Nos cuenta la gente de STEIM que el centro se encuentra en serias dificultades. Para los que no os resulte familiar, aparte de invitaros a visitar su web, podemos contar resumiendo que STEIM es un ya histórico medialab situado en Amsterdam, muy conocido por su trabajo en el desarrollo y creación de interfaces, el campo del ‘physical computing’ para usos creativos y demás cacharrería (la cracklebox es seguramente su artefacto más conocido), y también residencia habitual de artistas, laboratorio y centro de trabajo para el desarrollo de proyectos y venue destinada a la celebración de eventos, conciertos y presentaciones, que tienen lugar prácticamente todas las semanas, haciendo de él sin duda uno de los lugares claves de encuentro en estas tierras de canales y bicicletas.

Resulta que el gobierno holandés amenaza con retirar los fondos que les otorga, basándose en los resultados de un comité de evaluación, que dice algo así como que las actividades del centro solo son del interés de una audiencia muy pequeña. En fin… son las cosas que tiene el lobotomizante ‘mundo real’ y su constante lucha por la máxima rentabilidad.

Desde STEIM solicitan nuestra colaboración en esta batalla para hacer ver al gobierno holandés que es un lugar importante para una rica y diversa red de profesionales, artistas y público, dentro y fuera de Holanda.

Necesitan recibir nuestras cartas de apoyo, por mail, fax, via postal o de manera online antes del dia 26 de Mayo (con 12 palabras basta).

[+info: STEIM FUNDING IN DANGER]
[ONLINE LETTER OF SUPPORT / APOYO ONLINE]

Pego debajo su comunicado íntegro:

STEIM – Center for research & development of instruments & tools for performers in the electronic performance arts. Laboratory, workshop, international meeting place, artist hotel, production office, live electroacoustic music, DJ’s, VJ’s, theater and installation makers, video artists and nomad studio.

STEIM needs your support!
Things are not well at STEIM. We are in the danger of losing our structural funding from the government, based on a review from the advisor board which called us ‘closed and only appealing to a niche audience’. The outlook isn’t exactly bleak, but at the moment our future is unclear.

As we see you as an important friend and colleague of STEIM, we would like to ask you to help us present our case that we are connected to a diverse network of professionals and that our work has significant influence on both a Dutch and an international community.

What you can do is to send a letter of support, and make sure we receive it by May 26. We hope that these letters will show the variety and depth of the effect STEIM has in the real world. The contents are up to you, a few good lines will suffice. You could tell how you or someone you know benefited from their contact with STEIM: making or refining an instrument or an idea for a performance or meeting fellow artists, or what you feel would be lost if STEIM ceased to exist, or waxing aphoristic, just 12 words about STEIM.

Also include some specific details of your context: as an artist or educator or musician or code hacker – so your place in the world will be visible for the committee. A letterhead with your organization or institution and your position or title above your signature are small things that can leave an impression.

As for how to reply, time is of the essence so email is the preferred option. If you have time to scan a printed letter that’s great but we can print emails or faxes as well.

Unfortunately we have only a short period for our response, so we would like to receive your letter by May 26. You can address the letter to the Council for Culture.

Please send your letter to:

Email: knock@steim.nl
Fax: + 31 (0)20 6264262
Address: Achtergracht 19, 1017WL Amsterdam, The Netherlands

> > > Sending a personal letter is the best, but for a quick message use the online support letter.