We just returned from an amazing trip to Istanbul where LabforCulture held a workshop on the use of online tools in the cultural sector, in collaboration with Bilgi University. In the workshop we met a few of the driving forces behind NOMAD, an independent association working in the sphere of digital art.

On April 26th, they will be hosting a gathering of The Upgrade! Istanbul, with a presentation of a project very much linked to LabforCulture's interests and priorities. If you're in Istanbul, check it out!

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26th of April 18:00- Alternative Directory
by Anna Sala

The goal of the project is to have an useful tool for a transcultural dialogue and a platform to interconnect the alternative or independent movements (artists and spaces) with other geographical scenarios in order to create and spread cultural exchange networks.

Anna Sala
Is currently based in Barcelona. She graduated as a graphic designer from Massana School of Fine Arts in Barcelona. Her career as a graphic designer brought her to multimedia studios in Paris, Wrexam and New York. Since 2004 she has been involved with social movements and several political arts projects in Barcelona. She was one of the founders of the collective Eclectica dv, a non-profit arts organization that wants to promote the use and benefits of new technologies through the independent art production and networks using free software & copyleft. She is currently involved in developping interfaces for people and networks using printed and online material .

Projects:
Map & workshops:
http://sindominio.net/mapas/ing/index_ing.htm
Technology:
http://www.eclecticadv.net
http://donestech.net
Public space:
http://www.citymined.org/projects/parkcentralpark.php
In summer of 2006, she participated in Lost Highway Expedition
http://www.europelostandfound.net

santralistanbul will host this meeting at Istanbul Bilgi University, Dolapdere Campus, Z-04

The Upgrade! Istanbul is a monthly gathering for new media artists, academicians, practitioners, curators and for all of the other actors of digital culture, organized by NOMAD and hosted by santralistanbul.

The Upgrade! is a network of international monthly meetings in the field of art and technology. Founded by media artist Yael Kanarek in 1999, the Upgrade! exists as forums for artists, designers, critics, curators and educators who form the communities in different cities to discuss and share knowledge. Current nodes include Boston, Chicago, Montreal, Munich, NYC, Oklahoma City, Scotland, Seoul, Sofia, Tel-Aviv, Istanbul, Vancouver Lisbon and Toronto. Host organisations include Eyebeam, Turbulence.org , New Media Scotland, Art Centre Nabi, The Western Front, The Society for Arts and Technology (SAT), InterSpace, I-camp, DCA, CCA, No-Org.net, Art Interactive, santralistanbul, Lisboa 20 Arte Contemporânea. Open-Node.com and TUBE.

http://www.nomad-tv.net/upgrade