The initiative for the Independent Social centre is a social movement that appeared as a reaction to:

• Nonexistence of space in Novi Sad for individuals and groups engaged in activities important for the community.
• Lack of available space for citizenship to engage in independent, social, sports, educational and cultural activities.
• Lack of space for interactive meetings of aforementioned individuals and organizations.
• Limited range of options, regarding spending quality time, all integrated in one place.

The Initiative was founded by associations of citizens, informal groups and prominent individuals, active in the field of creativity, education, humanitarian work, environmental protection, sustainable development, activism, working with children, youth, persons with disabilities, Roma and other sensitive groups.

The independent Social Centre is:

• A meeting and gathering place of the citizens of Novi Sad;
• A place of creation, freedom and innovation;
• A place where knowledge is exchanged and new experiences gained through learning and practice;
• A place of personal and mutual development;
• A place of interactive exchange of experiences and active participation of the citizens in the social life of Novi Sad;
• A place where support is given to everyone who contributes to the development of social community;
• The place where everyone can actively spend their free time;
• A place of cultural development;
• The place which we can develop and manage only together.

The Initiative for the Social Center is a social movement with the goal of founding the Social Center in Novi Sad. The need for such a center has arisen as a consequence of a lack of similar spaces for individuals and groups whose activities benefit the local community, as there is no space for independent cultural, sport, educational and social activities, or any other location which could make various contents for spending quality free time possible.

Although the shortage of and the need for a new public space had been noted before, the citizens have finally gathered to transform the need into action. What makes the Initiative exceptional is that we have recognized the same aspirations amongst us, we have mobilized them into meaningful action and we will use this synergy to create an open space for public encounters and exchange.

Early in the morning of January 13^th 2012 the military police accompanied by the magistrate proceeded to evacuate the Social Centre activists and their guests from the former “Dr Archibald Reiss” barracks in Novi Sad.

This action has abruptly and violently put an end to the entire programme of the Social Centre.

Let us not forget that in the mere 22 days during which the “ Dr Archibald Reiss” barracks was home to the Social Centre (from December 22^nd 2011 to January 13^th 2012) it has hosted 18 educational, creative and humanitarian workshops, 12 music programmes, 9 public discussions and round tables, 6 film and video programmes, 3 art exhibitions, 5 literary programmes, 5 performances and 17 sports and recreational programmes. The Social Centre has also hosted several charitable events during which the New Year’s gifts were made for and delivered to the children of the Novi Sad Drop-in Centre. A group of enthusiasts had taken upon themselves to clean and adapt the building for the Centre’s needs and had been doing so daily, as well as preparing meals for everyone free of charge.

The Initiative for the Independent Social Center is a social movement whose aim is to create a social center in this city. Everyone working in favor of this cause share common interests and needs for a new public place that would contribute to the development of the local, in the first place, and then the global social community, thus enabling everyone engaged in the activities of social benefit to bring their ideas and programs to life. Finding a public space to serve this purpose is by no means easy, which we discussed in detail with the organizers and the editorial staff of the Center. 

Social Centre „occupied“ the space of Art Klinika in Novi Sad on February 15. On this occasion, the artist Bojan Dakić had his „Chipsy Gypsy“ performance. With this performance and with the series of collage he examines the position of the Romani national minority, emphasizing the distorted bases of consumer society development.

HUMANITARIAN ACTION OF SHARING WARM CLOTHES TO THE MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS HAS ENDED SUCCESSFULLY

On February 20, 2012 the action initiated on February 8 by Social Centre and Radio 021 was finished. The goal of this action was helping citizens who had been most affected by this extremely harsh winter.

The citizens ofNovi Sadhad supported the action by bringing warm clothes, shoes and blankets to the rooms of Radio Cafe. Apart from the individual donations, certain groups of citizens organized themselves in their buildings and collected help together. Kolo Srpskih Sestara association and Vojvodina Water Polo Club also joined the action.

Social Centre in the Italian Cultural Centre, February 18, 2012 - Ecological Masks Workshop, second Saturday