rap-present

rap-present is a volunteer-run youth initiative whose activities focus on the world of hip-hop. rap-present currently comprises nearly 20 youth and young adults, supported by about 10 helpers.Our website www.rap-present.de features a database that allows artists everywhere to publicize their services completely free of charge, and is also intended to function as a booking platform.The local groups see their purpose in organizing events and representing the interests of the hip-hop culture towards institutions and other groups from outside the scene. Just recently we were nominated for the Echt gut! prize for voluntary work in Baden-Wrttemberg sponsored by the State government.Events to date have included battles, jams, a hip-hop film festival, the open debate "Graffiti = Art? which brought together representatives of the city administration, the world of art and the graffiti scene.In addition, we have established a meeting place on Wednesdays at the Jugendhaus West youth centre, where active artists can simply talk and spend time together, and in 2005 we took part in the international hip-hop festival in Turino/Italy. We also look after the Graffiti Hall of Fame in Stuttgart, and act as a broker for graffiti jobs. At our monthly Club we support young DJs from our database.For 2006 a number of events are already in the pipeline, as well the expansion of local groups to the cities Hamburg, Berlin and Dresden, and the countries Serbia and Bosnia.