ORGANIZED NETWORKS
Training Programme for Cultural Network Management Riga, December 3 - 5, 2009

By addressing issues of cultural sustainability with focus on networking, the Training Programme for cultural network management entitled "Organized Networks" will take place in Riga, December 3 - 5, 2009, gathering together representatives from more then 20 cultural organisations, new media centers and networks from Baltic, Nordic and other European regions, as well as Caucasus countries.

The Training Programme is co-organised by the RIXC, the Center for new media culture (Latvia) and partners from Finland (Pixelache festival, MARIN Association), Norway (Piksel, iolab, Atelier Nord), Iceland (Lorna), Sweden (Kultivator, C-Studio/Interactive Institute, New Media Meeting), Denmark (FieldWork, WindFestiva/Energy Academy), Lithuania (KCCC), Latvia (Association for Cultural NGOs), the Netherlands (Baltan Laboratories), Armenia (ACCEA/NPAK) and Georgia (Center for Contemporary Art - Tbilisi, GeoAir).


. . . Conceptual background

The current global crisis motivates us to think again of "how to remake the world" as many of methods used previously have turned out finite and unsustainable. Today, new approach in terms of both - design and production is urged nearly in all fields, including culture.

The idea of "networks" is not new, but it contains potential that hasn't been exploited to a great extent yet. New media networks have already had more than ten years of history. Translocal as well as local networking has played an important role in supporting operation of small-scale cultural organisations.

However, networks as such are not only virtual structures, there are real people and real technical infrastructures behind them. Our network culture today is also faced by sustainability issues. We are asking now: how to work out new strategies and methodologies for improving and developing more sustainable translocal cooperation practice ("organized networks")? And how to develop new (network-based) models for facilitating individual / local cultural organisations ("network nodes")?

The idea of "organized networks" (as proposed by Ned Rossiter, Geert Lovink) poses a question, can network be seen as a new form of institution, and considers that it is relevant not only to work out new methodologies for networking practice - i.e. tools and protocols (agreed ways to support activity in the network), but also to discuss 'collaborative value system' (dealing with issues such as funding, internal power plays, and the demand of "accountability" and "transparency", etc.).

The Training Programme will investigate what strategies "organized networks" can offer for sustainable development in cultural sector, and, in particular, in translocal cooperation. The Training Programme will specifically focus on evaluating the cultural network practice of Baltic-Nordic-EU region. This will include NICE and Pixelache festival networks, Baltic-Nordic artists residency programmes, Nordic funding structure, future development of new media art centers, their local and translocal cooperation strategies, etc. Ways how networks can create and sustain their own infrastructure will also be discussed.

Geographically, the Programme also aims to enhance European cultural area by drawing out new cultural cooperation axis connecting Nordic, Baltic and Caucasus regions on the Northern and Eastern border of Europe.

With regard to the content, the Training Programme will explore the potential of emerging interdisciplinary cooperation among the fields of arts, science and sustainable (information and energy) technologies, in order to set up a common ground for developing Art and Renewable Energy Network and to discuss possible future co-projects.
Seminar will also discuss how artists, new media activists, renewable technology researchers, social software developers, open source activists, designers of autonomous and alternative infrastructures who already work together, deal with sustainability issues, discussing how may cultural organizations and their networks benefit from these artistic innovations for building their future sustainability.

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PROGRAM

Thursday, December 3
Location: Spikeri, kim? Building, 3rd floor
19.30 - 21.00 Public Lecture: Erik Kluitenberg (the Netherlands) Design for Sustainable Immobility"

Friday, December 4 (Day 1)
Location: RIXC Media Space, 11. Novembra
krastmala 35 (entrance from Minstereja street)
10.00 - 14.00 [Work Session 1]: Networks (/ Organized Networks)
15.00 - 18.00 [Work Session 2]: Sustainability (/ Design for Resilience)
Location: Spikeri, kim? Building, 3rd floor
20.00 - [Open Programme] Screenings / Public Presentations
(Kultivator / Sweden, Baltan Laboratories / the Netherlands, One Minute Video Festival / Armenia, Survival Kit / LMC, Latvia, Serde / Latvia, Arctic Perspectives Project / Lorna, Iceland, etc.)

Saturday, December 5. (Day 2)
Location: RIXC Media Space, 11. Novembra
krastmala 35 (entrance from Minstereja street)
11.00 - 12.00 Michael Psallidas (Greece) Lecture "Intelligent Energy Networks"
12.00 - 14.00 [Work Session 3]: p2p Infrastructures (/ Energy Issues)
15.00 - 18.00 [Work Session 4]: Open Code Infrastructures (/ Social Media)
Location: Spikeri, kim? Building, 3rd floor
20.00: [Open Programme] Presentations
(MoTA / Slovenia; MARIN mobile residency project / Finland; GeoAir / Georgia; Homo Novous / JTI, Latvia; Nordic-Baltic Videoarchive Project / Noass / Latvia, Pixelache festival network / Finland, etc)
http://orgnet.rixc.lv/participants