Defend the cultural diversity

After years of meetings with city council politicians Kulturkampanjen finally decided in 2005 to build a cultural house them selves. The dream was to create a cultural center where visions dynamically could be turned into creativity without long processing times and meetings. A space that was not already finished and programmed in advance. Basically, where the users them selves could decide the content.

The cultural house, the Cyclops, was designed and built by the group itself and financed through donations and a few grants. At the inauguration in September 2007 the house was more or less ready. Despite the absence of electricity, water, drainage and heat, the house was visited by about 1000 people a month during the spring and summer of 2008. The house has regularly been used as studio space, for welding workshops, and as a people’s kitchen. Larger events such as a film festival with a sub-cultural theme, concerts without an age limit, street art seminars and bigger club nights with for an example electronic music have also been arranged.

On the 29th of November 2008 the Cyclops was attacked and completely destroyed. The police and fire service judged that the fire was torched. The fire broke out 19.00 and was so violent that the fire service did not have a chance to save the building. At the precise time as the fire was started the Network Against Racism (NMR) should have hosted an event, which luckily was cancelled. It is hard not to believe that the attackers were aiming to injure and possibly kill people. It could have been an enormous tragedy.

We have to see this act from a societal perspective and ask our selves if dark and destructive groups shall be able to set the agenda for what kind of culture should be able to exist in our society. We run the risk of getting a society where people don’t dare to be open with their opinions.

In the cultural vision 2030 of the city of Stockholm it says that Stockholm should be a place for everyone. It is therefore only reasonable that the authorities take their responsibility in defending diversity in our society. The kind of non-commercial space that the Cyclops was are very rare today and there are hardly any left. The focus in our society is on creating enormous shopping centers. The small scale – forums where people can express them selves and leave a trace – are endangered. It is time for a change in attitudes from authorities towards free cultural expressions. Instead of being patronizing the authorities must now actively show their support!

We demand that Kulturkampanjen are given a real building permit, instead of today’s’ time limited one, so that the rebuilding of the Cyclops this time becomes a less temporary and safer building.

Kulturkampanjen also needs a new land contract where the surroundings are not disturbed, and the building is less threatened.

Finally; support Kulturkampanjen economically so that we manage to rebuild the house once again!