Public Netbase

Last updated

Public Netbase
Formation1994
Dissolved2006
PurposePlatform for critical Internet culture
Location
  • Vienna, Austria

Public Netbase was an Austrian cultural organization and media arts platform active from 1994 to 2006. Based in Vienna, it functioned as an open-access network, media art space, and research initiative focused on digital culture, electronic art, and the social implications of information technologies.

Contents

Early development

Public Netbase was founded in 1994 by Austrian musician Konrad Becker and Francisco de Sousa Webber in Vienna’s Messepalast, later known as the Museumsquartier. It operated as a non-profit internet service provider and as a platform for participatory engagement with information and communication technologies. Its parent organization was the Institute for New Culture Technologies – t0, established in 1993. [1]

Following its establishment, most of the institute’s activities were conducted under the name Public Netbase, which led to some overlap in the use of names and founding dates in official materials. The designation “t0” was also used for the organization’s World Wide Web server and occasionally appended to its name.

In its early years, Public Netbase shared facilities at the MuseumsQuartier with the initiative Depot – Kunst und Diskussion. [2] After relocating to its own premises, the organization expanded its program, increasing the number of workshops and instructional courses and hosting regular public discussions and events.

Art, culture and philosophy

Netbase 3.jpg

Public Netbase focused on the development of electronic art and on examining the cultural implications of emerging digital technologies. In 1995, the organization received an award of distinction at the Prix Ars Electronica for its early work in online media. [3]

Much of the web space provided by Public Netbase supported projects by Austrian artists, however, some hosted initiatives, such as the Transformation Story Archive, which gained broader international visibility. The organization also served as a venue for a range of events addressing media art, digital culture, and technology-related themes. Themes included symposia, conferences, and performances. Some of which included: a conference organized by the Association of Autonomous Astronauts, [4] a lecture-performance by the Critical Art Ensemble focused on biotechnology, [5] and events including ROBOTRONIKA (1998) [6] and SYNWORLD (1999). [7]

Controversy

Austrian Freedom Party

During the period in which the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) and its leader Jörg Haider gained political influence, Public Netbase became increasingly involved in politically oriented cultural and media projects. At the same time, the organization faced growing public and governmental scrutiny. Haider publicly accused Public Netbase of supporting child pornography, a claim that the organization rejected. The accusation was made in connection with content hosted on the platform, including erotic art by Christina Göstl, which Haider compared to a commercial pornography website allegedly based in the British Virgin Islands. [8] [9]

In parallel, Public Netbase supported online initiatives critical of the FPÖ-led government, including a project described as a “virtual alternative” to the ruling coalition. This initiative included the presentation of the Austrian Web Resistance Awards, which recognized websites opposed to the government’s policies. [10]

Decline and closure

Following the redevelopment of Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier in the early 2000s, Public Netbase did not retain its lease within the complex. [11] The organization subsequently faced a combination of administrative challenges, funding constraints, and the absence of a permanent physical location. These factors contributed to a gradual reduction in activities and operational capacity. [12]

In 2005, an internal reorganization led to the shortened name “Netbase.” However, in January 2006, the City of Vienna discontinued public funding for the organization, resulting in its closure. Municipal authorities stated that this decision reflected a shift in cultural funding policy, aiming to support a broader range of initiatives within the field of digital and media arts rather than concentrating resources on a single institution. [13] [14]

Legacy and recognition

In 2000, the Institute for Applied Autonomy dedicated its Prix Ars Electronica [15] award to Public Netbase, citing the organization’s engagement with political and digital culture. [16]

In the early 2000s, the platform World-Information.org was launched as a project focused on examining the societal, economic, and cultural implications of emerging technologies. [17] The initiative later became involved in the UNESCO Digi-Arts program and participated in a number of international conferences and events across Europe. [18]

Although the Institute for New Culture Technologies – t0 no longer operates its own physical art space, it continues its activities through projects such as World-Information.org and the World-Information Institute. [19] Since 2002, it has also been involved in the development and operation of wahlkabine.at, an online voting advice application designed to provide comparative information on political positions for Austrian voters. [20]

