Most of you might know KISMIF as a synonym of KISMIF Project or KISMIF Conference. However, KISMIF has a long story that goes beyond and starts before KISMIF Project (2012 – ) and KISMIF Conference (2014 – ). We have to go back to 2005 when Paula Guerra started her PhD on Portuguese alternative rock – A instável leveza do rock. Génese, dinâmica e consolidação do rock alternativo em Portugal (1980-2010) [The unstable lightness of rock. Genesis, dynamics and consolidation of alternative rock in Portugal (1980-2010)] (+info), opening a new field of study and research in Portugal within the sociology of culture, arts and music. This was then the first step towards the construction of a research line that grew and developed with the project Keep it simple, make it fast! Prolegómenos e cenas punk, um caminho para a contemporaneidade portuguesa (1977-2012) [Prolegomenons and punk scenes, a path to Portuguese contemporaneity (1977-2012)] from which the KISMIF Conference (+info) was born.
What started in 2014 as an international academic, cultural, and artistic event based in the city of Porto (Portugal), focused on discussing and sharing information about underground cultures, DIY practices, urban arts and other related topics, has become a network, a research community that brings together international researchers – from all over the world – and artists who relate and work on DIY and underground cultures.
In this website, you will find information about all the projects, products, activities and events that were or are being organised by KISMIF Community. We believe that this is a way to continue and reinforce the ethos and praxis that has guided us over these years – transforming the do-it-yourself into the do-it-together.