EN
Through a number of case studies, this paper attempts to provide an overview of the conditions imposed by the cultural policy plus highlight the actual state and operation of the society with regard to Artist Run Initatives which were engaged with an ephemeral ’approach’ during the previous four decades of Hungarian culture. While trying to include some sociological facts, the text, mainly based on the responses of interviewed artists and some fundamental publications, attempts to shed light on the problem of connections between the concept of underground, avantgarde, progressive, official, mainstream and popular culture. The paper delineates the conditions in which the initiatives were formed, their history, pre-history and afterlife of some, subjectively chosen initiatives and groups. It attempts to provide an overview of the Artist Run Initiatives with mind to other fields of Arts.