Cultural Institutions Across Systems: Clubs 

What remains of culture when a political system tries to subordinate cultural life?

Over the past sixteen years, a significant part of Hungarian cultural life has operated in an environment where state subsidies, institutional structures and cultural publicity have become increasingly closely linked to political power. Yet there were and are cultural actors who have preserved their autonomy: they have built themselves out of their own audience, community, work and perseverance.

On the first occasion of the "Cultural Institutions Across Systems" event series, we examine the world of clubs and independent cultural spaces. Places that are more than concert venues or entertainment venues: meeting points for communities, creators and cultural initiatives.

We talk to Attila Bognár (A38), László Gőz (Budapest Music Center) and László Horváth (Fonó Budai Zeneház) about how to create, operate and maintain a cultural institution in a highly politicized cultural environment.

Where is the line between state support and cultural autonomy? Can a sustainable institution be built from an audience and a community? What is the price of independence? And what role can clubs play in maintaining an autonomous cultural ecosystem? What makes a club or cultural space a true cultural institution, and what makes it more than a simple cultural center?

Host: Tamás Pajor

Guests:

Attila Bognár – A38

László Gőz – Budapest Music Center (BMC)

László Horváth – Fonó Budai Zeneház

Come to Inga on September 14th and listen to the conversation live!