Kino Šiška development

The Past

In 1961, Ljubljanski kinematografi (Ljubljana Cinematographic Company) was appointed by the city of Ljubljana to manage the Kino Šiška cinema, where films were being screened from 1964 to the end of 1980's. The cinema was then closed down due to a decrease in the number of visitors, and the venue was being rented for various events and lectures. In 1994 the cinema was launched again.

After Kolosej multiplex cinema opened in 2001, the story of Kino Šiška with 725 seats was again brought to an end. Between 2002 and 2007, art projects were being made in Kino Šiška, dance and theatre workshops took place there, as well as renewed rehearsals for group and individual performances and dance campaigns. In that period Kino Šiška also become the property of the City of Ljubljana. When Vika Potočnik and Danica Simšič consecutively held the office of mayor of Ljubljana, a civil initiative with the current city councillor Gregor Tomc as its active member, was already struggling for Ljubljana to acquire a centre for urban culture.

The first ideas on establishing such a centre date back to 1995 when preparations were under way for Ljubljana to organise the European Cultural Month (1997).

In 2004 Kino Šiška was added to the list of Infrastructure measures, stated in the National Programme for Culture.

The foreseen Centre for Contemporary Arts was supposed to have a network structure, comprising the Stara elektrarna institute as well as Metelkova 6 and the former Kino Šiška. The abandoned venue was to be changed into a multipurpose venue for theatre and dance performances, video works and installations, also featuring a bar, cyber café, rehearsal space and dressing rooms. Renovation was planned to begin at the end of 2005. Investments into the network-structured Centre for Contemporary Arts were to be acquired from European funds. (A. Rihter, Delo newspaper: 20 August 2004)

The deadlock was only broken in 2006 when the new mayor of Ljubljana, Zoran Janković, forwarded the project into the phase of implementation, the project having the position of a priority in his programme.

Present

The reconstruction, renovation and new purpose of Kina Šiška makes Ljubljana a lively and sensitive Central-European city with vibrant culture, thus hoping to fix and institutionalise in the public eye the new, different contemporary culture. Kino Šiška Centre for Urban Culture serves as an intergenerational cultural confluence, intended for enthusiasts, artists and supporters of contemporary urban cultural trends.

Kino Šiška Centre for Urban Culture public institute was established at the City Council session of the City of Ljubljana on 4 February 2008. This decree finally allowed for the centre to operate under the auspices of its owner and major fund provider. The year 2008 saw intense preparations for the investment, including the acquisition of required studies, agreements and projects as well as the commencement of construction works in September.