note 76

76 Cultural centres can become key players in the democratic process, as became evident in the 1990s in Eastern Europe. After the Berlin Wall came down in November 1989, the Soros Foundation intentionally funded several media centres, conferences and networks to facilitate input into the democratic processes that were taking place following the breakdown of the communist states. During the Yugoslav War, for example, B92^*, an independent radio station and media centre, was crucial in spreading independent news during the war years. After many years of collaboration between the many initiatives, in 1999, a ‘cultural backbone’ was founded with the support of the European Commission, including media centres from a variety of east and west European countries.