic treatment of culture and arts in our society and its application as a tool of simple representation and festivalization. Finally, culture and arts offer unique platforms for research and dialogue as a means for responsible and strategic decision making, especially in the area of urban planning, which is of our specific interest. Freedom Square ( ) an informal citizens initiative gone formal and institutionalized. Documentation-wise, a very irresponsible group of artists, activists, city enthusiasts and operators, political analysts and theoreticians, which has become the main contact counter-point to the public institutions concerning urban planning and treatment of public space. We produce art, books, stake protests and concerts; carry out field studies and write policy papers. We fill the space left empty by the Macedonian Association of Architects, the Ecological Society of Macedonia and other green organizations, organizations treating the marginalized in public space, etc.; thus expanding our competencies and skills, as well as overall production.

Skopje Earthquake 1963 a major event in the urban planning of Skopje. 3/4 of the city was destroyed in the terrible earthquake, instigating the former Yugoslav federation to hold an international open call for a new urban plan and philosophy of the city. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1963_Skopje_earthquake Kenzo Tange Japanese architect, creator of the most comprehensive, in-depth and symbiotic master-plan of Skopje. More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenzo_Tange http://tststsss.tumblr.com/post/8342830969/kenzo-tange-reconstruction-plan-for-skopje http://www.scribd.com/doc/51456001/Skopje-Resurgent-1 Skopje 2014 a newly introduced architectural and urbanistic intervention in the central area of Skopje. A project that has not undergone both professional nor general public discussion and consulting, whereas all procedures costing the Macedonian budget half a million euro were kept secret. The project was introduced with a video render of the future city (dubbed Skopje 2014) via YouTube, and carried out nearly to the end, despite the hundreds of professional, philosophical, strategic, environmental and ethical appeals to terminate the devastation of public space. Moreover, all individual or group opponents have been politically lynched, slandered in the media, terminated from work or the opportunity to work, threatened and pressured. Skopje 2014 is the moral, economic, philosophical, architectural and human defeat all disciplines discussed today: urban planning, culture, city citizens, dialogue, diversity. Jadro: Association of the Macedonian Independent Cultural Scene a national association of NGOs, publishing houses, artists and cultural managers, as a platform for political action and artistic collaboration of the actors.

Can cultural projects actually be methods of and stimulus for innovative urban development? YES. More as a source of knowledge and expertise, than as a creative city concept, this is also, very prone to weaknesses. But not in Skopje, not at the current state of affairs.

Activities associated with our cultural (artistic) projects: Theory and publishing Field research and study Policy writing Institutional forwarding of the issue Political activism (interviews, debates, public announcements, newspaper articles and statements) Advocacy Claiming public space (public gatherings, protests, walks, interventions) Citizens recruitment

Purposes served by our cultural (artistic) projects: Reclaiming public space Awareness raising Creating a platform for common praxis, research and dialogue Cultural (artistic) production Rethinking of current models of functioning and strategizing new ones Commoning as a process instead of phenomena, applied to culture, politics and know-how

These projects assume the participation of three stakeholders: 1. Organizers (usually: activists, theoreticians, artists, cultural workers; one generally informed and engaged group of people) 2. Local community, citizens, general public 3. Public institution representatives, public servants, public institutions Assumed participation is of various intensity, but the intention is to present, build and practice an interdisciplinary decision-making model, which will take relevant knowledge and expertise into consideration in all future urban planning and strategizing.

1. The Cobblestone March / 26.09.2009 / a protest against the restoration of the cobblestone recently removed from the main square in Skopje / a collective public performance / awareness raising

2. Marking of 28.03 the day when architecture students and activists protested against the construction of an orthodox church in the middle of the main square, and were attacked and chased away by 4500 counter-protestors, in the eye of the police / 28.03.2009 / a collective public piece / awareness raising

3. Camp Bristol 2013 / August through September 2013 / occupation of a small urban green area to protect it from turning into a construction lot / reclaiming public space / cultural production

4. Protests against police brutality / Camp Bristol 2013 / June through September 2011 / protests / occupation of public space / cultural production / policy activities / public discussions -these gatherings evolved into a real platform for both public dialogue and cultural production -policy changes were proposed to the Macedonian Parliament -public sit-ins, flash-mobs and artistic performances were internationally staged in solidarity with Skopje -photo documentation: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kuzevski/sets/72157626797117269/ 5. Private | Public taking space -> making space / a series of discursive and artistic events / cultural (artistic) production / awareness raising / reclaiming public space / platform for dialogue and common praxis -a case of police brutality occurred before the opening of the three-day-event, and we issued a statement: Sunday night a young man got killed by a member of the special police forces on the main square in Skopje. This provoked a series of protests in the city which we actively support. We decided to continue with our planned activities of "Private | Public" anyway, because we consider them as a critical statement to the current situation in themselves. We live in a situation where politicians and party activists predominantly design content for us. Our way to oppose this is to constantly produce alternative content and provide a platform for further critical discussion and rethinking of the socio-cultural context.

6. The Missing Yard / 29.09.2013 / reclaiming public space / cultural and artistic production / platform for dialogue and common praxis -first project with the participation of all anticipated segments, mentioned in the beginning of the presentation -a beginning of a potential accomplishment of our long-term goal: creation of institutions with hybrid management, ones that will offer the variety necessary for strategic and responsible urban planning -a collaboration between the Association of Independent Cultural Scene, the Municipality of Centar (Skopje) and the local community

7. Singing Skopjans (Raspeani Skopjani/ ) / ad hoc activist self-organized choir / articulating political thought through performance and cultural (artistic) production / all performances: http://www.youtube.com/user/PlostadSloboda?feature=watch

-play video Koga te nema -other cultural projects

Temporary "pretty showpieces" or proxy democracy: -when cultural (artistic) projects are ephemeral -when cultural (artistic) projects are interpreted and consumed as stripped artistic production only -when cultural (artistic) projects are used only as a representation of the existence of variety cultural (artistic) projects have an insignificant impact. Challenges faced: Disregard of any new knowledge and methodology in urban planning and strategies within the public institutions Reluctance of public institutions to apply themselves to initiatives bigger than bilateral cooperation Restrictive legislature regarding citizens and professional bodies participation in the decisionmaking processes Participation of local community as audience, spectators only Skopje 2014 is nearly finished vast amounts of public space and urban greenery have been lost on the account of public institutions, parking space and private capital Monopolized public space (physical space, but also broadcasting media, schoolbooks, popular culture and other publicly subsidized areas of intellectual production) Generally poor and repressive conditions to live and work in Personal problems due to being on the opposed side Recent increase in emigration rates among the creative class

Current state of the affairs and why our collective action has served as an alibi, a platform for proxy democracy How cultural projects have emancipated artists and activists Art as an antidote to mass culture (independents vs. Skopje 2014, National culture) The Dilemma: resist by producing or shut down illustrating how bad it really is Thank you Contact Ivana Dragsic: unexploded.ordnances[at]gmail.com