By now everybody and everything has a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). But how can you assimilate the URL into your specific cultural practise? If you are thinking about getting one yourself and want to understand what it means to you or your project - here are some suggestions.

The URL is an address, just like any other. If you are situated in one of the many independent 'off' locations - hiding in the jungle of the urban cityscape - you might appropriate the physical search paths your friends, collaborators and visitors have to deal with when trying to find the right back yard, staircase, light switch or door bell. Ideally you should chose a university server and locate your homepage in the seventh subdirectory of the homepage of some fictional student. Make sure you include enough slashes, tildas and word puns to confuse the visitors an make it the journey that counts.

The URL is a logo, just like any other. If you are part of one of the many independent 'off' projects who decided to play the corporate game by inventing logos, labels and a corporate identity, you should get your own domain name registered. That way you are free from any association with other projects on the server you are situated on. You can build freely on the ground of the www, the roots level of the net. If you play your corporate cards right, you might even get confused with other institutions. Fun. This option is more expensive, but still cheaper than renting a shop.

The URL is an institution, just like any other. If you are part of one of the many independent 'off' organisations who managed to gain high credibility through independent and challenging cultural activities, you might chose to register a domain name for your own use and host other projects. Then you are an institution yourself, the missing link between Bourgeoisie and Bohemia. There are two kinds of institutional hierarchies: 'very' and 'almost not at all'. That can be solved with fonts, links and layout. Attention: the role of the institution is not clearly resolved in the world out there - play it safe and look bohemian yourself!

Janko Vook [janko.vook@art-bag.net]