EUROCONNECTIONS – EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP

Introduction:

European cultural and art tradition has always been founded on a confrontation of local influences. At the beginning of the third millennium when technological jurisdiction was fundamentally shattered the culture in Europe faces a global pressure of supranational companies. Their aim is create massive production of average and unoriginal art that could be sold and bought all over the world. The only effective expression of discontent with all these commercial pressures is a support of original local art creativity of young professional artists and their presentation on a Euro-regional cooperation level.

Contents:

EuroConnections project is a regular non-profit music festival of European music which has been organized since 1998. Thanks to EuroConnections the Prague audience has had an opportunity to learn to listen to and absorb a different kind of music than was played by at the time popular English and American icons. EuroConnections has become an integral part of social and cultural life in Prague. The Center of Independent Culture Palac Akropolis [CIC PA] is now trying to enhance a festival potential and offer a European confrontation to young Prague musicians, representation abroad and connect them to European festivals and music events. CIC PA has always been limited by financial demands during all the negotiations since the Czech party has to pay the transportation and production costs. The foreign partner is ready to pay for accommodation, local transportation and promotion. Therefore we think that this year, after five years of the EuroConnections project existence, it is suitable to make a representation of Czech music projects in European territory possible.

Aims:

• To negotiate a contact between young European music scene and Czech audience.
• To support young professional bands from the Czech Republic and enable their presentation in a European music scene
• To help Czech art managers to enter European space where they could gain new experience in organization and production work.
• To make a conception festival presentation abroad for Czech artists possible.

EuroConnections has succeeded to assert a few Czech artists at European festivals so far but this activity has not been of conception and long-term nature.

Contribution:

EuroConnections puts stress on Euro-regional cooperation and creates a platform of meaningful communication and art exchange between cultural centers in European cities. A certain connecting role has been represented by the French Institute in individual cities. Professional agencies and cultural centers in Paris, Budapest and Prague have become regular participants since 1998. EuroConnections enriches the cultural climate of Prague and its opening to European music scene. We think it is necessary to start working in this field in a more active way so that Prague would lose the mere “incoming’ point character in the cultural map of Europe. CIC PA as organizers unambiguously tries to integrate Europe in the field of culture and music production. The project directly supports a long-term cultural exchange.

Conclusion:

It is not possible to keep the balance between regional and global music production, between creativity and the market without supporting young music beginners and their presentation at European festivals. EuroConnections focuses on European art exchange of artists and art managers in a non-commercial sphere of music world, stands against the domination of stereotypical cultural icons and helps the future integration of whole Europe.

The project in Prague has a conception support from the French Institute in Prague. In the individual years it was partially supported by the Capital of Prague, The Society for Prague 2000, The British council, the Ministry of Culture of the Czech republic and the Town Part Prague3 and for future Goethe institute is supposed too.. The project doesn’t have and hasn’t had business partners and commercial sphere sponsors. The project can’t be financed from the own resources only. Artist performed in the project EuroConnections Palace Akropolis, Prague

1998:

• Tres Tristes Tigres (Portugal) + Bortek (France) + Tony
• Ducháèek & Garage
• Muddle Headed (France) + Japanese Garden (Greece)

1999:

• Ekova (France) + N.O.H.A. (Germany) + Significant Other (CZ)
• Paris Combo (France) + Malma (Italy) + Deep Sweden (CZ)
• Docteur Olive (Belgie) + Marc EM (France)
• EV (France) + Èeskomoravská hudební spoleènost (CZ)
• One Shot (Fance) + Swandive (Šwiss) + Blow (CZ)
• Kid Loco (France) + Stereolab (UK)
• Useless (France) + Canopy (CZ)
• Rinocerose (France) + Naoko (CZ)
• N.O.H.A. (Germany) + Skyline (CZ)

2000:

• The Ecstasy of St. Theresa (CZ) + Ekova (France)
• Orange Blossom (France) + Sluneèní orchestr (CZ)
• Rachid Taha (France) + Venus (Belgium)
• Mass Hysteria (France) + Shovel (Swiss)
• Spook And The Guay (France) + Sto Zvíøat (CZ)
• Dionysos (France)
• Zenzile (France) + Hermakuti (CZ)
• Cosmik Connection (France) + Anima Sound System (Hungary)

2001:

• Sayag Jazz Machine (France) + T-Break (CZ) + Da Babas (CZ)
• Le Peuple De L’Herbe (France) + Peneøi Strýèka Homeboye (CZ)
• Autour De Lucie (France)
• High Tone (France) + Yonderboi (Hungary)
• Ezekiel (France) + Funtasy Milk (CZ)
• No jazz (France) + Laura a její tygøi (CZ)
• Mei" Tei" Shö (France) + Švihadlo (CZ)
• UHT (Farnce) + Skyline (CZ)
• Dan Bárta & Illustratosphere (CZ)

2002:

• La Phaze (France) + Unity (CZ)
• Hocus Pocus (France) + Špatnej Wliw (CZ)
• N.O.H.A. (Germany) + Radium NFO (CZ)
• Feng-Jün Song + Sluneèní orchestr (CZ)
• Under Byen (Danmark) + Roe Deer (CZ)

2003:

• No Bluff Sound (France) + Southpaw (CZ)
• Bumcello (France) + Dub-o-net (CZ)
• Wide Open Cage (France) + Khoiba (CZ)
• Arom (France) + Alvik (CZ)
• LoOp (France) + Al-Yaman (CZ)
• Aiwa (France)+ Al-Yaman (CZ)
• Skaprašupina (Slovakia) + Tleskaè (CZ)
• Mah – jong (France) + ZKA4T (CZ)

2004

• Nierika (CZ) + Abuse (Slovakia)
• Lab° (France) + Soil (CZ)
• Tarmac (France) + Hm… (CZ)
• Spiritualized (UK)
• Lali Puna (D) + Dlhe Diely (Slovakia)
• Rachid Taha (France)

The Czech artists who asserted themselves at international festivals thanks to EuroConnections are:

OHM SQUARE – Sziged Festival in Budapest, the largest festival in Central Europe, 350 000 people, the band’ s set before Lou Reed

BABE LN – A Czech DJ’ s set at Lisbon festival called Moda Lisboa, 2000

SAUTHPAW, SKYLINE, DJ SAKU, DJ SUNPAJA – a young Czech bands and dj,s at Cosmopolis festival of electronic art 2003 in Lisboa

NJOREK, KRYŠTOF, SUNSHINE, SKYLINE, SOUTHPAW– playing during autumn 03 /winter 04 in several countries (Germany, Hungary, Poland)

KHOIBA, 100°C, DJ STANZIM, VJ SHEBA – performed the Czech night in Paris club Batofar