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Autonomous Spaces in 2004

ben | 15.12.2004 03:15 | Culture | Free Spaces | London

This last year has been a pretty active and productive year for the social centres movement in the UK...

At the begining of the year, the Wombles occupied 93 Fortess Rd for several months before moving into the ex-Grand Banks in Tufnell Park. Both occupations saw successfully resistance against eviction and were highly successful and popular. After eviction in August the wombles took a break to concentrate on the 'Beyond ESF event' but they'll be back in 2005.

Perhaps also to return in 2005, Use Your Loaf, an ex-bakery in Deptford which had been occupied as a centre for social solidarity since summer 2002, but was finally evicted in September. Currently without a building, the collective has remained active and are having a xmas party this coming Friday.

Also having a party on the Friday 17th AND Saturday 18th Dec, the 'rampART' in East London [details] . The building opened around six months ago and has been host to a wide variety of political and cultural events. To celebrate and raise funds to cover bills, there is a two day festival with bands, workshops, DJs, fashion show, VJs, films etc. Full details on www.rampart.co.nr

In Birmingham, a disused nursey was occupied and is now on the verge of possible eviction. Last week saw resistance against eviction (see photo) and we await news. http://stuffit.org/nursery/

Oxford enjoyed a series of three short lived squatted social centres using the name OCSET. All were quickly evicted but there will certainly be another openned in 2005.

ramPARTY flyer - please distribute
ramPARTY flyer - please distribute


The term 'autonomous spaces' exploded into peoples consciousness during the ESF period and many attending were profoundly inspired by the autonomous space and associated projects.

In Hunguary a vast supermarket in the centre of Budapest which had been empty since 2001 was occupied just days after people returned home inspired from the ESF in London. Plans were to create a social and cultural space and a place to organise established projects such as food not bombs, indymedia, and other cultural and political collectives. They recieved a great deal of media attention and were evicted just two weeks later. There are many abandoned buildings in Budapest plus 30,000 homeless people but this was the first squat for a long time. Hopefully not the last! (http://www.squat.net/en/news/centrum_budapest081104.html)

Also opened in october, the Maelstrom Anti-Repression infosquat in Leeds.
An attempt to launch discussion , criticism and action against surveilance, new technologies of control, prisons and the panoptikon society. http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/leedsbradford/2004/11/300990.html
Subjects covered have included nanotechnology, biometrics, new repressive laws, security culture, CCTV, ID Cards, the draft mental health bill, the prison society and prisoner support. Maelstrom is still going strong and will certainly be an ongoing project for 2005, perhaps in a bigger building.

Other squatted social centres and similar projects in 2004  included In Arms Reach just off Oxford Street in central London which provided a one-off  week-long series of workshops, films and gigs. In north London, the AUTONOMOUS LAB in Chalk Farm Road, had an interesting evolution since it's orginal openning by London Rising Tide for a one week alternative art gallery. The space continued to function as a political space and resisted eviction in August. It expanded into a second building but suffered ongoing disruption and violence from a local gang. The recent Indymedia London party after the anarchist bookfare made use of a squatted theatre in North London which continues to be used a community project space.

There are many other autonomous social centres that have been established much longer, such as the Sumac centre in Nottingham, the 1in12 in Bradford, LARC and Freedom in East London, 56a in South London, the Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, Kebele in Bristol, and the Cowley Club in Brighton - all of which are purchased spaces and always in need your active support.

previous related features:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/08/296935.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/05/291924.html

ben

Comments

Hide the following 9 comments

What's happening in Glasgow

15.12.2004 12:29

If folk are interested about what is going on in Glasgow, with the Glasgow Autonomous Project, which will be opening a permanent centre early net year we run an email update list which puts out information on ongoing projects and events of interest to supporters, as well as keeping people up to date on what we're up to.

To receive these weekly news updates please email
 glasgowautonomyupdates-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

To stop receiving them please email
 glasgowautonomyupdates-unsubscribe@lists.riseup.net

***

"We strive for a sustainable society where all people are free to live their lives as they see fit without fear of oppression, persecution or marginalization insofar as this does not prevent others from doing the same. We see this fulfilled thru a society built upon principles of co-operation, solidarity, mutual-aid, direct democracy and freedom of association."

We are trying to raise money to buy premises for a radical community centre and organisational space to advance our aims of building a new society, as outlined above. If you would like to contribute to the project financially please note the following details. We are looking for one-off donations as well as standing orders and all regular supporters will be sent a regular newsheet about what we are up to
and what your help has enabled us to do.

Account Name: "Printworks"
Sort Code: 11 47 21
Account Number: 00026891
Halifax / Bank of Scotland

JP


Glasgow

15.12.2004 13:34

In Glasgow we had a temporary space, rented from the council (squatting is illegal in Scotland) from May until July / August.

