EXCHANGERSTATIONSCULTURAL POINTS OF SUBURBS

THE SPOTSPROJECT

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The authors of the original idea of the SPOTs project were inspired by old and unused buildings located in the suburban areas, which are objects of heat exchanger stations. They were built in the 1960s and 1970s and originally served for heat redistribution for flats in the residential complex.

An outdated technology of exchanger stations is cur-rently being substituted by new technologies with much lower demands for space. The convenient location of ex-changer stations enables their active involvement in the process of revitalization of suburban areas with panel blocks of flats, development of civil participation, im-provement of intergenerational dialogue, improvement of public space and inclusion of marginalized groups.

The aim of the investment part of the SPOTs project is a reconstruction of unused heat exchanger buildings with an aim to support the development of cultural and social potential in the large suburban areas. Exchang-ers will support the process of decentralization of culture from the city centre to its suburban areas and outer parts. They will also help to complete the missing modern cultural infrastructure and new public services for suburban residents. The result of the process will be 7 multifunctional cultural spaces that will make an impact on the quality of cultural production and also the quality of coexistence in the city. d

CULTURALPOINTS OFSUBURBS

The Košice Interface 2013 is a project which won the city the title of European Capital of Culture for the year 2013. This title is shared with the French city of Marseille. For the realization of the winning project the non-profit association Košice 2013 has been founded.

The Košice Interface 2013 project focuses on long-term city transformation through culture. It is aimed at building the missing cultural infrastructure in the city, the developement of creative industry, support of com-munity development along with civil participation.

The Košice Interface 2013 project has two key projects:The Barracks/Culture Park and SPOTs. The aim of the SPOTs project is the decentralization of culture from the city centre to its suburban areas and outer parts.

THE SPOTS PROJECT

THE SPOTS PROJECT SUPPORTS:• community development and civil participation

which includes building and support of formal and informal groups of residents, and their participation in their community development and public matters;

• innovative projects from the field of social and com-munity art, aiming to realize art projects in various communities, and support creative cooperation of artists with residents, institutions, community and social workers;

• creating and transforming public spaces, such as pedestrian underpasses, parks, playgrounds, places where suburban people often meet, reconstruction of heat exchanger stations and transformation of their surroundings;

• informal education and development of volunteer-ing, with an aim to develop a solid volunteering base, to create conditions for intercultural exchange of experience and educating cultural operators and institutions.

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Exchanger stations – Cultural points of suburbs will become centres of community life development and public participation, multifunctional cultural space, supporting the community and social art in the suburbs and city districts. They will create conditions for attracting wider audiences, along with the creation of new works of art and personal improvement of resi-dents through the participation on creative activities.

Exchanger stations – Cultural points of suburbs will serve as a versatile, social and cultural space with the possibility of support for artistic creation by providing equipped workshops, theatre performances, concerts, exhibitions, films and also organization of club activi-ties, workshops, discussions and planning meetings with residents.

All the reconstructed buildings will be linked to the cultural centre Barracks/Culture Park and so will establish an interconnected cultural network with the possibility of involvement of all the cultural points in common activities.

The SPOTs project activities, as defined in the programs and sub-programs, will be implemented through the pilot projects of the SPOTs team and through projects that other partners within the frame of grants for Košice 2013 will implement. The presentation and evaluation of their results will occur annually at the SPOTs Fair.

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ART PROJECTS IN COMMUNITIES SUB-PROGRAMsupports the long-term stays of artists, art activities take place directly in communities with the aim to re-flect suburban life and bring art closer to the residents.

The living room /2010/ – designers from KEKS Design/Creative Lab civic association gave the furniture that has been donated by residents of Terasa a “second chance”. One of the most interesting pieces is a sofa- typical symbol of a living room. A broken armchair serves as a part of an atypicaly shaped bookshelf. You can still see all the pieces of furniture that create a pleasant living room atmosphere for all its visitors at the exchanger station Obrody.

This is also my home – first residential art project prepared by Theater company Pôtoň in collaboration with the SPOTs team. During their two-week stay they prepared a performance together with a visual instal-lation using the collected material and stories from the suburb. The performance shows what makes us feel at home and how we can create the feeling of home at the exchanger Obrody.

VOLUNTEERING AND YOUTH SUB-PROGRAMhelps to develop the volunteering sector for the Košice Interface 2013 project.

European Voluntary Service /2010/ enables young people to spend 6-12 months in different organiza-tions in Europe with the aim to gain intercultural skills, experience and to help local organizations in their development.

Voluntary web platform /2012/ – formation of a com-mon on-line tool that identifies the needs in the area of volunteering and enables the non-profit organization Košice 2013 to form a system of ambassadors in com-munities.

COMMUNITY PROJECTS SUB-PROGRAMcontains projects carried out by residents, club activi-ties, workshops, discussions and other activities sup-porting civil participation.

The Suburb Parade /2009/ – a group of active resi-dents of Terasa prepared sport tournaments in mini-football, dodgeball and floorball. There has been a competition for the most beautiful pavement painting and the best cake. Together, they have celebrated The Neighbours‘ day. Creative workshops and theatre per-formances also took place during this event.

Thematic creative workshops /2009–2011/ are carried out by the SPOTs team in collaboration with primary schools and professional artists. Children, young people and pedagogues learn about different art tech-niques as well as creating small works of art that are now decorating various school spaces.

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NEW CITY CULTURES SUB-PROGRAMlinks new genres and subcultures specific for suburban environment.

The Graffiti U-meeting /2009/ – during the “Use the city” festival, graffiti artists revitalized one of the pe-destrian underpasses in the city.

The Centre of city sports /2011/ – a place in the sub-urban area where sport activities will take place, e.g. skateboard, in-line skating, parkour…

REVIVE THE SUBURB SUB-PROGRAMsupports activities aimed at discovering interesting places at suburban areas, developing new visions for their use and transformation.

Let’s paint the facades /2011/ – cooperation of artists with residents in aesthetic changes to unused grey spaces, house facades and panel blocks of flats.

Košice games /2011/ – a city competition in which teams complete given tasks with the aim of learning more about the town and discovering new interesting places.

SUBURBAN AREASPROGRAM

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INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE SUB-PROGRAMenables seniors and young people to exchange experi-ence and develop new skills through cultural projects.

Picture of two generations /2010/ – cooperation between young people and seniors in making visual presentations and one-minute films with the focus to get to know one another.

Knitted graffiti /2010/ – cooperation of different genera-tions in making knitted works in public spaces with an aim to exchange skills and learn about new forms of cultural expressions.

ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE TOWN SUB-PROGRAMpaves the way for decentralising culture from the centre of the city to its small city districts.

Touring theatre /2010/ – a series of theatrical perform-ances taking place in smaller city districts.

DIALOGUESPROGRAM

SOCIAL ART SUB-PROGRAMsupports activities aimed at public sensitization, col-laboration of artists with residents in disadvantaged communities and the improvement of new methods in social and community work.

Journey into the unknown /2010–2011/ – a project where-by we highlight the lives of refugees, the homeless, prison-ers, and Romany communities to the public. The public can learn about the work of non-governmental organizations, institutions and artists who work with these groups through board discussion, live library and documentary films.

The point of view /2010/ – series of theatrical perform-ances from the community and documentary theatre.

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The SPOTs project is implemented in the large suburban areas and small city districts which are active points able to develop and transform according to residential needs.

Contact:T: +421 55 685 42 99E: spots13@kosice2013.skW: www.spots.sk