KIBLA Multimedia Centre

In 1996 KIBLA Multimedia Centre opened as Slovenia's first presentation and production institution in dealing with multimedia and new media art within an ongoing cultural programme. Since then KIBLA's programme has focused on new (contemporary) educational, cultural and artistic practices, connecting education and research, culture and technology, arts and sciences. In particular, KIBLA aims to emancipate and demystify new media as a creative tool in education and new forms of art.

In 2007 a complex proposal under the name Čista energija [Pure energy] was prepared by KIBLA and collaborating institutions from the city of Maribor and neighbouring towns in the region. The proposal won the nomination of the European Commission European Capital of Culture for 2012.

Background and location

When KIBLA Multimedia Centre was first founded its programme highlighted computer education and access by offering free Internet access, e-mail addresses and web space for non-profit organisations and individuals. In 1998, KIBLA gained the legal status of an Association of Culture and Education (ACE). Located in the ground floor of the premises of the Narodni dom Maribor, today ACE KIBLA comprises KiBela Art Space for various exhibitions, Za:misel Bookshop known for its selection of student books and KiBar cyber café complete with 10 computer terminals with Internet access.

Since 2001 ACE KIBLA also runs a dislocated Information and Communication Point (KIT) at Glavni trg 14 in Maribor. KIT offers Internet access, consulting and educational programmes regarding information and communications technology.

Programme

ACE KIBLA's extensive programme includes exhibitions, performances, concerts, festivals, theatre, lectures, symposia, fairs, and workshops. Through its KiBela Art Space it collaborates with Slovene artists and institutions and also with contemporary artists and arts organisations in Graz, London, Zagreb, Belgrade, and the USA, presenting new approaches through new media as well as classic fine arts.

ACE KIBLA's festivals include the Izzven Jazz Festival, Maribor (November), the KIBLIX Linux IT Festival, and the acclaimed Skrite note [Hidden Music Score] Festival programmes of avant-garde music. It also cooperates with numerous other organisations in Maribor, Ljubljana (Ljubljana Jazz Festival, Druga Godba Festival) and abroad. The 3rd edition of the Festival ljubezni [Festival of Love] (usually organised each spring and always in a different Slovene town) is also part of the events marking the Ljubljana, World Book Capital 2010 in April 2010 in Negova Castle.

Regular literature events such a readings, interviews with renowned authors, and roundtables are organised throughout the year within KIBLA's Za:misel Bookshop programme.

KIBLA is a founding member of the M3C Multimedia Centres Network of Slovenia and has contributed to the network's development of the Dravoskop cultural portal, which features the latest creative happenings in Slovenia's Podravje region and also presents cultural organisations in all municipalities.

International cooperation

Whether as an active member in many international networks or as a project leader engaging in the production and dissemination of numerous complex cultural works, ACE KIBLA has significant experience working in international cooperation projects. The list of projects co-funded by the European Commission and its funding bodies in which the organisation has participated is perhaps among the largest for a Slovene institution.

With funding from the Culture 2000 programme in the years 2002–2003 KIBLA co-organised the annual project tx0om – Textures in bloom, which investigated interactive, intelligent and responsive environments at the crossroads of digital physics, phenomenology and biomimeticswhere the body becomes intermediary, and the multiannual project Virtual Centre Media Net. KIBLA also collaborated as a partner in two annual projects TRANZart disLOCATED and Soziale Geräusche [Social Noises]. Two additional projects were FP5-IST (EMMA – European Multimedia Accelerator) and FP6-IST (PATENT – Partnership for Telecommunication New Technologies).

In 2004–2005 KIBLA participated in the annual projects, e-Agora, which developed a virtual multimedia platform for innovative production and presentation of Performing Arts using the latest communication technologies (multi-user shared environments on the Internet) in order to interconnect European theatres, cultural centres, and enhance their co-operation, and TRG – Transient reality generators – a continuation of the tx0om project – focused on the phenomenon of Mixed Reality (environments containing significant virtual and physical interaction possibilities, strongly intertwined) and examined the potential of synaesthetic MR experience design, in which the art-works become all-encompassing art-worlds. In 2006, the multiannual projects gRig – Guild for Reality integrators and generators and TiE – Travel in Europe.

