‘You need friends everywhere; in political circles, the authorities and even the Police. People in unlikely places can help you’ - Dan Hancox
Table 2 are discussing how to create a successful campaign action, and the example of La Carpa has been raised.
La Carpa was an experience developed by professionals in crisis for the Performing Arts, Visual Arts, architecture and cultural management, distinct from government, providing a great example of self-employment and management, improvement and commitment. A project that in just four years of activity has had a strong international impact. A landmark of Andalusian culture with an incessant cultural activity.
‘There is a space for the legal bodies to work with communities. There will be tension, but it can be necessary when providing for the commons’ - Felipe Gil
After their contract with the local authorities to run the project on municipal land was ended by the Sevillian city authorities, it took them just a month to be back on their feet. They are now working as part of a collective on
(The Creative Network of La Carpa) with 17 partner organisations to transform an abandoned pavilion from Expo '92 into a new creative space.
The process has already seen a variety of organisations come together, from cultural organisations such as our own Zemos98 to archetectural bodies such as Recetas Urbanas (Urban Recipes) and also the institutions; The Universidad internacional de Andalucia (The International University of Andalucia) is part of the new collective. They have worked with the Junta de Andalucia (The local Administration), who own the building, to create an agreement for it’s renovation and use. There is also a strong focus on citizenship and open collaboration on the project.
"We want to create a model of consumption culture in which citizens are involved, be active and decide how they want to participate"
It is this collaboration of all areas of society for a Common (with both a big ‘C’ and a little ‘c’) cultural resource that has led to their current successes. A demonstration that sometimes it is not only about ‘us vs.them’, and opposing the authorities, but also it is about ‘us with them’, and finding some way to work with them for a greater goal.