new north london occupied social centre

rikki | 26.04.2007 13:07 | Culture | Free Spaces | London

the old mountview theatre school site in crouch end is opening its doors to the public on sunday the 29th april after being abandoned by the drama school now based in wood green. the new social centre benefits from a small theatre, which can be converted for cinema nights, as well as exhibition space, large workshop spaces, a bar and kitchen, and residential area.

project 104 in leafy crouch hill

the ex-mountview theatre school

yep folks, a real theatre!

the launch party for this exciting new art community starts at 5pm on sunday and will be a showcase of talent featuring an art exhibition, live art, cabaret, bands, and film. there will be a wide range of music with a confirmed line-up of hip-hop, folk, electro, and indy. full details to follow.

there will be food and drink and entry is by donation.

members of project 142 and the 491 gallery are among the organisers of this new community which will be called "project 104" as it is situated at 104 crouch hill, london n8.

future usage and events are still in the planning stage - ideas are welcome

nearest tube is finsbury park, from where you can walk 15 mins up stroud green road and over crouch hill. or catch the w7 bus from the wells terrace exit of the tube station. project 104 is just over the brow of the hill about halfway down on the right.
crouch hill silverlink station is a short walk away too (turn right out of station and walk over the hill).

call 07903 297199 for more info

rikki
e-mail: rikkiindymedia@googlemail.com

Comments

Hide the following 10 comments

The point being?

26.04.2007 17:16

oh god. Why not try Tottenham? No needs it too much.

I wonder what is the point of this. Not enough room in stoke newington?

andy

DIY

26.04.2007 18:23

hy Andy,
why don't you organize some meeting to talk about the needs of social centres in london and then you try to put together a group who is willing to occupy a building go in the area you and the group will think is most interesting and then open up to everyone,organizing stuff, and trying to not create a sub culture, but a new one, based on some genuine principal?

solidarity E4e

E4e

More please

26.04.2007 18:59

The more the merrier I reckon. Does take a lot of yer time up tho.

what type of social centre is this?

26.04.2007 19:05

There has been an almost parallel strand of people/collectives occupying buildings in London. On the one hand you have the Grandbanks/Institute For Autonomy/Square/Vortex plus the Autonomous Lab/Dalston Theatre/Lee Street and Ramparts and on the otherside 491 Gallery/142/Area 10 - types.

There does seem to be political differences which mean that these two scenes rarely interact - for good reasons? I don't know. Anyway congratulations with occupying the theatre and lets hope it doesn't just be dominated by "Art" but by some real concrete political action.

art?

26.04.2007 21:18

an arts space doesnt have to be non-political, any radical political project needs to build up a new culture and where better to start then a democratic space for expressing yourself through art ?

riku

but

26.04.2007 23:34

My point being is that those spaces start and end with Art. They are mainly spaces involved in cultural production, which is cool but limiting IF people are trying to build a movement against capitalism.

identifying local desires, open processes & good facilitation

27.04.2007 07:46

e4e said: "open up to everyone,organizing stuff"

and as said about the more art-based creative social centres: "My point being is that those spaces start and end with Art. They are mainly spaces involved in cultural production, which is cool but limiting IF people are trying to build a movement against capitalism".

I would say to preempt local people's involvement in the project, issues most important to them local people need to be identified and an event relating to that issue highly publicised and advertised and networked locally. In such a meeting, there needs to be an open process that involves them, with good facilitation, breaking down into groups to glean ways of moving forward and suggestions for action regarding the issue/issues discussed, feedback from each group to the whole meeting, final discussion to summarise ways forward, and then signposting by the facilitator of identified actions to take forward.

Marki

A bit of history

29.04.2007 17:24

Check out this article about the original founder of the Theatre, who died in 2004.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/07/15/db1503.xml

Josef
mail e-mail: josef@uniteddiversity.com
Homepage: http://uniteddiversity.com

Autistic centre

29.04.2007 17:29

According to Sedek (one of the people organising tonight's shenanigans) "the building is to be reconverted into an autistic center in a near future" but "for the time being, this amazzing venue is to be revived into a community
regeneration art project to enable artists & locals to experience a creative & healing journey together."

So I guess its only temporary, but might as well enjoy it while it lasts :)

Josef
mail e-mail: josef@uniteddiversity.com
Homepage: http://uniteddiversity.com

parachutist

30.04.2007 11:18

quote "issues most important to them local people need to be identified and an event relating to that issue highly publicised and advertised and networked locally"

Sounds like 'rebels in search of a cause". This is always funny when people have that 'us and the locals' - surely somebody is local. Do you squat local? Do you campaign local? Wot bollocks.

Anyway it has ben publicised on the HSG list being in Haringey and correct me if I am wrong that has a lot of local people doing stuff with local issues.

bob