Upgrade! International 3: Chain Reaction :: September 11-14, 2008 :: Skopje, Macedonia :: Open to the Public.

The first and the second Upgrade! International gatherings took place in the United States in 2005 and 2006. After this experience, some members of the network expressed their wish to get familiar with other countries, artistic contexts and realities of Upgrade! members. Upgrade! Skopje, hosted by Line initiative and movement, received the network’s support to organize and host the 3rd international gathering.

This initiative was a creative spark that gradually grew into an international group of nodes influencing each other continually through permanent communication. The inspiration for this year’s theme of the meeting - Chain reaction - develops from the tendency to depict the work within the network itself, the way it works and functions, correlates and interacts. Chain reaction was initiated by 5 partner nodes (Upgrade! Belgrade, Upgrade! Berlin - Public Art Lab, Upgrade! Sofia – InterSpace, Upgrade! Istanbul – NOMAD and Upgrade! Skopje - Line Initiative and movement) that are responsible for the main coordination and communication of the project with other nodes from the network.

On this occasion, an anticipated group of 50 international artists, curators, and art producers will gather in Skopje to meet, present art projects, and further on discuss about the development of the network. These biannual meetings are a great opportunity for sharing knowledge and experience gained from professional engagement, with the participants coming from different cultural and artistic communities worldwide.

The effect of the gathering is a 4 day festival with various activities that will be created by common work of the Upgrade! International nodes. Due to the fact, that it is the first time that the meeting is happening in Europe and on the Balkans, there will be additional number of artists from the Balkan Region involved into the program. This will promote the network on different soil and cultural context, and we believe that it will contribute to the future growth of the Upgrade! International family!

The artistic program is rich and diversifies in its content. Besides the plenary meetings of the network nodes, there are several parts that are integrated into the “Chain reaction” program:

•Exhibition
•Live audio/ visual performances
•Lectures, Discussions and presentations
•Screening program
•Workshops

There will be outdoor activities as well:

•The “Mobicases” – digital archiving of all events
•“Chain Reaction Pavilion” – placed in the center of the city.

The events will take place in different cultural spaces in the city center. The vibrancy created by having the event happening throughout the city also serves to increase the opportunity for dialogue and place-making, letting the city and its people become part of the festival itself.

The Chain reaction meeting of the Upgrade! International nodes 2008 will establish new forms of cultural exchange among the neighboring countries in the Balkans. The partner nodes in the Balkans are working to show that culture continues to be a powerful force for regional cooperation. The nodes have already hosted smaller exchanges amongst themselves and have worked in a peer-to-peer mentorship capacity to help start and support new nodes in the area. This cooperation has allowed the organizers and local participants to foster a sense of confidence and unique identity amongst new media practitioners internationally. Due to our limited opportunities for mobility and cultural activism on a European and International level, the meeting in Skopje will be of a great importance for the whole region. It’s an outstanding opportunity for the most of the local cultural operators, artists, and curators to increase their knowledge and experience and to share their expertise with others. Hosting the international meeting in Skopje in partnership with neighboring nodes is a step forward towards creating ongoing cultural linkages in the Balkans.

Partners contacts:

Upgrade! International network
Upgrade! Belgrade
Upgrade! Berlin - Public Art Lab
Upgrade! Sofia – InterSpace
Upgrade! Istanbul - NOMAD

This page will be updated frequently. For any additional information please write to
line[at]line.org.mk

Upgrade! is an international, emerging network of autonomous nodes united by art, technology, and a commitment to bridging cultural divides. Its decentralized, non-hierarchical structure ensures that Upgrade! (i) operates according to local interests and their available resources; and (ii) reflects current creative engagement with cutting edge technologies. While individual nodes present new media projects, engage in informal critique, and foster dialogue and collaboration between individual artists, Upgrade! International functions as an online, global network that gathers annually in different cities to meet one another, showcase local art, and work on the agenda for the following year.