<synthesis> Introduction to Metaforum X by Flóra Barkóczi

[Geert Lovink]

From: Flóra Barkóczi <barkocziflora at gmail.com <mailto:barkocziflora at gmail.com>>

Welcome to MetaForum X, the fourth edition of the MetaForum conference series, taking place in Budapest, Hungary, from October 24-26, 2024.

Although this event is not about nostalgia, it is impossible not to reflect on the legacy of the historical MetaForum series. The first three editions between 1994 and 1996, emerged at a time of profound global transformation. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of digital technologies led to hopes for a more democratic, interconnected, and culturally open world. The internet was seen as a tool for the decentralization of power, while the globalization of markets was expected to bring economic growth and cultural exchange. However, as the community of MetaForum recognized early on, these transformations were not about leading to equal opportunities, but rather deepening inequalities. Rooted in the spirit of media activism and critical theory, MetaForum challenged the narrative of optimism by questioning the unchecked spread of neoliberal capitalism, critiquing the “Californian ideology” of the tech industry, and addressing the ongoing conflicts in the Balkans. The first three MetaForums organized in Budapest became a symbolic space for critical exchange, a forum for reflecting on the unique position of the region, caught between post-socialist transformation and the pressures of Western capitalism (the programs of the 94-96 conferences can be found here: http://www.mrf.hu/metaforum.html). 

MetaForum X aims to engage with the legacy of these discussions. The theme of this year’s edition, PermaCrises has emerged from the experience of the persistent state of overlapping crises defining our era. The questions raised in the nineties about power, culture, and resistance remain crucial, especially in semi-peripheral regions like Central and Eastern Europe. By revitalizing MetaForum, we aim to continue the tradition of critical dialogues about our era, creating a space where Eastern and Western perspectives can converge to address the crises of our time.

Today, we find ourselves in a world defined by overlapping crises: economic instability, political authoritarianism, social fragmentation, and ecological collapse. These crises, however, are not just temporary disruptions; they have become a structural condition. As theorists like Giorgio Agamben have argued, crisis has become a mechanism of governance. The "state of exception" that Agamben describes – where normal rules are suspended in response to emergencies – has become the norm. Crisis is no longer an anomaly but a continuous condition shaping how society, politics, and culture operate.

Cultural production in the semi-periphery is deeply embedded in this structural crisis. In Hungary, for example, the cultural sector has been systematically underfunded and subjected to ideological control by the state. Independent cultural spaces are being starved of resources, while ideologically controlled institutions, like MMA, the Hungarian Academy of Arts, a flagship institution reinforced by the Orbán regime, receive generous funding to promote nationalist values. Universities, too, have been restructured, operating as government-aligned foundations, further tightening the grip on intellectual freedom. Cultural journalism and critique have almost disappeared. Non-profit and government-independent institutions are left with little to no support, fighting for basic survival. In this hostile environment, many professionals are being forced out, and entire sectors are vanishing from the cultural sphere.

The impact on cultural production is clear: critical, independent, and experimental work is marginalized, while labour in the cultural sector is increasingly precarious. These dynamics are not unique to Hungary but reflect broader trends across both semi-peripheral regions and even some Western countries. The Netherlands, for example, once a stronghold of cultural freedom, is now facing new restrictions under its recently elected government. This is one reason for the overrepresentation of Dutch participants at this conference, as the challenges they face resonate with those across Central and Eastern Europe, highlighting that the erosion of cultural and intellectual autonomy is a global phenomenon.

MetaForum X is not just about crisis – it is itself a symptom of the crisis that surrounds us.  The event has been realized under conditions of instability and uncertainty, limited funding and minimal resources. It is a case study of the very problems it seeks to discuss. In organizing this conference, we have encountered the structural inequalities that define cultural production in the semi-periphery: the lack of initial financial resources, the devaluation of labour, and dependence on external funding.

The reliance on external support, in this case from the Dutch Embassy, highlights the semi-peripheral regions' dependency on Western resources. While this funding enabled us to invite Dutch participants, structural constraints limited our ability to extend similar support to participants from Eastern European countries, further deepening the East-West divide. This reflects the broader dynamics of cultural production in the semi-periphery, where dependence on external funding often perpetuates inequalities, even when the intention is to foster collaboration.

