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social centres project

OK the big daaa project of 2004 is all about social centres…

The later part of 2003 & beginning of 2004 been spent lurking around social centres to point a video camera & ask awkward questions… After many sporadic computer-tastic fun filled weeks in 2004 6 films about social centres is the result. The films are from Belfast, Leeds, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, & Nottingham.

The last couple of years have seen a lot of interest (& more importantly action) on Social Centres in Ireland. Cork Autonomous Zone provided a home broad church of rebels & troublemakers in the People’s Republic. The Dublin Disco Disco squatting escapade was the first high profile political squatting action in Ireland in (my) living memory. From August 03 to April 04 the Magpie House was a beautiful squat in Dublin proving that a bunch of crust kids & some cleaning fluids could ignite the imagination of a city. Various squats have been popping up around the city (& the country ever since).

In Belfast September 2003 saw the closure of Giro’s/Warzone Centre. Giros was an entirely volunteer run collective that existed for 18 years. Operating under the umbrella of the Belfast Youth & Community Group (an official charity). Giros housed a music venue/rehearsal space for bands, veggie cafe/drop-in, various artists facilities, recording studio, food co-op, info-shop, office space, & was home to fantastic mishmash of Belfast misfits. The closure of giros did help instigate some political squatting activity in the city San Soucci Squat & Our Kitchen Squat café.

Many of the folk (including myself) involved in these ventures in Ireland were inspired by centres & spaces we’ve encountered on our travels. That's why I thought it make be nice to make some films for the kids back at home from some places that have inspired me. By sharing the experiences of other social centres and seeing their practical examples hopefully these films will help inspire & empower people in Ireland.

The spaces featured on the films include squatted warehouses, info-shops, cafes, community gardens, children’s spaces, theatre’s, music venues, dance studios, sauna’s, bars, dance studios, squatting info points, recording studios, print workshop, health centres, art studios, bike workshops, community centres, offices meeting spaces, art galleries, libraries, launderettes with a view, internet access points, free shops....

Not all of the spaces are permanent, some are one night only squat cafés, temporary social space squatted 10 days. Some spaces are squats, some are legalised, & some co-operatively owned. All of the spaces are different & they're all pretty impressive.

Anyway the links below are to reports & transcripts of interviews from these centres. I thought it was a pity that lots of interesting info & anecdotes ended on 'the cutting room floor' with the films, so thought it might be an idea to stick these transcripts on this site...

More info on the films on the daaa video pages.