The idea for hEXPO, say its organisers, comes from critical observation of the existing models of festivals in Central Europe. ?Those festivals have mostly a representational character: they (re)present art and knowledge rather than spreading it.?In contrast, hEXPO functions as an intermediary platform between self-organised creative individuals and independant producers of cultural events ? allowing them to research and demonstrate new fields for implementing strategies of new media practice. In the place of representation, compressed and reduced to the period of a couple of days, hEXPO presents events in their natural duration. The participants have an opportunity to get to know each other and establish collaborations, all within the frame of a particular local space. The schedule allows participlants to integrate in the local environment and intensively take part in workshops, lectures and symposia.?A large segment of active culture in the region of Central and South-Eastern Europe,? write the organisers, ?especially the independent production, has a constant need for fresh influx of information and knowledge. The existing sources - mostly the traditional models of festivals, symposia and public events - cannot provide it on a regular basis. A festival of a different sort,

in the form of a free university, can accelerate processes of cultural self-organisation, education and exchange.?This year?s hEXPO is running from August 17 - September 15, in Maribor, Ljubljana and Koper in Slovenia.  Primary areas of knowledge exchange covered at this year?s hEXPO will be digital audio/video production, web design and construction, streaming media, network administration, radio production, media activism, artistic co-ordination/collaboration, and topics on progressive political and social advancement.   The cities involved will be connected by the internet and events from each city will be transmitted via audio and visual streaming. For details and information, please visit the website:http://www.radiostudent.si/mzx/hexpo/Don?t forget to mention the ninfo when you call!