Metelkova mesto Autonomous Cultural Zone

The Autonomous Cultural Centre Metelkova mesto (AKC Metelkova mesto, AKC Metelkova or just Metelkova for short - Meta or Metka in a local slang) is an umbrella term for one of the liveliest cultural, artistic, social and intellectual urban areas in Ljubljana that goes among the largest agglomeration of alternative cultures in the whole Europe.

History

Metelkova mesto occupies the former Fourth of July Military Barracks at Metelkova 3 street in the centre of Ljubljana, which was originally commissioned by the Austro-Hungarian army in 1882 and completed in 1911. In 1990 the Network for Metelkova was formed, consisting of 200 partner organisations facilitated by the Movement for the Culture of Peace and Non Violence and the Student Cultural Centre Association, to propose a new, peaceful and creative use for the barracks. In 1991 the Network for Metelkova formally petitioned the newly-independent Slovene government to take possession of the abandoned site.

In 1993 a group of alternative producers and activists occupied the former military barracks in order to prevent its illegal destruction and redevelopment, and since 1995 the space has been a self-organised autonomous zone. Although it has not yet succeeded in achieving a proper legal status, the area was registered as national cultural heritage in 2005.

During its 16 years of its existence, projects at Metelkova mesto have been supported by the state and municipal funders as well as by many international sponsors. In spite of this, Metelkova mesto is constantly under attack: in 2006 one of the buildings which was considered to have been erected illegally was torn down and various inspections continue to interrupt cultural events.

Venues, organisations

Cultural organisations based at Metelkova mesto include: KUD Mreža Arts and Culture Association with its venues Klub Menza pri koritu and Alkatraz Gallery and its Red Dawn International Women's Festival; KAPA Association for Cultural and Artistic Production with its Gala hala venue for all genres of rock and its DrrMrrr OrtoPunk Festival; KUD Anarhiv with its Škratova čitalnica Info Point etc; and Celica Hostel, with its cafe-bar, concert and gallery space, constructed within the old military prison. Venues also include Klub Channel Zero for electronic music, Klub Gromka for alternative performing arts events and lectures, the gay club Klub Tiffany and the lesbian club Klub Monokel, as well as Klub SOT 24,5, run by the YHD - Association for Theory and Culture of Handicap, and Jalla Jalla artistic inn. Several artists' studios - some of which are also available for visiting artists - are located in one of the other barracks. The outdoor events are usually held at the Square with no Historic Memory.

The building at Metelkova 6 accommodates the offices of many Ljubljana NGO cultural organisations, including SCCA-Ljubljana Centre for Contemporary Arts, the Peace Institute, Maska Institute, Forum Ljubljana, City of Women, Ekran magazine and Strip Core, as well as numerous other cultural, research and civil society organisations.

Programme

Metelkova mesto is the only location in the city, and one of the few in the country, where youth, underground and alternative cultural expression is systematically produced and presented to a large and active audience. It is also a forum of impressive intellectual irradiation. During each academic year, it hosts the programme of the Workers' Punk University where the most urgent dilemmas of the contemporary world are discussed by competent international speakers. The annual celebration of the ACC Metelkova's perseverance takes place each September in a form of a festival.

Projects

Producers from Metelkova have participated in numerous important cultural festivals including the Wiener Festwochen, documenta, Manifesta, the Sao Paolo Biennial and the Venice Biennale. Many Slovene international festivals held in Ljubljana hold part of their activities at Metelkova, including the City of Women International Festival of Contemporary Arts, Druga Godba, Ljubljana Jazz Festival, Ana Desetnica and the Trnfest Festival.

International cooperation

The major reconstruction works were executed in 2001 and 2004 in collaboration with the Axt und Kelle collective of travelling young craftsmen and craftswomen from Germany, Denmark and Switzerland. Metelkova mesto is a member of Trans Europe Halles and in 2006 it hosted the annual meeting of its members. Metelkova has been presented as an outstanding phenomenon by the international media, including ARD, Arte, BBC, Die Zeit, Falter, Feral Tribune, Los Angeles Times, ORF, Russian State TV, Seattle Times and ZDF.