There were some problems with the project, especally towards the end, but it was also very positive. We were open every day, with an anarchist book shop / library area, calendar of events taking place all over Glasgow organised by different groups, served tea and coffee, and loads of different groups had meetings, public events and workshops in the space.

We are currently fundraising to buy a permanent space, which we hope to have within 6 months.

There is also now another Glasgow social centre project, with slightly different aims and focus, the G42 collective, which we in GAP are very pleased about - the more the merrier!

Alice
- Homepage: http://www.glasgow-autonomy.org/


Update on Brum Social Centre

15.12.2004 15:54

Just to say that we successfully resisted the eviction attempt that was planned for friday - the baliffs didn't actually turn up as they had concerns about evicting us without a police presence while we we're all dressed in santa suits!! But baliffs aside it seems like division within the council, more positive local press coverage and some effective last minute lobbying led to the city's economic development department being told to back off by their political masters - at least until after xmas!! Party anyone . . . ? ?

Vinnie
mail e-mail: sivinnie@yahoo.com
- Homepage: http://stuffit.org/nursery


Manchester Social centre report

16.12.2004 11:41

On Indymedia Germany:  http://germany.indymedia.org/2004/12/101513.shtml
with pictures

fwd


GAP Christmas Appeal

17.12.2004 12:04

Merry Christmas From GAP!

Dear friends,
As many of you may be aware the Glasgow Autonomous Project is
currently trying to raise funds for the set-up of a radical centre. As part of our fundraising activities we are putting together a series of spectacular Christmas
offers to help you celebrate the festive season.

We have on offer an excellent range of wreaths and garlands available for
order, making the best use of sustainable, locally sourced, evergreen
plants, which have traditionally been used at this time of year to
symbolize hope. We hope that you will appreciate our craftsmanship, and
consider us this Christmas.

We ask you to think about purchasing your Christmas decorations from us,
which we feel justified in saying are the best ethical alternative to
spending your money buying expensive Christmas decorations down your
'local' Tescos or Walmart. Not only just hand-made, to high standards,
GAP decorations offer real value for money and you know that 100% of all
our profits will go towards the purchase of a radical community space.

Give the world a present this Christmas - shop with GAP!


Wreaths from our 'hope' range:-

Evergreen Promise - £10.00 'A choice assortment of evergreen plants and
berries'

Laurel Profusion - £12.00 'A colourful array of laural and berries'

Winter Cheer - £12.00 'A traditional wreath incorporating holly,
berries and warmth'

Hedera - £12.00 'A well-structured profusion of ivy and winter
fruit'

Stylistica - £15.00 'A must-have, modern design, with real
Christmas sparkle'


Garlands (price per metre)::

Holly - £4.50

Ivy - £3.00

Everygreen - £3.00

laurel - £4.00


All orders should be sent to  gapchristmasappeal@hotmail.co.uk. Please
allow two to three days for delivery and enclose address and telephone
number. If you live outside of Glasgow please remember that we cannot
send orders any later than the 21st.

GAP member
mail e-mail: gapchristmasappeal@hotmail.co.uk
- Homepage: http://www.glasgow-autonomy.org


56a Infoshop back with a bang

17.12.2004 15:14

Re; the mention of 56a Infoshop..it reads as if it's in Bradford...we are actually in London...check our (fairly rubbish) www for details of our fantastic 13 year old squatted project now turned rented social centre (oh!)..or come on down and see what's up there...
www.56a.org.uk

ellenor highwater
- Homepage: http://www.56a.org.uk


Pictures and film of Brum Social Centre update

19.12.2004 18:24

For pictures and film of the Collective's Santa Reistance Eviction possee in full seasonal effect check out this post

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/12/302911.html

guns don't kill people, squatters do


SWALLOW IT III

23.12.2004 19:37

Gated Community Presents: 'Swallow It III': A night of Poetry, Noise and Visuals. Saturday 22 January 2005. Copies of The Polka Dot Ceiling #6-Poetry For The ****ed-on sale on the night. Donation not aggravation. 7.30pm Onwards@ RampArt, 15-17 Rampart Street E1 (Off Commercial Road).

ANDREW


alternative fashion week

23.12.2004 20:07

call for participation at the alternative fashion week to the posh 'london fashion week'
from 13.-17.2.05 at the rampart creative centre, 15-17 rampart street, whitechapel, E1 2LA
with workshops on:
campaigns against sweat shops in the fashion industry (yes it also happens in whitechapel as well),
campaigns against child labour in the fashion industry,
dictate of beauty of the models causing eating disorders on girls/women,
environnemental damage by the fashion industry,
the activist use of fashion, liberating fashion,
alternative materials like hemp,
recycling clothes- clothes recycling,
diy fashion (weaving, sewing, knitting, crocheting, millining, lingerie, cobbeling, screenprinting/stenciling...)
and fashion shows
reclaim the catwalk!!!

sailormars