Syndicate: Terminal Bar Praha

[Danny Holman <video@terminal.cz>]

After 2 years of rumours, the Terminal Bar internet cafe finally opened
it's doors in Prague, Czech Republic in December 1997.
The Terminal Bar is a multi-media cafe incorporating a bar and cafe,
internet surfing, a book & magazine store and a video rental department. It
also has a small performance space to hold events and is actively carrying
out a cultural agenda beyond the confines of the walls of the bar itself.
At the core of the Bar's ideology is the concept of information exchange
through the various media at it's disposal. With the rapid globalization of
Eastern Europe following the collapse of communism, the Bar is aiming to
become a passionate, contradictory, radical cultural force for "fringe and
underground culture" (words which are used uncomfortably) to show that
alternatives are viable and available. This agenda is deeply entrenched in
iconoclasm and change. But it is the change typified by David Cerny
painting a Soviet tank pink in Prague in 1989 rather than the cliches and
limitations of black-clad anarchistic counter-culture.

The Terminal Bar is a privately funded venture run on a market-based
economy i.e. it has to sell coffee, books and surfing time to survive. It
receives no funding. This maintains independence, keeps it on it's toes and
allows a close hands-on interaction with the public. The Terminal
Foundation has also been established as a non-profit organization to host
events.  Outside funding is sometimes sought for larger scale events
through this foundation.
Previous actions have included on-line documentation of the Ars Electronica
1997 and the the Conference for New Media at the Prague Castle 1997, a tour
of Czech Republic by authoress/performer Lydia Lunch, cult film screenings
and the the enabling of the first ISDN transmission of a live event between
Czech Republic and abroad with a live DJ set from The End club in London.
In the immediate future, Terminal Bar is inviting cyberartist Stelarc to
Prague for his first visit to give a presentation of his work on 24th
September and is organizing a programme of underground films for the Prague
Indies Film Festival in October.

The Terminal Bar is eager to establish links with like-minded organizations
and individuals across Europe and beyond and would welcome feedback,
interaction and exchange.

Contact information:
Daniel Holman - Media Manager
Terminal Bar, Soukenicka 6, Praha 110 00, Czech Republic
tel (4202) 21871 115
fax (4202) 21871 910
email video@terminal.cz
http://www.terminal.cz