London- New Occupied Social Centre!!

31.01.2006 01:28 | Free Spaces | London

EX-SSEES Occupied Social/political Centre – 21 Russell Square, London WC1

//Closed Circuit City

Evermore spaces for students are being regulated by commercial interests, mediating so-called public and common space for the benefit of expanding markets and profits. Our ability to participate and interact on our terms, with our environment has been severely undermined. Leisure time becomes an extension of work, studying is quantified by our ability to assimilate and conform to uniformed timetables, common rooms are designated ‘financially not viable’, whilst the bars become corporate money-makers. But not just in universities, all around us, the enclosure of public spaces is ongoing and being resisted.

//SSEES seized!

As the New Year started, a new occupation began. The former School of Slavonic and Eastern European Studies (SSEES) located at 21-22 Russell Square, London which had been vacated some months previous, was occupied by students and non-students, aiming to create free accommodation, denied by speculative property prices and in refusal of the debt trap exacerbated by the creeping privatisation of education. We seized what has been denied, and we don’t seek to re-create private property, but rather, to realise a new radical, public space for all.

Following on from and inspired by previous occupations for use as social centres in London and further a field, our dream is to actively involve not just ourselves but everyone who seeks and is willing to participate in a reformation of space, contesting that space for the development of collective social and political needs.

We reject all forms and systems of domination and discrimination including, but not limited to, patriarchy, racism and religious fundamentalism of all creeds. We organise collectively and welcome people to come and contribute ideas and energy to the time and space we have at SSEES. We hope to re-make our world for the benefit and enjoyment of all. We welcome you to get involved!

Ex- SSEES Occupied social centre, Jan 30th 2006

EXTRA! EXTRA! LAUNCH EVENT SATURDAY 4th FEB

Extravanga of political presentations, urban contestation of space and the finest underground DJ's from 7pm....more info soon

Additions

UPDATE

02.02.2006 01:14

SSEES Launch Flyer

Flyer

SSEES'er

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

A few photos from the opening bash..

05.02.2006 17:46

The first band on

Heads-down-no-nonsense-boogie

Moshing in the fish tank

Arofish loves you all

Can anyone tell me the name of the band?

Thanks,

Iain x

Nymph0
Homepage: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24316473@N00/

band

06.02.2006 12:34

The band are called Kensifella

http://www.kensifella.co.uk/

Dirty capitalists

08.02.2006 20:07

It's a lovely space, seems really sorted already and the party was a huge success but I was surprised to find Rampart flogging patches on a stall in the cafe which seemed a bit cheeky to say the least. Somebody said they were asked to pack up so obviously the people running the new space weren't amused either. Stupidly over priced hippy shit too!

Rau

There were two bands that night!!

09.02.2006 15:43

Yo kids, there was more than one band that crazy night. Kensifella played first with some psycho sh*t and then Atomic Maggots (that's us) wiggled about in pools of beer and filth. After us there was a guy with a guitar but i don't know his name. Cheers again for the night. See you next time we can get out of Paris.

Mac
mail e-mail: contact@atomicmaggots.com

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