ACCT moves out of the Hippodrome

final meeting at the Hippodrome

More than a week ago, the discussion about the Hippodrome project led to the final decision for ACCT members to move out of the specific building. On the one side, the camel man, Goran and on the other side the representatives and supporters of ACCT, did not manage to reach a consensus about the future of the building that would be beneficial for both sides. Therefore, after quite some time of collective effort around this purpose, the ACCT left the Hippodrome building in Goran’s and his animals’ hands. There has been an ongoing discussion about moving into new abandoned building as the base of the community is already strong and could be used for new alternative purposes. The Critical Mass event taking place tomorrow afternoon is part of the ongoing work linked to future initiatives of the initial ACCT project.

moving out of the Hippodrome

Profoundly ACCT, also present at Vake Park, will be still participating and also initiating different type of activities around Tbilisi even if the Hippodrome project has now been officially closed!

Prologue to my EVS experience in Tbilisi; first cultural observations at the Old Hippodrome

view to Tbilisi Old Town

This section of my blog will be dedicated to my 9-month long stay in Tbilisi, Georgia for my European Voluntary Service (EVS) at Youth Association DRONI. Tbilisi is a city of a bit more than 1,5 million inhabitants, an undoubtedly vibrant cultural crossroad between Europe and the Caucasus. During my stay here, i will be mainly working on local development projects concerning young Internally Displaced People (IDPs), principally Georgian/ South-Ossetian/Mingrelian IDPs from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia break-away territories (result of the wars of the 90s and more recently 2008) as well as Azeri and Armenian minorities living in communities around the country. In addition to this, a main focus point for me is the reclamation of urban space based on socio-cultural initiatives. The current squatting of the abandoned Old Hippodrome and its consequent transformation into Alternative Cultural Center of Tbilisi (ACCT) has already been one of my future priorities.  As it is already my fifth day in Tbilisi, below follow some of my first observations and activities around the city. Urban exploration in and around Tbilisi, alternative cultural spaces and activities as well as socio-culturally diverse minority communities will be the main focus areas of my photojournalistic work around the region.

view to the Old Hippodrome

Tchini at the Old Hippodrome

Already on Saturday morning, I had a visit at the Old Hippodrome of Tbilisi, close to the Saburtalo district to explore the abandoned building complex which has been now occupied by a French nomad named Goran and his female camel Tchini. Plans of local and international activists and volunteers are to transform the Old Hippodrome into the Alternative Cultural Center of Tbilisi (ACCT) and therefore establish a new identity to the derelict complex. The place has already been a meeting point for travelers, activists and artists from Caucasus and Europe who initiate and participate in different type of workshops and cultural activities that Hippodrome hosts. A free space of cultural diversity and free expression, the Old Hippodrome is unfolding an alternative social activism.

Goran and Tchini at the Old Hippodrome

Goran narrating

A long discussion with the nomad Goran around the fire with the company of all his animals and especially Tchini presented a very interesting angle of the current situation at the Hippodrome. Having traveled all the way from Afghanistan to Georgia, Goran shared many traveler’s stories with a lot of philosophical reflection and ideologies around life. According to him, the squatting of the Hippodrome is a gift, benefit, solution and natural process concerning all the ones wishing to be part of the space, the vibes and the potentiality it can offer.

Monica and Guillermo, also EVS DRONI volunteers such as me, are already working on developing interesting activities and more importantly fostering an open-minded dialogue among all the squatters, visitors and interested groups. The negotiation between mindsets, ideas and cultural suggestions is yet to come! A next visit to the Hippodrome and a more active participation to the upcoming project ideas will give me a more concrete understanding of the situation and its future development which I am planning to communicate soon!

More photos from this visit can be found here.

Urban exploration at the Old Hippodrome Tbilisi

urban exploration- Old Hippodrome Tbilisi

This abandoned building complex near the Saburtalo district in Tbilisi used to be the city’s hippodrome. Recently, it has been occupied by Goran, a gypsy nomad, and Tchini, his female camel. Future plans want the place to be transformed to the Alternative Cultural Centre of Tbilisi (ACCT), a melting pot of culture and arts. The place has already attracted many activists, travelers and artists from Caucasus and Europe and its future development plans are promising!