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
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.
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
Comments
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What's happening in Glasgow
15.12.2004 12:29
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"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
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JP
Glasgow
15.12.2004 13:34
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
Vinnie
e-mail:
sivinnie@yahoo.com
Homepage:
http://stuffit.org/nursery
Manchester Social centre report
16.12.2004 11:41
with pictures
fwd
GAP Christmas Appeal
17.12.2004 12:04
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
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
e-mail:
gapchristmasappeal@hotmail.co.uk
Homepage:
http://www.glasgow-autonomy.org
56a Infoshop back with a bang
17.12.2004 15:14
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
guns don't kill people, squatters do
SWALLOW IT III
23.12.2004 19:37
ANDREW
alternative fashion week
23.12.2004 20:07
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