Within the framework of the EUREKA multimedia umbrella and with support from the Leonardo da Vinci programme, KIBLA participated in the project Name multimedia, a Multimedia Tasks & Skills Database, researching and evaluating 26 different jobs and 96 operational multimedia tasks. NAME is presented in 9 languages, with a database of more than 650 companies from 11 countries.

One of KIBLA's current projects is X-OP - eXchange of art operators and producers, a multiannual (2008–2011) project intended to nurture a network of artists, researchers, operators, producers, and centres with the aim to establish a European platform for creation of art and exchange. By long-term cooperation the partner centres are establishing and further developing infrastructural and information supportive environment in relation to information technology, digital culture and art creation in wide aspect from art production and presentation to research and education. Alongside ACE KIBLA the partners in the consortium are Museum Lapidarium (Novigrad, Croatia), Media in Motion (Berlin, Germany), Egon March Institute (Ljubljana, Slovenia, MoKS – Kunsti ja Sotsiaalpraktika Keskus, Center for Art and Social Practice (Mooste, Estonia), CIANT – International Centre for Art and New Technologies (Prague, Czech Republic), Politechnic of Tomar (Tomar, Portugal), MAA – Taidekoulu, Art School (Helsinki, Finland), Apartment Project (Istanbul, Turkey), and Rahmenwerk – Transforming Freedom (Vienna, Austria).

Project activities have included the conference True Art/Truely Merchandise in Berlin (DE), Media-Scape 2009. Infinite games in Novigrad (HR).

On the global level, in 2009 KIBLA co-organised ASEUM, the 1st International New Media Art Festival in the Philippines, together with SABAW Media Art Kitchen (Philippines) and Asia-Europe Foundation.

Awards

In 2008 ACE Kibla joined the ranks of Alcatel Space, Amadeus, Brainstorm Multimedia, EVS, Navicore, Nokia, OpenBC, Strato, Young Digital Planet, Zanox and others when it was awarded a silver European Seal of e-Excellence by the European Multimedia Forum. The seal recognises ICT and digital media companies with an excellent track record in developing and marketing innovative products and services.

External links

Kibla website (in English)
Dravoskop cultural portal
European Seal of e-Excellence 2008 winners
Pure Energy – Maribor, European Capital of Culture 2012: the winning proposal's website

International cooperation projects

Gallery

Love Festival organised by KIBLA Multimedia Centre in 2009 in Ptuj

Folio Magazine cover, no. 1, 2009

Folio Magazine, No. 1/4, 2011

David Carson's Paganini of Typography, a creative workshop/exhibition in the KiBela Art Space, KIBLA Multimedia Centre, Maribor 2002

Ballettikka Internettikka: Portraits illuminated pictures (lightbox, image on transparent film and rotating light) by Igor Stromajer & Brane Zorman, 7th KIBLIX Linux IT Festival, 2007

Robovox - your vote an interactive sound installation by Martin Bricelj installed in Maribor public space for 4 days during the 7th KIBLIX Linux IT Festival 2007

Guest lecture about the implications of wireless networks by Sascha Meinrath, scientific research director at the New America Foundation's Wireless Future Program for the 7th KIBLIX Linux IT Festival in Maribor, 2007

Level head, exhibition by Julian Oliver (NZ) interactive project dealing with spatial memory, KIBLA Multimedia Centre, part of the project gRIG (Guild for Reality integrators and generators), during KIBLIX Festival, 2008

KIBLIX Linux IT Festival has been run by KIBLA Multimedia Centre in Maribor annually since 2002, more recently renamed 'Kiblix' reflecting a broader approach to digital media and open source technology

All about Lesotho new media project by Vlado G. Repnik, Robert Klančnik, Lana K. Gotvan and Stefan Doepner in the KiBela Art Space, Maribor 2006

Junction protocols exhibition by Dragan Živadinov, Dunja Zupančič and Miha Turšič, KiBela Art Space, Maribor 2007

Jure Zadnikar's exhibition Towards the sun in the KiBela Art Space, 2008

KiBela Art Space interior; Jure Zadnikar's exhibition Towards the sun, 2008

Narodni dom Maribor exterior

KIBLA Multimedia Centre

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