Rita Kálmán: Austria / Hungary
Name of your organisation: IMPEX – Contemporary Art Provider
Website of your organisation: www.impex-info.org
How is your organisation funded?
With the support of Hungarian and international project funds (Culture 2007, Visegrad Fund, NKA …). At the moment all of our running costs are covered by a pub, next to us.
Explain what your organisation is about (to somebody who does not know about it)
IMPEX – Contemporary Art Provider is a new art scene in Budapest. It was launched by six young professionals whose forgoing activities are now united within the framework of a new institution.
In the 140 square meter area, a gallery and a workshop space are in operation, which, in addition to showcasing experimentally minded and progressive artwork, also accommodate studio practice, lectures and creative, interdisciplinary initiatives.
IMPEX aims to provide an introductory opportunity for young artists. Moreover, its objective is to aid cooperation and permeability between different areas of art, and, through its open and receptive structure, create a living connection with various social groups and civilian initiatives.
Describe how your organisation is engaged in international cooperation and exchange.
IMPEX is operating since October 2006. All of us working at IMPEX have different professional contacts from former activities, which enabled us to start our gallery program right from the first step with different international cooperations. In this one year we organised solo shows of foreign artists, an international workshop about city development, and we are cooperating in the artist residency program of the Videgrad Fund. But we are not only participating in different international projects, but we are also initiating international cooperations, especially with similar independent, grassroots institutions and temporary used spaces. In connection with this we are just about to build up a website (www.offspace.net), which should serve as a platform and meeting place of cultural initiatives.
Describe how your art space relates to the local community. If you are about to open an art space, explain how you related to the local community in your previous experiences.
IMPEX is sharing a building together with an alternative pub/night club, called West Balkán. Although we have a separate wing of the building, the audience coming to the pub has a direct access to Impex. In order to offer contemporary cultural programs to a larger public audience (and not only to the professionals from the local art scene), our gallery is open from 20-23. The programs of IMPEX are displayed and advertised in the monthly program-brochure of West Balkán.
What are the major internal and external challenges your organisation is facing?
The biggest internal challenge is to find a stable form, in which all people who are participating in IMPEX can work together. IMPEX was founded by 6 individuals, but from the starting point it was clear that not all of as are taking the matter of building up and running a non-profit space as equal challenge. After a year, we are just about to clear and work out, who is responsible for which function, who is at all willing to work in a structure, where at the moment we are far from getting a salary or a regular honorarium (but on the other hand we are absolutely free to realize any kind of project we have in mind).From the external challenges maybe the most important one is the question what we are going to do after the building, where IMPEX is located at the moment, will be demolished. After the present situation this will happen in maximum 2 years. Should we move to a new location together with the pub who is at the moment our biggest sponsor (they pay all running costs, also our heating, electricity, etc.)? Will they still be interested to work together with us? Or shall we try to find a new space? Which is very difficult matter in Budapest, where the local government sold all his real estate and rent prices are extremely high? Well, we have to face this questions very soon …
What are the main achievements and strengths of your organisation? IMPEX is in Hungary the only grassroots, self-initiated, non-profit institution, working completely independent from all “official” cultural institutions and in cooperation with a business oriented company. As we all have working experience and a lot of contacts in the Hungarian and international art scene, we could realize numerous exhibitions, lectures, workshops. Within this short time perspective (of a year) we were able to successfully establish the brand IMPEX.
