The Oubliette is an itinerant, autonomous art group that occupies long-term empty central London properties to show bold new work and provide platforms for emerging artists.

I started The Oubliette in April 2009. I’ve always been fascinated by the potential of empty buildings and the ability to legally occupy them. I emigrated to London in 1999 and had this romantic idea that I would find a thriving underground of cultural and artistic activity. I expected to find scenes reminiscent of Paris’ Left Bank, but I was disappointed. The Oubliette was born out of that frustration.

I couldn’t understand why there wasn’t more of a thriving autonomous arts scene when squatting is a legal enterprise in England. Whilst my experience of squatter social centres was positive and reinforced the idea that squatting plays a crucial role in the community, the political workings of the majority of these groups resulted in bright ideas that tended to dissolve due to disorganisation and infighting. With the Oubliette we’re trying to run a managed space that will survive and thrive beyond each eviction. We want to continue to provide space and platforms to show new work. Artists, especially emerging artists in this city, desperately need that.

There’s never enough support for young people in the arts. There’s never enough support for mature people in the arts, either.  Sometimes you have to break the rules and think outside of the box to make a change. Taking direct action by squatting empty buildings to run art projects, or simply to use as personal creative space, is a hugely valuable thing to be able to do for those otherwise unable to develop their skills and create new work.

Write a play, squat an empty building, run a pop-up theatre. Trespass in the UK is not illegal. It’s unlawful but not illegal. Squatting is a civil dispute between you and the proprietor. The only way to resolve that dispute is for the proprietor to disprove your ownership in a civil court and that usually takes a few weeks, longer depending on where you are and your relationship with the owner.  

The Oubliette have been in occupation of the former Limelight club for two weeks and have programmed a substantial number of events, mostly performances and plays, spoken word, music and installation art commencing from 28^th to the 30^th of December. We’ve invited artists from a variety of different disciplines to come and use the space. We’ll also be running another event in January before we’re evicted, unless we’re able to negotiate successfully with the owner. We’re an inclusive group so if you want to get involved visit our website or Facebook group and sign up to hear the latest news and events.

This occupation marks the beginning of a new season for us. Over the course of the last two years we have attracted a large number of artists and performers to us, and have partnered with some very exciting new groups. 2011 will be a good year.

Dan Simon was talking to Katie Jackson.