Skip to content or view screen version

Save INCA cultural center Timisoara - Romania

inca (fwd by b.) | 11.12.2005 20:47 | Culture | Migration | World

This is Tavi from city of Timisoara, Romania writing on behalf of the INCA Center in Timisoara.
INCA stands for International Network of Contemporary Artisans and the Center is the only alternative place of this kind in Romania.

We write you because at this point only your active involvement can save such a place from being evicted.

Please read all this email, even if it might seem long and boring.

INCA Foundation got a place from the city for a period of 5 years to
develop a community center inside a historical part of the city (part of the defense wall of the old fortress of the city). Now after 3 and half years the interests of local mafia have become so high that the pressure that they put on the city to kick us out started to pay results. So, inspectors came keen on finding stuff that is breaking the contract so that they have a motivation to throw us in the streets earlier so that they can give the building to other people, much richer! Our strong conviction is that this was a deliberate act, and inspectors which came were not interested to find solutions to fix the problems they discovered, they were not interested in finding out if there is another side of the story and so
on. They were sent to find a reason to throw us out.

INCA Center is a non-profit, all-voluntary place dedicated to the
alternative culture. The place has hosted in the past 3 and half years over 150 events: concerts, art exhibitions, projections & movie nights, performance, festivals, etc. also for next year already we have planned many workshops, conferences, concerts and others. If city will evict us, and there is huge chance for this to happen, one of the few alternative places in the region will disappear and will leave us with no place to host
all these events. Because we have strong promises that we will never get a second place from the city.

Also we know that the only thing that will make the city change their mind is three things:
- International protests at Romanian embassies and consulates
- Strong international and national response through email/fax/phone
- The scandal goes to the media

These are the things that you can help us. But, before, you must know that the most import thing is that all your actions happen until 13th December 2005 (also after... but in 13th there is a meeting which will decide the fate, so we need to convince the mayor before that meeting so that the process of eviction is not started). No matter if you are a group, a band, or individual, no matter if you are from Romania or elsewhere, no matter if you have visited the place or not, it is all of you the ones that can help
this international project in Timisoara. Here are our suggestions:

- International protests/fax letters embassies and consulates, at city
halls with Timisoara has partnership agreements: Faenza (Italy), Gera
(Germany), Karlsruhe (Germany), Mulhouse (France), Rueil - Malmaison
(France), Szeged (Hungary), Sassari (Italy), Treviso (Italy).
On Monday we will organize an action in front of our center and also press
conference. We need support of all groups and people that can organize on Monday protests in front of Romanian embassies and consulates in your countries and also send protest letters to these institutions also. Our proposal is:
MONDAY 12 DECEMBER INTERNATIONAL ACTION DAY AGAINST EVICTION OF INCA
CULTURAL CENTER
As slogans we thought to:
"CINE VREA SA ARUNCE CULTURA IN STRADA?!" (WHO WANTS TO THROW CULTURE IN
THE STREETS?!)
and
"SALVATI CENTRUL CULTURAL INCA TIMISOARA" (SAVE INCA CULTURAL CENTER
TIMISOARA).

Maybe too general... but still is the language the bureaucrats will
understand easier. Organizing actions in other European cities would give, we hope, a good push so that contract is not canceled.

Our demand from the city of Timisoara is that they should not evict us, until the end of the contract, because we have so many projects and events planned for next year. We wish that they let us stay the remaining 1 and half year, and we ask for a fair judgement at the end of the contract.
Underlining the important role INCA has played in development of
alternative culture in our city/country/region in last years you will help us with your support to maintain at least another year and half this
project alive.

Also if possible contact media for your action and it is not needed for huge mobilization, remember is more important that these actions take place, than to loose your time and energy (that you need for your other projects at home). We suggest picket with banners with the 2 slogans and a protest letter handed to the ambassador or consul in which you ask the city
of Timisoara not to end the contract with INCA until its end.

In case action can and will be planned also by you, please get in touch so that we can give you more info at next address:  inca_tm@yahoo.com

Also send us, pictures, reports and protest letters you have used during the action.

- Strong international and national response through email/fax/phone
For this one is possible that everyone helps. And here goes a model for support letter that can be used either by individuals, either by bands either by organizations.
The letter must be emailed (and if possible faxed also) to the mayor or Timisoara, Gheorghe Ciuhandu.

"In the attention of Mr. Gheorghe Ciuhandu, mayor of city of Timisoara

I/we join the International protest that has started few days ago in
solidarity with INCA Cultural Centre from Timisoara. I/we, like many
others, participated and plan to participate again in actions and events
that took and will take place in INCA Cultural Centre. Please let INCA Cultural Centre to function until the end of its contract with the city in May 2007, and make a fare evaluation of its activity after that. This must be done by the city of Timisoara because the INCA Cultural Centre is an
important location for the alternative culture in Timisoara, Romania and the surrounding European region.

… And here put your name, put short description of your group maybe or your
experiences in Timisoara/INCA Cultural Center “


The most important email/fax where the protest should be sent:
 gheorghe.ciuhandu@primariatm.ro (mayor of Timisoara)
fax numbers:
0040256 490 635
0040256 493 019

Other emails where you can send the protest,
 borza@primariatm.ro (Dorel Borza, deputy mayor of Timisoara)
 orza@primariatm.ro (Adrian Orza, deputy mayor of Timisoara)
 secretar@primariatm.ro (Ioan Cojocari, general secretary of Timisoara)
 primariatm@primariatm.ro (general email of the city hall)

Address: Bd. C.D. Loga, nr. 1, Timisoara 300030, Timis, Romania

For more informations and details contact:
Campania Salvati Centrul Cultural INCA Timisoara – Save INCA Cultural
Centre Timisoara Campaign
Romania:  inca@k.ro
International:  inca_tm@yahoo.com

inca (fwd by b.)

Comments

Display the following comment

  1. yeah I emailed the mayor etc. — Roger (who went to timosoara noborder camp)