List of events

Workshops and small events

Public Netbase regularly organized conferences, exhibitions, and web-based projects. Documentation of these activities is available in the publication Public Netbase: Non Stop Future [21] as well as in an activity report compiled in 2004 and made available online. [22]

Association of Autonomous Astronauts: Intergalactic Conference (1997)

This event was presented in the format of an “intergalactic conference” and referenced the concept of an independent, community-based space program. The program addressed issues related to access to technology and contemporary space politics. [23]

Infobody Attack (1997)

Infobody Attack was a series of events held in October 1997 that examined themes related to surveillance, information control, and the societal implications of emerging information technologies. [24]

Flesh Machine: A Genexploitation Project (1997)

Flesh Machine: A Genexploitation Project was developed by the U.S.-based artist collective Critical Art Ensemble in cooperation with Public Netbase. The project addressed issues related to biotechnology and genetic screening. Visitors were able to participate in simulated DNA screening procedures intended to reflect debates around biological classification and reproductive technologies. The project also included materials such as Let’s Make Baby!, an illustrated publication explaining scientific and medical approaches to human reproduction. [25]

Information Terror (1998)

Information Terror was a collaborative project with the London-based group The Society of the Unknown. As part of the project, a freight container installed near the Vienna State Opera was used as an interactive installation described as a “psycho-geographical feedback device,” examining relationships between urban space, information systems, and perception. [26]

Robotronika (1998)

Robotronika was a five-day event consisting of a symposium and an exhibition focused on developments in robotics and automation. The program presented technological, artistic, and theoretical perspectives on automation and its societal implications. [6]

Period After (1998–1999)

Period After focused on long-term developments in the Balkan region, particularly in relation to media, contemporary culture, and the social and political consequences of regional instability. A central component of the project was the establishment of a network of media initiatives in South-Eastern Europe, which served as a foundation for subsequent activities. [27]

Synworld playwork:hyperspace (1999)

Synworld was one of Public Netbase’s larger projects of the late 1990s. It explored the relationship between digital games and developments in science and society. The program included lectures, installations, multimedia presentations, interactive game environments, and a dedicated lounge space. [7]

Kultur.Netz.2000+ (1999)

Kultur.Netz.2000+ was part of Public Netbase’s ongoing engagement with independent media initiatives in Austria. The project aimed to support collaboration and coordination among cultural actors, facilitate collective discussion of shared concerns, and contribute to debates on cultural and media policy. Activities included meetings, joint statements, and public awareness initiatives. [28]

European Cultural Backbone (ECB) (1999–2003)

European Cultural Backbone was a collaborative network of media and cultural institutions and individuals that aimed to develop participatory media practices and explore their potential for social engagement. [29]

fremd.netz (1999)

fremd.netz was an anti-racism project initiated during the formation of a federal government that included the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). The project took place in an underground station in Vienna and included media installations, lectures, and presentations of related initiatives, such as Period After and the newly established platform Get to Attack. Among the installations was Fremdsteuerung by Franz Xaver. [30] [31]

government-austria.at (2000–2001)

government-austria.at was an online project that positioned itself as an independent platform in response to the policies of the ÖVP–FPÖ government. The project sought to create an alternative discursive space and develop its own identity separate from official government communication. [32] [33]

free.netbase.org (2000–2004)

free.netbase.org was a website that documented political pressure directed at Public Netbase and the organization’s responses to it. The platform also functioned as a space for international expressions of support and solidarity, bringing together statements and materials from individuals and institutions aligned with Public Netbase. [34]

Interface Explorer (2001)

Interface Explorer focused on developments in interface design and web technologies. The exhibition presented projects by international artists and provided a forum for discussion on emerging trends in digital interfaces. The event was co-curated by Johannes Grenzfurthner and included a lecture by media theorist Lev Manovich following the publication of The Language of New Media. [35]

