During the Ljubljana getogether, AlmostReal advisor Maria Lind made some discerning suggestions about the potentials of the collaborative dynamics of AlmostReal. One of her principal suggestions is that this ECF arts initiative ought to seriously consider organising a series of activities which could stimulate a greater public debate on the subject of European cultural funding — to dig underneath and expose the real dynamics between cultural funder and funded in European regions today. It is ultra important for the ECF to consider, she said, how any artistic collaborations supported through AlmostReal could be brought forward as case studies that could affect the European cultural-political discourse. AlmostReal she says, must maximise its unique hybrid potential between cultural producers, adminstrators and policy makers.

Based on these recommendations, AlmostReal reapproached Maria Lind and asked her to propose how she would imagine such a public event for the fifth stage. Susequently, Lind put together a general outline of an art project and a public event which would look into the dynamics and climate of funding cultures and cultural funding. This project and event would involve Stockholm-based artist collaboration Simon Goldin and Jakob Senneby. Marc Neelen and Ana Dzokic (STEALTH.unlimited) will also co-develop the event.

“…one of the most crucial questions right now is funding and how funding is changing…it hasn’t happened before to bring together different cultural producers and policy makers, especially since cultural policy is (mostly) narrowly bound up with national funding. However, what’s very important is how cultural producers can use these situations.”

— Maria Lind, Ljubljana, May 2007