Matilda was first used as a base for action against the G8 summit. Since then interests have shifted, almost entirely, away from political activism to art based activities. I use the word 'art' in the loose sense of the word. Activities are driven more by people's creative impulses rather than political motives. This includes everything from art displays, music events, and film shows, to cooking, building repairs and web design. This is not to say these creative activities are not political. They definitely are. One could say that most, if not all, art has a political dimension one way or another.
However it does seem that the spirit of defiance and the will for confrontation has evaporated. Little direct action type stuff has been organised in Matilda since the G8 and what there has been has usually come from outside groups like the Dissent network or Saving Iceland. Most political activist stuff in Sheffield is centred outside Matilda. Local activist issues such as We Want Our Buses Back, asylum seekers' evictions, anti war, nuclear weapons & US bases, Mohammad Arian and incapacity benefit cuts are all based elsewhere.
This is not intended to be a criticism either. There's nothing wrong with creativity and it's a lot more worthwhile than being a pointless cog in a corporate machine. I'm involved in this process as much as anyone else and enjoy creative activities. They're not only more fun and rewarding but they're a good deal less stressful than political confrontations.
However this does raise some interesting questions.
We've become kind of temporary property owners, or at least custodians of the building.
How much influence does the building and this position exert over what we do?
If there was another event like the G8 summit would we, or could we, agree that Matilda should be used as a convergence space? Or would the risks entailed be seen as too great? Would people fear that a multitude of other, often longer term, Matilda projects might be jeopardised by the obvious dangers of such a one off event?
If people are given the time, space and freedom to be creative is the motivation for the political activities automatically diminished?
Has this phenomenon been repeated at other social centres in the country?
Is dispossession a useful or even essential prerequisite for radical political activism?
There is a tension between creativity and political work. I may spend some time writing a political song, but if it is not relayed to a wider audience then it has no real political meaning. As a creative space Matilda must encourage the spreading of the word, whatever the word is, rather than navel gazing. That means getting people along to creative events and encouraging creativity which spreads outside of Matilda's walls.
As a political space, from our own experiences it hasn't full accessibility which means we can't use it for the incapacity group. Also when we have used it there have been worries over getting in and hearing people as they arrive. It's a lovely space but it can feel a little uninviting if you are standing outside waiting for someone to answer the bell, and a little warren like inside.
Creative stuff generally involves small groups of people who are really into it, so are comfortable with the space, and punters who come along once in a while and don't care either way. Activist groups are a kind of half way, some people spending a lot of time on the group, most just orbiting and popping into the occasional meeting, so the meeting space needs to be inviting and secure, Matilda doesn't really qualify on that yet.
One way to invite and include would be to hold a social forum type event at Matilda, an idea Dan raised a bit ago. However I would argue against a social forum as such as it has various connotations and people tend to want it to be something or other.
What I would like to see is an open space event at Matilda where groups from across the activist spectrum are invited. As a one off there would be resources for an open door and the event would be more like a gig than a meeting anyway. The event could be for exploring local and global issues, campaigning techniques, sharing experience and knowledge. Generally a big discussion and learning event.
It could use the Matilda resources like the kitchen, having art stuff in the art space (subvertising, graffiti, etc), hacktivist and indymedia stuff in the hacklab, and general discussions round and abouts. A one or two day event is a great way of having meetings because it can be really intense, one person can't get to everything but lots of ideas can be shared. There was a alternative forum at the ESF in a squatted space which had a great energy and whilst leafy Sheffield may not get that far I would like to think we could do something similar.
An open space event would be a good way in which Matilda could make itself known and make itself useful to a wider political community. Matilda really is a fantastic resource to have and it would be a shame not to make it available to as many people as possible. Such an event would enrich rather than risk the creative processes at Matilda.
On the risks, I think it would have to be discussed. A balance between what is to be lost against what would be gained, what other resources could be used, and if Matilda is precarious anyway then better to go in defiance than in mediocrity.
Nobody is stopping anone from carrying out radical actions and having their group based at matilda. Recently we have had a gathering supporting direct action for iceland. The fact is that unless you do somthing to start some radical action you cant expect that it will just spontaneously happen. The same with a social-forum style conference which i have heard about many times but unless the person that suggests it starts something then i am unwilling to put alot of time into an event for which i do have the vision.
Both are good ideas, why dont you put some effort into it and make it happen.
boneidol> like an indoor radical festival boneidol> film / discussion / music / food / healing /
Well it could be, sorta depends what people want to do. The main aim would be to spread the matilda name amongst the wider political community so that people outside of the loop know about it, and to provide a space for said people to get together in a productive type capacity. The ESF do had music and film, healing would be cool if people were up for it.
cuthbert b> Nobody is stopping anone from carrying out radical actions and having their group based at matilda.
Yeah, it's just lots of groups don't know about it or do and don't have the time to come along, check it out, see if it would be a good space for their group.
>unless the person that suggests it starts something
Well thought I'd float the idea here first... had a word with Dan and we thought something Juneish time would be cool. Will hammer out a proposal and bring it to a meet - realise this stuff takes time and am happy to drive it forward making broom broom and eeeeeaaarrrcchhh noises as appropriate.