The idea of Infoespai was born in order to have a sustainable base for the co-ordination of resources for social movements. This project aimed to become a venue where a desired society could be invented and reinvented on the way, offering real alternatives, experimented through independent and sustainable projects to create and share resources. The project started in March 2003. It was consolidated when the venue was inaugurated in November 2003.

This venue of three hundred square metres, gave birth to the physical platform for social movements to spread information and to become a meeting point and workspace. It also constitutes a central info point (Infoshop) both for general public and activists.

Infoespai firmly believes in the culture of networking as a way to pursue a more inclusive form of politics and society that counteracts the hierarchic societies we live in. It also intends to be an alternative seed to conventional political approaches, through assembly-based, horizontal, and network-oriented forms of interaction, that hold values of diversity, radical democracy and autonomy at its heart.

In a social context of privatised information, where access to knowledge means power, Infoespai aims at providing general access to means for the free spread of ideas throughout collectives and individuals, heavily relying on Copyleft principles.

Thus, Infoespai offers practical tools for access and reproduction of information. These tools constitute the services that Infoespai provides, including working and meeting spaces, printing and (digital) copying services, internet access, web-hosting and e-mail services (through the server moviments.net) and documentation. Infoespai also runs an Infoshop that contains a small bookshop annex internet-space, with cd's/dvd's, alternative magazines, books and newspapers.

In addition to these services, the philosophy of the Infoespai is reflected into other specific political projects. Their foundations in terms of political action strategy, are Communication, Alternative Economy and Education. These themes are believed to crosscut all the endeavours that are taken up in any initiative that aims to make a real change.

Through the alternative economy project, Infoespai actively engages to facilitate alternative economic relations that challenge the exclusive exchange-mechanisms of the capitalistic society. Its principal goal is to provide a social market that is socially useful, environmentally sustainable and which promotes fair production.

The project on Education aims at spotting the skills of social movements’ participants and facilitating collective learning for skill-sharing. Much knowledge within social movements is hidden. So bringing it to the front and making skill-sharing possible through workshops and courses, is among the priorities of Infoespai.

New plans are currently in development concerning information-services. Nearly, have become available to start with a service to provide ADSL internet-access. The idea is to have as many participants as possible, in order to collectively lower the burden of cost of internet-access. In addition, a wireless network of free internet-access in Barcelona is emerging.

There is also an emerging group on the cultural-political aspects of the Infoespai that intends to tackle gender-relations to strengthen the idea of an inclusive Infoespai that mirrors diversity. In the Infoespai the supposed masculine dimension of efficiency are overshadowing other so-called feminine and emotional dimensions, which are more focussed on processes of the daily working culture than on outcomes alone.

Another thriving project is the new group on 'precariat' and immigration. Though officially not started yet, the working-group has been activated for setting up an information-desk on work and housing in Barcelona; to supply legal advice and information. It should also provide information on immigrant rights.

Links:
www.infoespai.org
www.moviments.net
www.moviments.info