The Open Spaces Network (Szabad Terek Hálózata) was established in 2017 to fight against the shrinking spaces of civil society in Hungary. The goal of the network is to create more and more spaces where it is possible to talk freely about important topics that affect society and to organize sub-cultural events.
Our coalition, the Open Spaces Network works for a more open and more democratic society where people are not just free to be themselves, but they help each other, and are active citizens who build a solidarity-based, socially inclusive and sustainable society.
Our vision: We imagine a civil society where NGOs are strong, independent and operate their community spaces freely.
Our mission: In order to achieve this, the network:
- changes mindsets, so that more and more people realize that they are free
- strengthens its own operations (operationally and financially) and involves more members
- effectively shares knowledge within the network and attracts necessary knowledge from outside
- motivates and supports its members to collaborate at different levels and between levels
- gives its members a sense of community and security
- puts emphasis on the representation of socially important themes and the need for alternative culture to be given adequate space
Currently we have a membership of 58 organizations, including nationwide NGOs, local NGOs community spaces, art groups and independent media outlets. Our members come from 8 Hungarian cities: Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Szeged, Pécs, Zalaegerszeg, Szombathely, Kecskemét and Budapest.
In case you would like to know more details about our work please contact us at: info@szabadterek.hu