ACADEMIA NON GRATA

MANIFESTO AND MAIN FOUNDATIONS FOR THE ACTIVITY OF NON GRATA

1. The activity of Non Grata is collective.

a. The activities connected to the structure of Non Grata are decided collectively. All the forms of performing be it in performances, installations, video performances or expositions are decided collectively. All the solutions in the form of joint calls are binding for the nongrata members within the framework of joint and general principles of activity and ethical beliefs.
b. The aim of the nongrata’s collective activity is the genesis of a synergy, which we consider one of the major components in the creative process.
c. The aim of practical joint activities connected to the structure of nongrata is the maintenance of the structure’s physical and mental environment. Human resources will be implemented according to the structural needs and members’ personal characteristics.
d. The authorship of the collective work of nongrata is collective. The outcome and the recordings of nongrata’s actions belong to the Non Grata archives. Exhibition of a work, changes in the right of ownership and presentations in the media are possible after a collective ruling on the topic.
e. Non Grata members are considered to be people who are at a given moment directly or indirectly connected to the activity of Non Grata, who adhere to the requirements and internal procedure rules (Appendix 1) of nongrata, while expressing their wish to do so and while acknowledging their role within the structure of Non Grata.
f. Hierarchical ranks do not exist in the collective of Non Grata. All the members are considered equal regardless of the membership duration, age, rank in the Academy Non Grata etc.
g. Authority is enforced only according to the creative activity and humane resources implemented within the structure.


2. The activity of Non Grata is anonymous.

a. The creative authorship of Non Grata is collective, i.e. the individuals perform anonymously within the collective.
b. The primary goals of the activity of Non Grata are experimental creative environment and the aim of staying in the process. The activity of Non Grata is to be interpreted only via the creative process. The anonymity releases a creative person from one’s career centred orientation and duress position and enables the formation of a melting pot of unlimited ideas.
c. Ideas that were born and realised during the Non Grata actions belong collectively to the grouping itself. Within the Non Grata grouping the idea and not its authorship always stands on the primary position. The members of Non Grata are free to use anonymously each other’s ideas, verbal expressions and body in the interest of the structure’s experimental inter-grouping environment within the unlimited amount.
d. It is forbidden to use Non Grata’s activities, ideas and verbal expressions outside the grouping itself in one’s own name or in connection with a single individual.
e. The members of Non Grata are free to perform in any name independently and individually outside the activities of the grouping.
f. Any artists or groupings of artists are free to join in Non Grata actions, they shall not be automatically deemed as nongrata members, but they shall assume anonymity from the general public during the period of the action.

3. Non Grata leads and coordinates the activities of the Academy Non Grata.

ANG is an alternative conceptual institution of higher education. An output of Non Grata’s educational politics. To avoid the idiocies of society’s educational politics, shadow organisations within the state’s educational system are used. The shadow organisations of the Academy Non Grata may receive situation-induced special authorisations to act in the public space that may deviate from NG’s main course.
Authorisations must be manifested during the establishment of the shadow structures and the people responsible for the activities of shadow structures are obliged to inform the public of such special authorisations in case of any public performances. The aim of the special authorisations may be only in the best interest of the principal activities of the grouping. (Clause 1.b; 1.c).
Shadow organisations cannot replace the Academy Non Grata. Being matriculated to the list of a shadow organisation does not automatically make one into a member of nongrata or a student of the Academy Non Grata. The students of the Academy Non Grata are those people who, in order to ensure the creative environment, have recognised the Academy Non Grata’s internal procedure rules and who work in the experimental, mental and physical environment in mutual communication with the structure.

4. Non Grata distances itself from the local art world, media and politics.

5. One of the Non Grata’s chief conditions is that the activity takes place in an environment free from mind-altering substances. It is forbidden to discuss matters of (the Academy) Non Grata and carry out performances in a state of being intoxicated either by drugs or alcohol.

6. One has to comply with the Non Grata internal procedure rules in order to stay and be active in the premises of the Academy Non Grata, Suur-Posti Street 16, Pärnu town. (See the Appendix 1). Compliance with the internal procedure rules is the bases for staying on the premises.
Every resident is responsible for maintaining of the creative environment in the premises as well as for requiring compliance with the internal procedure rules from the others. The internal procedure rules have been written in order to ensure the purposeful practicing of NG’s chief activities.








Appendix 1

INTERNAL PROCEDURE RULES OF THE ACADEMY NON GRATA:

1. The rooms of Suur-Posti 16 are the premises of Non Grata and people not involved in the process may stay there only in concordance with the composition of the members and on the responsibility of the person in question. The guests must comply 100% with the internal procedure rules and the person with whose permission they stay in the house is held responsible for their doings.

2. It is forbidden to use mental or physical violence towards fellow students or the composition of the members of NG.

3. It is absolutely forbidden to use alcohol or narcotics on the school premises.

4. It is forbidden to stay on the school premises while being noticeably intoxicated either by drugs or alcohol. The rule applies to the whole composition of the NG members, regardless of the hierarchical status. It is allowed to organise get togethers with consumption of mind altering substances only in general accordance and approval, in case the party is under supervision of the organiser and is not in conflict with the first part of the Clause 4.

5. Smoking takes place in the room prescribed for it. It is forbidden to smoke in the general premises.

6. The holders clean their own studios. The leader of the course is held responsible for the cleaning. Cleaning of the general premises takes place according to a schedule. The general premises are the corridor, the toilet, the computer room, the kitchen and the hall. The general premises are to be cleaned according to need, but they must be wiped not less that 3 times a week and washed not less than twice a week. The last cleaning must take place at the end of one’s cleaning period.

7. Everyone has to dispose his or her own garbage. There is no such thing as general garbage.

8. The corridor door must generally be closed, in the evenings after 6 pm. also the front door of the house will be closed.

9. The school personnel should have copies of all the studio keys.

10. Lending of technical equipment takes place according the rules of lending of technical equipment.

11. The students have to take home their personal works and things after each semester and academic year. It is allowed to leave the best works in the school warehouse for exhibition activity.

12. It is forbidden to eat in the computer room, video room and auditorium.

13. The inhabitants of the house are obliged to participate in the voluntary collective maintenance works and do current repairs in the house.

14. Compliance with the internal procedure rules is compulsory for all the inhabitants and is proportional to the right of use of the room.