The free culture spaces workshop was a refreshing exchange at iCommons, a free flowing conversation and chance for participants to share their knowledge and experiences. With everyone seated in a circle with stories to share one hour was hardly enough, but it did provide a start in surveying the current topology of free culture spaces.
The conversation was kicked off by Marcel from mi2 and Mama who recounted how these spaces were set up, particularly their relationship to the war, how they were funded and their aims and objectives. Mama is focussed on new media arts and includes projects such as egoboobits and a space that provides net access. Interestingly Croatian Nationalists describe Mama as being run by "communist, Serbian homosexuals" or something to that affect. Marcell recommended having a diverse pool of funding to avoid any one funder setting the agenda of the project.
Alexandre of Estudio Livre in Brazil talked about the relationship between free culture spaces and free software. Estudio Livre work with the Cultural Ministry in Brazil to create multimedia free culture spaces for digital inclusion, particularly in favellas and outlying areas or amongst excluded communities. Working with the government had it's drawbacks though, such as a short term commitment to building the spaces and a lot more hype than action.
From there the conversation opened up further with other attendees recounting spaces they are involved in, the challenges associated with them and some of the successes.
One key issue was the need for space. Different groups had dealt with this in different ways depending on their context. In some places, particularly in Western and Southern Europe squatting was often away people acquired spaces, particularly by linking them with broader social centres . These spaces are known as Hacklabs throughout Spain and Italy where the practice is common. Transhack meetings are one space where this network is articulated.
In the US however occupying spaces in this way is not possible and may not be a desirable form of operation for many due to it's illegality and precarious nature. In these conditions people need to find ways to raise funds to maintain the spaces. Various ideas were thrown around as to how to do this from membership dues, to foundation funding to having a cafe (that included muffins in Elizabeths vision :) that would bring in income.
At the end of the discussion people were keen for more so it was decided an iCommons node would be established.
Much is left to be done, particularly around developing some basic common principals as to what a free culture space is, but the conversation has certainly begun.
tags: croatia culture free-culture spaces
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