Back in the 1999, after organizing the first event1 in the city of Labin in Cultural center LAMPARNA as LABinary group, which until then was grouping irregularly for purpose of publishing newsletter, we realized that an independent facility of this size could potentially host much bigger events. Mixing this idea with some of our early enthusiasm over international networks2 in the field of network culture, we though of organizing an event that would serve as a meet-point for these individuals/groups/projects/institutions. Having an additional interest in regional networking with the agenda of Eastern European participation in these activities (strongly enhanced by Joanne Richardson joining the process), made our concept expand radically. Initially follow-up to an event held previously in London called ASU - Art Servers Unlimited3 seemed like an interesting concept, but with some of the heritage (and whatever comes with it) and expanded concept we had to relabel ASU2 into .art/alt/act + servers/streamers/spaces + Unlimited!4 With an ambitious plan, but no real strategy for handling an event of this size (first big organizing experience for most) and the events of September 11th (that occurred half-way through ASU2) the event of course failed to live up to the high expectations. Nevertheless it resulted in what is going to be the basis of the future networking framework a.network within the region5 of South East Europe. Contacts made with media labs from Ljubljana (Ljudmila) and Sarajevo (pro.ba) prior to the event, as well as discussions in Labin that were joined by the media center from Novi Sad (kuda.org) during the event itself – remained active until late 2002 (bilateral activities occurred meanwhile). With the support of Goethe Institute Zagreb, the network was finally possible to expand from its virtual channels into physical spaces and organize its first activities and develop initial programs of collaboration, as well as work on the establishing a regional platform for media culture and strengthening of program exchange.
With a first official meeting in Zagreb, January 2003, a.network was on the move with founding members: Multimedia Institute – Zagreb, Pro.ba – Sarajevo, kuda.org – Novi Sad and Ljudmila – Ljubljana. These organizations shared similar interests, a similar size (with a handful of dedicated professionals) and a non-profit background. Beyond this all faced similar contexts of working in young “transition” countries, within a field that still needs to be recognized as an integral and important part of cultural production. In the past year dynamics within network and organizations was changing as participation levels moved up and down, with sometimes fruitful - sometimes turbulent discussions, during the periodic synchronizations. In its first year of existence a.network developed a joint website, hosted guest lectures and presentations from the field of media culture (Wolfgang Staehle, Derek Holzer, Armin Mendosch & Jacqueline Stevens) and published a booklet that gives an overview of its aims and founding members. Internet services established by Ljudmila are starting to serve the media content of projects of a.network members.
Entering 2004, all core organizations agreed to expand the platform beyond founding members to include associated members (organizations/individuals/informal groups) in order to engage in more diverse and demanding projects, as well as to unleash available resources for wider use. Among planned activities for the next few months are: a organization of the exhibition of “software art” with Andreas Broeckman (director of Transmediale festival), a series of workshops in free media authoring tools (in collaboration with Art academies), a video documentation project (that should result in a TV program) and an initial research for development of MediaHUB (distributed media archive server with input for automatic digitization of AV data).
On the abstract level: Networks are easier to initiate than to maintain. Giving in and compromising is crucial for sustaining networks. In practice, there is no such thing as flat and static grid networks (grid) with equal nodes, but rather dynamic relations of different entities, that change mostly depending on involvement. Networks are good for distribution and exchange, while decision making and production work tends to be problematic (so all synchronized moments should be used). Differences should be taken into account early on, and used for all of its benefits. Networks should be operated similar to any technological tool: used when needed, discarded when unfeasible, occasionally re-factored and updated to meet new needs.
On a more specific level: Small and young non-profit groups usually have a dedicated group of people as a core and therefore are more accepting of the new network contexts, however limited capacity and being overworked makes them usually concentrated on short term goals and internal activities. Stretching out to others in the network in such situations can produce tension which over a longer period of time becomes a frustrating strain. Initiating projects within the network, takes bilateral partnerships on different levels rather than group decision. Commitment for the network activities grows linearly from higher levels of participation, while it shrinks exponentially as it goes down. Mathematics usually fails, sometimes for better sometimes for worse - empiric calculation is more appropriate.
Contrary to the popular interpretations of networks as organic rhizomatic structures that build the environment around and connect us in infinite relations to all others (6 degrees anyone?) - most of the networkers will tell you the opposite. Networks tend to be artificial and driven by practical benefits. They prefer exposure of the surface and very rarely stay deep rooted. Though they make us aware of connections and environments, the process of generating these was hardly ever related to network formations (but is usually an effort of individuals). Rather than thinking in terms of cybernetic biology, and trying to come up with metaphors that will fail anyway, it might be useful to come up with survival strategies and gardening tricks that come closer to permaculture design and test them on a daily basis. Once a network stops being a romantic escape, it might start living up to its potentials.
1 regional seminar in media art theory - media.art.theory.week (21-25.09.2000.), with lecturers: Keiko Sei, Malcolm LeGrice, Olia Lialina and Ladislav Galeta URL:http://www.labinary.org/media.art.theory.week/index.php3
2 European Cultural Backbone URL: http://www.e-c-b.net/; eXchange, network for alternative Internet broadcasters URL:http://xchange.re-lab.net/i/; Indymedia URL:http://www.inymedia.org/; NICE – network interface for cultural exchange; and some more who are no longer active...
3 Organised by Manu Luksch and Armin Medosch (1998.07.02-04) http://asu.sil.at/
4 With the idea of non-designed website but wiki managed collaborating environment, event was tracked on URL://http://www.desk.org:8080/ASU2/
5 Proposal to set-up a brand-less and dynamic network that would sustain within a region URL:http://www.desk.org:8080/ASU2/a.network.beyondASU2
| Edit | Rename | Changes | History | Upload | Download | Back to Top |