**Rog** or the **Republic of Rog** is an abandoned bike
[factory](factory "wikilink") in Ljubljana,
[Slovenia](Republic_of_Slovenia "wikilink") which during
[2006](Timeline_of_Libertarian_Socialism_in_Southern_Europe "wikilink")
was turned into a [squat](Squatting "wikilink") and [social
center](Social_Center "wikilink").

## History

The building had originally been used as a tannery from 1871 to 1945,
where it changed hands between capitalists as they variously died or
went bankrupt. But after [World War II](World_War_II "wikilink"), the
tannery was [nationalized](Nationalization "wikilink") by the [League of
Communists in Yugoslavia](League_of_Communists_in_Yugoslavia "wikilink")
and converted into a bike factory, where it was run as a [self-managed
factory](Workers'_Self-Management "wikilink") between 1953 and 1991.

The factory lay abandoned and dormant for 15 years, until the squatters
decided to come in, fix it up and convert it into a social center in
2006. Now the city has also sponsored the construction of several art
and recreational spaces within the spot. However, in 2016, the city
government wished to dismantle the site to be used by capitalists, but
was blocked by the local court.\[1\]

## Functions

The area serves many purposes, including:

  - Rog Social Center ("Socialni center Rog") – a socially engaged space
    providing safe space for many people who are marginalized in a
    society, to discuss and share stories, heal, and organize social
    changes
  - Skate park Rog ("Skejt park Rog") – the first covered skate park in
    Slovenia, made using scrape materials by volunteer work of wider
    skate scene
  - Concert hall, also known as "Hall of sighs" ("Koncertna dvorana" or
    "Dvorana vzdihljajev") - the largest club space in the factory
    organizing hundreds of events for alternative and non-established
    bands from all around the world, moreover, it holds many festivals
    and regular jam sessions; it is sound proofed with old mattresses
    from the nearby student dormitories, hence the name
  - "Živko Skvotec" - students of philosophy and other social sciences
    and humanities who are providing a space for critical thinking,
    discussion and debates
  - Blue corner ("Modri kot") – a space for experimentation of hybrid
    methods of learning, studying, and art creation, they held exercises
    in street political rhetoric
  - "Cirkusarna" – a space for practicing of various circus and
    acrobatic routines, including trapeze and aerial silk
  - Gallery against everything ("Galerija Kljub vsemu") – a gallery
    space with professional gallery lighting, and a proper toilet
  - Studio Samorog – a studio space for visual arts and cosmology
  - "Zelenica" – a gallery space where theoretical visual arts lectures
    are also held
  - Football (soccer) hall ("Nogotmetna dvorana") – a hall for
    practicing indoor football (soccer), but used also for regular
    practices of Tai chi, Qigong, and Kung Fu
  - "Društvo Gor" – hip-hop enthusiasts are managing space for
    breakdance practice and learning with a smaller skate park
  - "Boris plac" – a small studio and exhibition space which can be
    converted into a multi-purpose space
  - "Grafitarji" – a space managed by the graffiti collective 1107 in
    the second floor
  - "SISTAZ plac" – a space for breakdance, music, illustration,
    painting, sewing, etc.
  - "Atelje X" – a studio in the 3rd floor with Spanish, Ecuadorian,
    Finnish artists, space for visual and intermedia art

## References

<references />

1.  [Wikipedia](Wikipedia "wikilink") -
    <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rog_(factory)>