Electrohype throws in the towel
After five years of promoting and advocating computer based art
Electrohype have to close down its activities. It both a sad and
strange feeling to have to close down, especially when we are
thinking of the fact that we right now are presenting the large
exhibition in Malmo Konsthall. The exhibition Electrohype 2004 has
been visited by more than 27000 person so far and the reviews have
been very good, but it might also be the last things we are
organizing. On the positive side maybe we can see it as a beautiful
ending.
We had hoped and believed that this exhibition, together with
previous exhibitions and other activities, should be a positive
breaking point for the organization. But we were wrong.
A couple of weeks ago we were told by the Malmo City Art council that
they turned down our application for funding for our activities for
2005. We had applied for 180 000 sek (20000 euro), to cover basic
costs such as rent and phones etc, and a couple of smaller
exhibitions. According to our plans additional funding could be
raised for other activities from other sources during the year.
Electrohypes application for activities was also turned down last
year, the period were we were heavily involved in the preparation for
the ongoing exhibition in Malmo Konsthall. This together wit the fact
that we also was denied project funding for the ongoing exhibition
itself in Malmo Konsthall make us really disappointed by the attitude
from the City of Malmo.
We should mention that we have been offered a consolation in the form
of a project grant of 110 000 SEK (12 000 EURO) for our activities
for 2005. This amount is just below the line of what is needed to
cover basic expenses, and unfortunately it is another project grant.
During the five years Electrohype has existed we have managed to
raise approximately 4 million SEK ( 450 000 EURO), This has covered
all expenses for the organization, including project costs for the
three biennials. Roughly 200 000 Sek (or 22000 EURO) of this total
is from Malmo City Art Council. In other words we have done many
projects on very little money. We are able to do low cost productions
but at the same time we do need a minimum just to exist.
After five years Electrohype has to move from project based to a more
stabile funding situation. The best way to achieve this would be that
we could receive funding for running the organization. It is also (
in Sweden) that if an organization is granted this kind of funding
that it is also seen as an acknowledgement of the organizations
activities. We did not receive this acknowledgement from the city of
Malmo.
During the next days we will have a discussion with the organizations
board to try to make a decision on what to do, how to close down
nicely. In any case the organization will not totally cease to exist
but in the future there will be a radical change in the level of
activities.
We deeply regret the situation. Not only for ourselves but also for
artists working in the genre and for the art interested audience that
has visited our exhibitions.
If any of you have any spontaneous reaction to this you are welcome
to visit our website and give a comment in the guest book that we
have established for this occasion.
http://www.electrohype.org/support
best regards
Anna and Lars
Electrohype
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------
If you encounter problems with this mail address please notify me at
[log in to unmask]
------------------------------------------------------------------
Lars Gustav Midboe <[log in to unmask]> www.electrohype.org
-----int-----------------------------------------------------------
Electrohype office +46 40 780 20 mobil/tel:+ 46 705 198817
------swe----------------------------------------------------------
Electrohypes kansli 040 - 78020 mobil/tel:+ 0705 198817
--------------------------------------------------------------------
|
