Hello international friends of INCA,
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.
first of all sorry if this mail doesn't interests you, but we have an
issue in which all you can help us.
We write you because at some point you had a connection with us, our
place or 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 in case you read this email later, still continue
to send email and stuff... 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 [please forward this message to your friends]