MetaForum X, therefore, is not just a space for discussing crisis – it is itself a manifestation of the permanently ongoing crises. The challenges we have faced in organizing this event reflect the structural conditions that cultural workers across the region are navigating. In this sense, MetaForum X becomes a microcosm of the larger tensions between regional autonomy and global dependency, between critical engagement and material limitations.

Yet, despite these obstacles, our goal is to ensure that this event functions as a productive platform for dialogue, critical engagement, and collaborative reflection. MetaForum X, like its predecessors, aims to be more than just a critique of the crises – it seeks to foster a sense of agency and solidarity as a response to these overwhelming conditions. We hope this conference will provide an intellectual space where questions can be asked, alternatives can be imagined, and meaningful exchanges can take place, as we work collectively to envision new paths forward.

Let me give you an overview of what can be expected over the next two days. 

Day 1 will focus on understanding the historical and systemic roots of the crises we face today. We will begin with presentations that explore the cultural, social, and political transformations that shaped the post-socialist period. After that, we will get an insight into how those transformations continue to affect cultural production today. These sessions will be followed by a broader examination of planetary technopolitics.

Day 2 will shift toward more interactive, discursive formats. We will begin with a panel on the possibilities of cultural work and activism in the age of permanent crisis, discussing how cultural workers are responding to these conditions. We will also explore the various layers of how environmental crises intersect with political realities through a discussion with members of Red Forest. We will then take a moment to reflect on the legacy and the context of MetaForum in the nineties, through a roundtable discussion with the organizers of the earlier events. Finally, we will conclude with a session on network cultures, looking at how digital media and activism continue to shape cultural resistance in the context of today’s crises, through the example of the newly founded Stream Art Network.

Each evening, we will host special events at the Intermedia Department of The Hungarian University of Fine Arts. Tonight, we will feature a film screening and discussion on the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict by Oleksiy Radynski, while tomorrow evening, we will host a live stream event with the UKRAiNATV web streaming network.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made MetaForum X possible, despite the considerable challenges we have outlined. This event would not have been possible without the collaboration and support of several individuals and institutions that continue to stand as representatives of cultural resilience in these difficult times.

First and foremost, we owe special thanks to Trafó House of Contemporary Arts and the Trafó Gallery – to Borbála Szalai, Jutka Szalipszki and the entire team – who graciously provided the space for this conference. Trafó remains one of the rare independent cultural institutions in Budapest that fosters critical dialogue and artistic experimentation, operating with autonomy in an increasingly restrictive environment. Their support is invaluable and deeply appreciated.

We are equally grateful to the Intermedia Department at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, not only for hosting our evening programs but also for their logistical and organizational support throughout the process. In an academic and cultural landscape undergoing drastic transformation, their continued efforts to promote critical thought and artistic innovation are essential. These institutions represent rare bastions of cultural freedom, providing vital space for intellectual and artistic expression against the pressures of ideological and financial constraints.

We would also like to express our appreciation to the interns from the Intermedia Department, András Bódai, Blanka Bodnár, Viki Gaál, Anna Rybaltovszki and Máté Takács, who are volunteering to document the event and who will be facilitating tomorrow's live stream, as well. Their work is integral to ensuring that these conversations extend beyond this physical space and reach wider audiences.

We are thankful to our speakers, for accepting our invitation to participate, despite the fact that we have not been able to offer financial compensation. Your willingness to engage in these discussions reflects the collective commitment to the critical discourse that MetaForum X seeks to foster.

We are grateful for the support of the Dutch Embassy, whose contribution was essential in supporting the participation of our speakers based in the Netherlands.

I also want to personally thank all the organizers, who have devoted their time, energy, and expertise over the last 10 months to bring this event to life. On behalf of Áron Lődi, Zsolt Miklósvölgyi, and myself, we are honoured and deeply grateful to Diana McCarty, Geert Lovink, and János Sugár for entrusting us with the responsibility of continuing the tradition of MetaForum. It is an immense privilege to contribute to this legacy.

Finally, we hope that over the next two days, MetaForum X proves to be more than just a platform for discussing the notion of crisis or PermaCrisis. We aim for it to be a site of action – a space where we confront, challenge, and resist the very conditions that create crises in cultural production and beyond. The conversations, debates, and exchanges that unfold here will not only deepen our understanding of these global and local crises but, we hope, also spark new pathways for navigating and perhaps even transcending them.




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