Basecamp (2001–2002)

Basecamp consisted of a series of public-space installations located in and around Vienna’s MuseumsQuartier. The project included three components: Remote Viewing, a virtual billboard installation; Text-FM, an SMS-based project; and Remote Jam, a music-focused installation. Together, these works explored forms of media interaction in urban public space. [36]

free:re:public (2001–2004)

free:re:public was a series of public events that explored the relationship between sound, politics, and civic expression. The project emerged in the context of protests against Austria’s right-wing government and involved large-scale public gatherings and cultural demonstrations held annually in Vienna. These events examined the use of sound and music as forms of political expression and public engagement. [37]

Dark Markets (2002)

Dark Markets was a conference focused on the relationship between media politics, information technologies, and democratic theory. Discussions addressed questions concerning the role of the internet in democratic participation, the influence of state and corporate power on digital spaces, and the potential for maintaining digital commons in an increasingly commercialized media environment. [38]

Campaign against the violation of data protection (2003)

Public Netbase participated in a campaign initiated by the European Digital Civil Rights network [39] addressing concerns related to data protection and privacy. As part of the campaign, a public demonstration was organized at Vienna International Airport to raise awareness about the implications of new European Union regulations on the transfer of personal data, including financial and personal information, to authorities outside the European Union. [40]

Open Cultures (2003)

Open Cultures was a two-day conference accompanied by workshops and an exhibition. The event focused on the politics of the information sphere and explored approaches to promoting the free circulation of information and knowledge. [41]

Demokratie und Öffentlichkeit in der Informationsgesellschaft (2003)

Following the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva, Public Netbase organized two events that examined the outcomes and implications of the summit. These discussions addressed issues related to democracy, public participation, and information society policies. [42]

Free Media Camp (2003)

The Free Media Camp aimed at raising public awareness about the extremely precarious situation of independent and participatory media initiatives in Vienna. The camp was established in public space at Vienna Karlsplatz and lasted for almost four months. In sum approximately 100 events (discussions, presentations, music events, screenings...) took place. The camp was organized by Public Netbase in co-operation with local cultural and media initiatives: Malmoe, IG Kultur Wien, Radio Orange 94.0 and Public Voice Lab. [43] [44]

The Free Media Camp was organized to draw attention to the challenges faced by independent and participatory media initiatives in Vienna. Established in public space at Karlsplatz, the camp remained active for approximately four months and hosted around 100 events, including discussions, presentations, concerts, and film screenings. The project was organized by Public Netbase in cooperation with local cultural and media organizations, including Malmoe, IG Kultur Wien, Radio Orange 94.0, and Public Voice Lab. [43] [44]

Nikeground (2003)

Nikeground was a communication-based art project developed in cooperation with the artist collective 0100101110101101.ORG. The project examined the commercialization of public space by presenting a fictional proposal to rename Vienna’s Karlsplatz as “Nikeplatz.” As part of the project, a temporary glass pavilion was installed on the square, presenting information about the alleged renaming and the construction of a large monument bearing the Nike logo. The project generated public discussion and media attention, prompting debate within the cultural sector and among the general public. [45] [46]

Kein Asylverfahren im World Wide Web! (2003–2004)

Kein Asylverfahren im World Wide Web! was an anti-racism project developed in response to changes in Austrian asylum policy during the period of the ÖVP–FPÖ government. The project included workshops aimed at enabling young asylum seekers to develop media-related skills and to engage with digital communication tools. [47]

S-77CCR - System 77 Civil Counter-Reconnaissance (2004)

S-77CCR was a project that examined contemporary surveillance technologies and explored the concept of providing civil society with tools to observe and reflect on monitoring practices in public space. The project referenced the idea of “counter-surveillance” as a form of civic engagement and critical inquiry.(Brian Holmes) [48]

Art != Bioterrorism (2004)

