Wapping Autonomy Centre

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Part of the Philosophy series on

Anarchism
Schools of thought
Theory and practice
Issues
History
Culture
Economics
By region
Lists
Related

Anarchism Portal
Philosophy Portal · Politics Portal
 v • d • e 
Crass lead singer Steve Ignorant performing at the Autonomy Centre in 1981
Crass lead singer Steve Ignorant performing at the Autonomy Centre in 1981
DIRT pictured at the Wapping Autonomy Centre, December 1981
DIRT pictured at the Wapping Autonomy Centre, December 1981

Wapping Autonomy Centre (also known as The Anarchist Centre) was a social centre set up in a rented former warehouse space in the Wapping area of London Docklands from late 1981 to 1982. The project was initially funded by money raised by the benefit single "Persons Unknown/Bloody Revolutions", as well as benefit gigs by Crass and The Poison Girls and other bands and events.

Most of those involved with the project were anarchists who participated in protests and direct action against targets such as vivisection laboratories, the meat industry and the policies of then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. During its short life, the Autonomy Centre became an important focal point for the anarchist-punk movement in the UK and Europe. Anarcho-punk bands - such as Crass, Zounds and Flux of Pink Indians - played live at the building and a large, informal anarchist support network grew up in partnership with other communities in London.

Unfortunately, the centre's open door policy also attracted a large number of drug users, petty criminals and unwanted police attention. These factors, combined with problems finding the monthly rent, ultimately led to its closure. Many of those involved with the centre went on to become active at the Centro Iberico, a squatted project with similar aims and ethos in west London.

Contents

[edit] Workers

[edit] Bands

and many more whose names have become immersed in the mists of time. Apart from live concerts there were book fairs, fanzine conventions, discussion groups, films, debates and political

[edit] External links

[edit] See also