RampART Social Centre
Encyclopedia
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 is managed by volunteers without any funding and with a strong emphasis on consensus decision making and DIY culture.
The centre was known 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 January 3, 2008. It was finally evicted on October 15, 2009.
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
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.
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.
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.
Squatting
Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
social centre in the Whitechapel
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
area of east London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 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 is managed by volunteers without any funding and with a strong emphasis on consensus decision making and DIY culture.
The centre was known 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
Eviction
How you doing???? Eviction is the removal of a tenant from rental property by the landlord. Depending on the laws of the jurisdiction, eviction may also be known as unlawful detainer, summary possession, summary dispossess, forcible detainer, ejectment, and repossession, among other terms...
from January 3, 2008. It was finally evicted on October 15, 2009.
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. 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 January 3, 2008.The day after the 2009 G-20 London summit protests
2009 G-20 London summit protests
The 2009 G-20 London summit protests occurred in the days around the G-20 summit on 2 April 2009, which was the focus of protests from a number of groups over various long-standing and topical issues...
, the rampART squat was raided by a large force of police. There were reports of violence and tasers pointed at unarmed people
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.
After the eviction, the collective, still named "the rampART collective", stayed together and temporarily moved to a new space in Walworth
Walworth
-Places:United Kingdom* Walworth, County DurhamUnited States* Walworth County, South Dakota* Walworth County, Wisconsin* Walworth, New York* Walworth, Wisconsin, a village* Walworth , Wisconsin, a town...
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
Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism is a trend of thought that favors equality of some sort among moral agents, whether persons or animals. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that equality contains the idea of equity of quality...
for all. Projects were run on an entirely voluntary basis by the people involved. They are not charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
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
Profit (economics)
In economics, the term profit has two related but distinct meanings. Normal profit represents the total opportunity costs of a venture to an entrepreneur or investor, whilst economic profit In economics, the term profit has two related but distinct meanings. Normal profit represents the total...
- 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
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
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.
Cultural activities
- Amateur theatreTheatreTheatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, artArtArt is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
installations, acousticAcoustic musicAcoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
concerts - FilmFilmA film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
nights every Thursday, poetryPoetryPoetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, photo exhibitions, political discussions and meetings
Skill sharing and workshops
- SambaSambaSamba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
, RadioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, JugglingJugglingJuggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
, BannerBannerA banner is a flag or other piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or other message. Banner-making is an ancient craft.The word derives from late Latin bandum, a cloth out of which a flag is made...
making, ComputerComputerA computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
training
Resource exchange and other projects
- Free shop, Info libraryLibraryIn a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, MediaMass mediaMass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
lab, WiFiWIFIWIFI is a radio station broadcasting a brokered format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA, the station is currently operated by Florence Broadcasting Partners, LLC.This station was previously owned by Real Life Broadcasting...
, InternetInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
access, Kitchen / CaféCaféA café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
. rampART has a good library of donated books, as well as a BookCrossingBookCrossingBookCrossing is defined as "the practice of leaving a book in a public place to be picked up and read by others, who then do likewise." The term is derived from bookcrossing.com, a free online book club which began in order to encourage the practice, aiming to "make the whole world a library."The...
zone.
Gatherings
- The Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown ArmyClandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown ArmyThe Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army is a United Kingdom-based anti-authoritarian left-wing activist group that uses clowning and non-violent tactics to act against corporate globalisation, war, and on other issues....
held training sessions at the centre. - During the Hugo ChávezHugo ChávezHugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
referendumReferendumA referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
there was a week long ‘Venezuela Solidarity’ event. - Conscious fashion week.
- A week-long series of talks, films, food and discussion about Africa.
- The festival for peace organised by the European Creative Forum and Peace Not War was accompanied by an afternoon of workshopWorkshopA workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools that may be required for the manufacture or repair of manufactured goods...
s at rampART. - During the European Social ForumEuropean Social ForumThe European Social Forum is a recurring conference held by members of the alter-globalization movement . In the first few years after it started in 2002 the conference was held every year, but later it became biannual due to difficulties with finding host countries...
the rampART opened its doors to accommodate over 50 European visitors as well as laying on free food and a huge range of entertainment. Additionally, as one of the European Social Forum autonomous spaces, rampART hosted the Home Education Forum and acted as homebase for the European Creative Forum and the Laboratory of Insurrectional Imagination. - Following the Anarchist Bookfair 2007 a fund raising party for No Borders was held at rampART.
- The UK Noborders Network held a gathering at rampART from 10–11 October 2009, only 7 days before the eviction.
Film nights
- Since the closure of The Other Cinema, Indymedia London has been using the rampART as a venue for a series of film festivals. These included 'Caminos De Resistencia' (Paths Of Resistance) and the Middle East Film Festival.
- There have also been non-Indymedia organised festivals including 'Positive Global Movements', a week long exhibition of inspiring stories of resistance around the world.
- Prior to its official debut, Michael MooreMichael MooreMichael Francis Moore is an American filmmaker, author, social critic and activist. He is the director and producer of Fahrenheit 9/11, which is the highest-grossing documentary of all time. His films Bowling for Columbine and Sicko also place in the top ten highest-grossing documentaries...
's Fahrenheit 911 was premiered at the rampART on the 4th July as part of an 'Independence FROM America’ themed evening. - 120 people squeezed into rampART's main room for a documentary about the McLibel trial and a sneak premiere of Super Size MeSuper Size MeSuper Size Me is a 2004 American documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker. Spurlock's film follows a 30-day period from February 1 to March 2, 2003 during which he eats only McDonald's food...
.