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editor in chief: Dejan Krsic
address: Republike Austrije 17/1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Tel. +385/1/3777 866; Fax +385/1/3777 867
 mail to: arkzin_zg@zamir-zg.ztn.apc.org //
ARKZIN: http://www.arkzin.com
SHORT STORY OF ARKZIN
Arkzin started in September 1991 as the fanzine of Antiwar Campaign of
Croatia. In March 1993 the second series of Arkzin started to appear as a monthly
magazine, and since June 1994 it is a biweekly newspaper. A normal issue consists of 32
pages on A3 format. The circulation is 8.000 copies.
In September 1994 Arkzin registered as a non-profit enterprise for publishing, graphic
design, video production and for organising cultural events. This development reflects the
role that Arkzin plays in the context of the movement for peace, non-violence, human
rights, women’s power and ecology on one side, and the efforts of a growing range of
people to build a cultural environment, which resists not only the war and its
consequences but also the strangling grip of the dominant nationalist forces in Coatia, on
the other side. Arkzin has established itself as a major forum of independent,
alternative, critical information and debate. Arkzin not only criticises the government
policies (e. g. the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the evictions of the people from
former Yugoslav army flats), but also examines the role of the media, of the intellectuals
and of various marginalised youth subcultures.
In December 1994, the first issue of „Bastard" was published as a supplement of
Arkzin. This is the start of a review of books and critical theory for a new
enlightenment. Since then, it has been appearing every two months in eight pages. The
paper also has a irregular supplement dedicated to the media theory, new technologies and
techno culture named „Fractal".
The decision to become the enterprise resulted on one hand from the need to become an
independent entity in the network of various projects and NGOs, and on the other hand
there is a growing need for professional facilities in the field of graphic design,
publishing, e-mail, and other cultural productions. This ranges from publishing
supplements or separate flyers and postcards on the position of homosexuals, drugs, and
human rights to the projects like founding of an independent cultural club. The review of
the Women’s Infoteka „Bread and Roses", the exposition of the comics
„Signed by War" and the graphic material for the macrobiotic centre
„Makronova", alternative theatre group „Montazstroj" are some of the
productions of Arkzin. Over the years Arkzin has been giving the opportunity to young
journalists, designers, photographers, etc. to practice and develop their skills. Arkzin
is now an essential node in the network of social, cultural, and political initiatives in
Croatia.
Arkzin has with very limited means reached a respected journalistic level. They
communicate with one telephone line for phone, fax, and electronic mail. At the moment,
they have indirect access to Internet through the store-forward BBS of the peace movement
(Zamir Transnational Network).
Most journalists and graphic designers are trained on the spot and through personal
experience. They are, however, not able to dedicate themselves full time to the paper
because of low payment.
The paper’s main objective in this year is to construct some essential infrastructure
for building civil society, freedom of expression and respect for human rights in Croatia.
Concretely it means to establish a network for communication among various initiatives,
projects, and non-governmental organisations in Croatia and abroad, as well as to enable
independent cultural, social, and political initiatives to present and promote themselves.
The main activity to work on is to start with regular putting Arkzin articles on the Net.
Thus articles will be more accessible to a wider circle of readers, especially in the area
of former Yugoslavia, where the paper is not regularly on sale in kiosks. Besides, an
English edition of Arkzin, which will contain the most interesting or the most important
articles and graphics, will be published every few months.
ARKZIN ANNUAL REPORT 1996 and PLANS FOR 1997
Cooperation with ELECTRA -
Women's Art Center
in development of alternative video center
Pictures:
Vesna Jankovic,
former editor in chief of ARKzin |
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