Art != Bioterrorism was a series of solidarity and protest events organized by Public Netbase following the arrest of artist and researcher Steve Kurtz, a founding member of the Critical Art Ensemble. Kurtz was investigated by U.S. authorities under legislation related to counterterrorism. The project addressed concerns about artistic freedom, scientific research, and civil liberties in the context of anti-terrorism policies. [49] [50]

Free Bitflows (2004)

Free Bitflows continued Public Netbase’s format of large-scale events combining conferences, workshops, and exhibitions. The project focused on issues related to information flows, digital communication, and the political dimensions of information exchange, with an emphasis on open access and information freedom. [51]

Austria 2005

In 2005, several national anniversaries coincided in Austria, including sixty years since the end of World War II, fifty years since the Austrian State Treaty, and ten years of European Union membership. In response, Public Netbase organized a series of political and cultural initiatives that critically engaged with the commemorative narratives associated with these anniversaries. The website Austria 2005: A Protection Kit Against a Year of Homeland Celebrations served as a central platform for these activities. [52] [53]

As part of this initiative, Public Netbase also released a series of communications under the title Combat Resistance Cells, continuing its engagement with media-based political commentary. [54]

Raubkopieren macht impotent! (2005–2006)

Raubkopieren macht impotent! was a communication-based project developed in response to an anti-piracy campaign initiated by the German film industry. The project included staged public actions, such as a simulated press conference in Vienna’s main shopping district, presenting a fictional campaign to highlight and critique prevailing approaches to copyright enforcement and public messaging. [55]

