The Slovenian capital of Ljubljana may appear to be just another quaintly idyllic, historically rich, economically tourist friendly Central-European city. But if you poke around the city a bit and start asking some questions, you will quickly discover that this charming city has a robust and thriving alternative and countercultural art scene. At the very heart of this scene is the vaunted Metelkova mesto. The Mesto is an interconnected network of buildings and open spaces which (depending on the time of day) function as galleries, studios, bars, night clubs, music venues, lecture halls, internet clubs, youth centers, libraries, restaurants and pretty much anything else you can imagine. On any given day or night of the week, and at any time of year, there is always something going on somewher at Metelkova. In 2006, this self sustaining community is possibly the most artistically dynamic, musically vibrant, creatively experimental and intelectually progressive places in all of Central Europe. Metelkova mesto did not appear out of nowhere however. The history of this incredible place is as dramatic and contreversial as the art that it supports. Following is a brief history of Metelkova written by those that fought long and hard to bring it into existence and that continue to work tirelessly to coordinate and create its diverse projects, performances and programs. ...
