rampART

RampART Social Centre in Rampart Street, East London

The rampART was a squatted social centre in the Whitechapel area of east London, England. It was established in a derelict building in Rampart Street which was previously used as an Islamic school for girls. The centre run as a private members club providing a space for a wide range of groups to carry out their activities. Like all such projects, it was managed by volunteers without any funding and with a strong emphasis on consensus decision making and DIY culture.

The centre was variously known as the rampART social centre, the rampART creative centre and social space, or more commonly as rampART.

The centre lost a court case brought by the owner and awaited eviction from 3 January 2008. It was finally evicted on 15 October 2009. [1]

Developments at rampART

The rampART was open for five and a half years, hosting meetings, screenings, performances, exhibitions and benefit gigs. During that period the building and resources evolved to adapt to the demands of its users. In November 2007 property developers planned to partially demolish the squatted houses next to the social centre and build three new properties at the back.[2] The rampART itself was under no immediate threat and regular activities continued as normal; however in December 2007 the centre received eviction papers. The date for eviction was set at 3 January 2008.[3]

The day after the 2009 G-20 London summit protests, the rampART squat was raided by a large force of police. There were reports of violence and tasers pointed at unarmed people [4]

On 15 October 2009 rampART was evicted. 45 police officers, several bailiffs and a priest were present, and a chainsaw was used to enter the building. Climbers also used the roof as a means of access.[5]

After the eviction, the collective, still named "the rampART collective", stayed together and temporarily moved to a new space in Walworth in South London where they continue to hold weekly meetings.

Background

rampART was opened May 2004 and was located at 15-17 Rampart Street, London E1 2LA. The project was initiated by a mixture of artists, community groups and political activists. Within the first year, the building had hosted over 100 cultural and political events - placing the rampART firmly on the activist map of London.

The centre was run by an open collective as an autonomous space. It was open to all on the basis of equality for all. Projects were run on an entirely voluntary basis by the people involved. They are not charity workers or social workers. The projects were run in the spirit of co-operation, solidarity and mutual aid. It was not a commercial enterprise run for profit - instead it was funded day-to-day by donations given by the users, or by raising funds through benefit events such as gigs, cafés or film nights.

The rampART constitution states that:
The rampART is run collectively. Any one is free to get involved or make proposals relating to use of the space by come along to one of the weekly meetings which are held Mondays after 6pm. We attempt to make all major decisions relating use of the space by building a consensus, both out of a desire to avoid hierarchies and also in recognition that decisions are more likely to be carried out when decided by consensus.

Projects at rampART

Cultural activities

Skill sharing and workshops

Resource exchange and other projects

Events at rampART

Gatherings

Film nights

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ UK Indymedia - rampART on the defensive Archived 16 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ↑ UK Indymedia - Developers make their move on Rampart Street Archived 6 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ UK Indymedia - Developments at rampART Archived 21 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Archived 18 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Rampart Eviction – The Priest and the Chainsaw | rampART Archived 12 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ UK Indymedia - REBEL CLOWN TRAININGS BEGIN IN LONDON 4th APRIL Archived 15 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ UK Indymedia - Anarchist Bookfair 2007 Archived 23 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine

External links

Coordinates: 51°30′51″N 0°03′40″W / 51.5141°N 0.0611°W / 51.5141; -0.0611

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