Publications about Public Netbase

References

  1. ↑ "About Public Netbase / t0" . Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  2. ↑ "Depot - Kunst und Diskussion | Home". depot.or.at. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "Prix Ars Electronica 1995 World Wide Web Distinction". Archived from the original on 29 November 2005. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  4. ↑ "Association of Autonomous Astronauts' Intergalactic Conference in Vienna, Earth, June 21-22 1997" (Press release). 6 June 1997. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  5. ↑ "FLESH MACHINE: A Genexploitation Project" (Press release). 17 November 1997. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  6. 1 2 "Robotronika". robot.t0.or.at. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  7. 1 2 "SYNWORLD". synworld.t0.or.at. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  8. ↑ Flor, Micz (27 November 1998). "Sex slaves to public opinion - Public Netbase kicks back..." Crash Media. Retrieved 1 October 2006.
  9. ↑ Brown, Janelle (6 September 1998). "Is it Sex or is it Art?". Salon. Archived from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 2 October 2006.
  10. ↑ "About government-austria.at" . Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  11. ↑ Wassermair, M. (16 October 2000). "'In Austria, the Clock Ticks with a Different Beat': Short Story of Public Netbase t0, its International Success and Recent Political Struggles". Cultivate Interactive (2). ISSN   1471-3225. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  12. ↑ "Open letter to Michael Häupl, Mayor of Vienna, and the Vienna City Government" (Press release). 6 May 2004. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  13. ↑ "Eine neue Logik des Regierens? Kulturpolitik zwischen emanzipativer Selbstbestimmung und neoliberalen Regierungstechniken am Beispiel Netznetz" (Barbara Essig)
  14. ↑ "Public Netbase: Verlust eines öffentlich nutzbaren Ortes: die Netzkulturplattform wurde auf Projekte reduziert"; in: Der Standard, 2005
  15. ↑ "Prix Ars Electronica 2000 Interactive Art Distinction". Archived from the original on 25 March 2005. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  16. ↑ "Public Netbase t0 ist überraschender Preisträger des Prix Ars Electronica 2000" . Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  17. ↑ "World-information.org". Public Netbase. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  18. ↑ "World-information.org". UNESCO. 11 October 2004. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  19. ↑ "World-Information Institute – digital culture – info politics – research – knowledge transfer". world-information.net. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  20. ↑ "Wahlkabine". www.wahlkabine.at (in Austrian German). Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  21. ↑ Kuda.org, Branka Curcic, Zoran Pantelic (Hrsg.): Public Netbase: Non Stop Future - New practices in Art and Media. Revolver, Frankfurt a.M. 2008
  22. ↑ "Profile and Activities" (PDF). free.netbase.org. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  23. ↑ A documentation of several contributions can be found at http://future-nonstop.org/p/ce4617121b162ff4425f0193ca0f0f78. Retrieved 2013-09-12
  24. ↑ http://www.t0.or.at/scl/scl7/msg00151.html (in German). Retrieved 2013-09-12
  25. ↑ "Netbase t0 Institute for New Culture Technologies". t0.or.at. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  26. ↑ "Public Netbase t0 Institute for New Culture Technologies". www.t0.or.at. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  27. ↑ "Period After". periodafter.t0.or.at. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  28. ↑ http://netz2000.netbase.org/ (in German). Retrieved 2013-09-12
  29. ↑ "European Cultural Backbone". Archived from the original on 15 January 2005. Retrieved 12 September 2013.[ title missing ]
  30. ↑ http://fax.priv.at/fremdsteuerung/ (in German). Retrieved 2013-09-12
  31. ↑ "Get to attack now! | get to attack - springer|in 4/99: Bewegungen". Archived from the original on 18 January 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2013. (in German). Retrieved 2013-09-12
  32. ↑ Interview with Konrad Becker, in: Clemens Apprich, Felix Stalder (Hrsg.): Vergessene Zukunft. Radikale Netzkulturen in Europa. transcript, Bielefeld 2012, S. 161 (translated from German)
  33. ↑ "government-austria.at" (in Austrian German). Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  34. ↑ "free.netbase.org". Archived from the original on 14 May 2001. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  35. ↑ "i n t e r f a c e - e x p l o r e r // shared boundaries". interface.t0.or.at. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  36. ↑ "B a s e c a m p . N e t b a s e . O r G". basecamp.netbase.org. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  37. ↑ "FreeRepublic 04". future-nonstop.org. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  38. ↑ "Dark Markets - Infopolitics, Electronic Media And Democracy In Times Of Crisis". darkmarkets.t0.or.at. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  39. ↑ "European Digital Rights". edri.org. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  40. ↑ "Netbase t0 Institute for New Culture Technologies". www.netbase.org. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  41. ↑ "OPEN CULTURES - Free Flows of Information and the Politics of the Commons". opencultures.t0.or.at. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  42. ↑ "WSIS 2003 vs. Public Netbase/T0". Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013. (in German). Retrieved 2013-09-12
  43. 1 2 http://www.nettime.org/Lists-Archives/rohrpost-0306/msg00177.html (in German). Retrieved 2013-09-12
  44. 1 2 "Mediencamp". future-nonstop.org. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  45. ↑ "Nachdenken über Freiräume, Der Standard, 2 December 2003" (in German). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  46. ↑ http://www.t0.or.at/nikeground Archived 2013-06-23 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 2013-09-12
  47. ↑ http://workshop.t0.or.at/workshop/about/asyl (in German). Retrieved 2013-09-12
  48. ↑ "System-77 / Civil Counter-Reconnaissance". s-77ccr.org. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  49. ↑ Free Bitflows Declaration, http://www.netbase.org/t0/caedefense/english/fbl. Retrieved 2013-09-12
  50. ↑ "Critical Art Ensemble Defense: Kunst != Bioterrorismus". www.netbase.org. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  51. ↑ "Free Bitflows". freebitflows.t0.or.at. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  52. ↑ "- English". oesterreich-2005.at. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  53. ↑ In German: "Österreich 2005: Das Vorsorge-Paket gegen ein Jahr Heimat-Feiern", http://oesterreich-2005.at/english/. Retrieved 2013-09-12
  54. ↑ "Zellen Kämpfender Widerstand". zkw.netbase.org. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  55. ↑ http://netbase.org/hartabergerecht2006 Archived 2014-05-02 at the Wayback Machine (in German). Retrieved 2013-09-12
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.