POST FUNDING EASTERN EUROPE CULTURE BECOMES A HOBBY Appreciated counterparts Through the downfall of the Soviet Union, the Balkan wars and the EUХs Eastern expansion the countries of Middle and Eastern Europe have undergone fundamental re-orientation processes and exposed their vulnerable cultural and economic identities. At the same time they got inscribed into international funding policies. With different aims, national, trans-national, private as well as state-owned investors dis-covered those Фnew territoriesХ in which art and culture are often used to smoothen transitions. Motivations to invest into cross-border culture and art projects vary from philanthropic world-views with George Soros as most known example to image campaigns of damaged politicians. Economically striking attention for culture appears especially in times of local conflicts, wars and revolutions, also in order to strengthen democratic forces. Questionably is that once situations stabilize, often the international and financial attention decreases which leaves accomplished, self-sustaining as much as stagnating constellations behind. Not only is it controversial whether cross-border projects always proof sustainable. Lacking detailed knowledge and insight into a local situation makes it difficult to develop trust and close cooperation between funders and grantees from which meaningful collaboration could come forth. At this moment investment within the Ukrainian context is done in the first place by those who keep existing spaces open and keep using them under difficult economic conditions. With their precious energy, inspiration, openness and time few dedicated individuals manage to establish a critical distance to their own environment and at the same time keep the thin membrane of activity in motion. Refining oneХs own practices and discourse means to obtain a space which any situation requires in order to develop fur-ther. Creating and maintaining space Р physical, economical as much as intellectual space are the key challenges in the contemporary Ukrainian art situation. It demands a strong intellectual and economical fundament to stand up to local and international initiatives which might as much compromise artistic endeavors and working conditions as they seem to promote them at the first sight. Therefore we hope that CCA will continue to be run by and to support appreciated counterparts who challenge our assumptions and who, constructively and with insistence, know better. We hope that this compilation of interviews taken since August 2006 can add to a process of perspective-making. Inga Zimprich

CCCK POST FUNDING BROCHURE - Articles - Editorial - Colofon - Download TRY TO FIND ANOTHER COW [round table discussion] AND PRIVATE INVESTORS APPEAR [article] A SHORT INSTITUTIONAL AFFAIR [exhibition] WHO ARE THOSE WE? [talk] EXTERIORS [catalogue] HE LAUNCHED A MACHINE [lecture] SPEAKING OF A GAP CAN CAUSE DOUBLES [exhibition]