Before we can talk about sustainable cultural spaces, we have to confront the reality that many ACPs are not sustainable at all. Cultural centers often disappear not because of environmental decay or community apathy, but due to direct opposition—political, economic, or ideological.

Long Winter from Toronto, NGBG in Malmö and IZOLYATSIA in Donetsk and Kyiv all lost their physical homes to such forces. In Malmö, the site became a trendy venue; in Donetsk, it was transformed into a Russian-run torture center. These examples highlight the fragility of cultural initiatives and how quickly they can be erased or repurposed by dominant powers. In such conditions, long-term sustainability becomes a luxury. What’s needed are urgent, radical, and flexible responses to survive in a world marked by displacement, hostility, and impermanence.

This prototype aims to explore and inventory the mobility and resilience strategies that ACPs have implemented to embrace displacement and the lack of space.​ In response to the challenges faced by cultural organizations, Alter-Places project presents a comprehensive database prototype dedicated to mobile cultural infrastructure. This resource serves as a centralized repository, cataloging adaptable and transportable cultural facilities that already exist, including modular stages, mobile galleries, and portable theaters. By providing detailed information on these versatile assets, the database empowers cultural practitioners to sustain and expand their activities beyond traditional venues, fostering resilience and innovation within the cultural sector.​

Elements included in the prototype: a database of with 42 (to date - June 2025) mobile and temporary infrastructures

Number of people involved: 5

Competencies required: database expertise, web development, domain-specific knowledge, information gathering & curation

Development time: 4 months

Estimated budget: 2000€