74 lines
3.6 KiB
Markdown
74 lines
3.6 KiB
Markdown
**Rog** or the **Republic of Rog** is an abandoned bike
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[factory](factory "wikilink") in Ljubljana,
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[Slovenia](Republic_of_Slovenia "wikilink") which during
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[2006](Timeline_of_Libertarian_Socialism_in_Southern_Europe "wikilink")
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was turned into a [squat](Squatting "wikilink") and [social
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center](Social_Center "wikilink").
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## History
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The building had originally been used as a tannery from 1871 to 1945,
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where it changed hands between capitalists as they variously died or
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went bankrupt. But after [World War II](World_War_II "wikilink"), the
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tannery was [nationalized](Nationalization "wikilink") by the [League of
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Communists in Yugoslavia](League_of_Communists_in_Yugoslavia "wikilink")
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and converted into a bike factory, where it was run as a [self-managed
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factory](Workers'_Self-Management "wikilink") between 1953 and 1991.
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The factory lay abandoned and dormant for 15 years, until the squatters
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decided to come in, fix it up and convert it into a social center in
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2006. Now the city has also sponsored the construction of several art
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and recreational spaces within the spot. However, in 2016, the city
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government wished to dismantle the site to be used by capitalists, but
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was blocked by the local court.\[1\]
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## Functions
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The area serves many purposes, including:
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- Rog Social Center ("Socialni center Rog") – a socially engaged space
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providing safe space for many people who are marginalized in a
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society, to discuss and share stories, heal, and organize social
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changes
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- Skate park Rog ("Skejt park Rog") – the first covered skate park in
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Slovenia, made using scrape materials by volunteer work of wider
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skate scene
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- Concert hall, also known as "Hall of sighs" ("Koncertna dvorana" or
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"Dvorana vzdihljajev") - the largest club space in the factory
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organizing hundreds of events for alternative and non-established
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bands from all around the world, moreover, it holds many festivals
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and regular jam sessions; it is sound proofed with old mattresses
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from the nearby student dormitories, hence the name
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- "Živko Skvotec" - students of philosophy and other social sciences
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and humanities who are providing a space for critical thinking,
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discussion and debates
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- Blue corner ("Modri kot") – a space for experimentation of hybrid
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methods of learning, studying, and art creation, they held exercises
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in street political rhetoric
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- "Cirkusarna" – a space for practicing of various circus and
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acrobatic routines, including trapeze and aerial silk
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- Gallery against everything ("Galerija Kljub vsemu") – a gallery
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space with professional gallery lighting, and a proper toilet
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- Studio Samorog – a studio space for visual arts and cosmology
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- "Zelenica" – a gallery space where theoretical visual arts lectures
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are also held
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- Football (soccer) hall ("Nogotmetna dvorana") – a hall for
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practicing indoor football (soccer), but used also for regular
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practices of Tai chi, Qigong, and Kung Fu
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- "Društvo Gor" – hip-hop enthusiasts are managing space for
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breakdance practice and learning with a smaller skate park
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- "Boris plac" – a small studio and exhibition space which can be
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converted into a multi-purpose space
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- "Grafitarji" – a space managed by the graffiti collective 1107 in
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the second floor
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- "SISTAZ plac" – a space for breakdance, music, illustration,
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painting, sewing, etc.
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- "Atelje X" – a studio in the 3rd floor with Spanish, Ecuadorian,
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Finnish artists, space for visual and intermedia art
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## References
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<references />
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1. [Wikipedia](Wikipedia "wikilink") -
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<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rog_(factory)> |