Description

Pekarna magdalenske mreže is a non-profit and non-governmental private institution for the support to civil-social initiatives and multicultural cooperation, formal established in 1996 by three different existing associations (Association of dolphine friends, Alternative music workshop, Gallery house) which squated ex military bakery two years before, in 1994.
Institution is located in ex military bakery which turned to the biggest alternative cultural centre in north-east Slovenia.

Former use: ex military bakery
Total surface of the site: 6000 m2
Location: urban, next to city centre, the only cultural area on right bank of Drava river
Foundation year of the centre: 1994-squat/1996-existing legal form
Type of occupation: squatted, free-lending contract with the City in progress
Owner of the building: since 2001 - Maribor city/communal administration (City council);
previous Ministry of the Interior (1991-2001); previous (ex YU army)

Infrastructures / Facilities

 6 buildings & internal park : 2 halls, 2 clubs, 2 restaurants, theatre, second-hand bookstore, gallery, practice rooms, studios, cyber&reading-room, offices, climbing wall (some of these are run independently).

Main spaces are the following :
 Hladilnica (hall) : 523 m2
 Gustaf (hall) : 209 m2
 Gallery : 400 m2
 Theatre : 261 m2
 Park and yard : 2000 m2 & 3000 m2

Social and artistic disciplines

  Main activities: exhibitions, concerts, performances, film, festivals, workshops, movement, etc.(more than 2000 events in last 8 years)

  Independent projects:

INFOPEKA (Infopeka collects, edits and offers information for youth between the age of 14 and 27 and also to parents, teachers and other interested public. Information are about education, scholarships, employment, free time activities, help in personal
crisis, culture, youth tourism, law etc. and are free of charge. All that can also be found in diverse media: informer, free access to the internet, different software, magazines, leaflets, newsletters...

 Coordination: between associations and artists operating in Pekarna centre(30) & outer

Other structures/organisations resident on the site :

  3 sport associations (divers assoc., climbers assoc., parachutists assoc.)
  9 other associations (bookstore, restaurant, clubs, spiritual...)
  20 - 25 artists (music, plastic, foto, video...)

Financial support

 Maribor (City council)

 Ministry of education (Bureau of youth)

 Ministry of employment

 Ministry of culture

 Student organisation of University of Maribor (common 50% of all sources)

 CNVOS (= Centre for Information Service, Cooperation and Development of NGOs

 European Social Fund

Networks

 International: Trans Europe Halles (since 1997)

 National: MISS

 Local networks: MINA

 Youth in Action programme (EVS)