07/02/2025

Ostavinska is a gallery located in a former warehouse on public property, operating as part of Magacin, a self-organized and self-managed cultural center in Belgrade (Serbia).

Read more about the case #8

The Ostavinska Gallery in Belgrade, a research conducted by Miljana Milojković, Ares Kalandides, Bastian Lange, and Georgios Thodos. 

Magacin was initiated in 2007 by artistic and cultural collectives and non-profit organizations. Since 2016, the gallery is housed in one of three buildings that make up Magacin. Alongside Ostavinska, these spaces are used to support the practices and productions of various users, addressing the diverse needs of different art forms and social groups requiring spatial resources.

A key element of Magacin is its focus on cultural exchange, social cohesion, and community organizing, prioritizing the creation of an ecosystem that upholds democratic principles, equitable use of shared resources, solidarity, and cultural diversity.

The distinctive feature of both the gallery and the cultural center is the implementation of the “Open Calendar Model,” which allows organizations, collectives, and individuals engaged in art, culture, and social activism to access resources. The only requirements for interested parties are that they do not charge an entrance fee and that they organize events in alignment with the values promoted by Magacin.

The primary beneficiaries of Ostavinska are those who most need these resources—non-governmental organizations and emerging young artists. Since its inception, all members of the Management and Operational bodies have worked on a voluntary basis, driven by a passion for supporting artists and the community.

The Magacin Users’ Assembly is the main governing body of the center, composed of all regular users (individuals, collectives, NGOs) of the space. The Assembly is responsible for managing the space, making decisions on activities, development, maintenance, usage conditions, and joint actions. Decision-making is highly participatory and horizontal, occurring during monthly assemblies as well as through both offline and online communication.

Ostavinska is managed by one of the five working groups of Magacin. These groups include the Users’ Assembly Coordinator (who supports users and coordinates the activities and sessions of the assembly), the Technical Maintenance team, the PR team (communications), and the Photo Documentation team. The Coordinator and the Photo Documentation team receive symbolic financial compensation for their work, with the amount depending on Magacin’s current financial capacities.

The Association of the Independent Culture Scene of Serbia represents Magacin and advocates for its status as a space for independent culture and social engagement. Until Magacin’s legal status is formally established, ICSS will represent the center, participate in projects on its behalf, and ensure its visibility and presence within other networks and initiatives, alongside the Assembly of regular users.”

The financial model of Magacin relies on donations from users, friends of Magacin, and citizens. All users of the space are encouraged to allocate a portion of their project proposal budgets for the maintenance of Magacin.

The core values of Magacin are equality and fairness, professionalism, participation, cooperation, accessibility, financial transparency, respect, and social change.

One of the main challenges Magacin has faced since its inception is the unresolved issue of the legalization of the space. Numerous attempts have been made by various political parties and cultural policy actors to take control of Magacin, alter its purpose, or establish agreements that do not align with the values of its users.

Have you also encountered legislative challenges? Would you like to share your experience?