Star date: 26th April 2017

NINE MINUTE FILM GIVES STORIES BEHIND LOOSE SPACE

"There's a lot of thought, a lot of time and a lot of passion gets put into these spaces ...we're trying to make democracy fair..."

Yesterday, passers-by gawped at a rooftop protest and an attempted eviction of Loose Space homeless campaigners on the roof of the old Cornerhouse art building on Oxford Road in Manchester.

Now a nine minute video has been released with footage of the eviction attempt together with people giving the reasons behind the occupation and why Loose Space and similar squats are everyone's issue.

Full details here...

"The MPs and Mayors and stuff are meant to be the middle ground between us and Parliament and the State, and they're meant to be coming to these sorts of spaces and finding out what's going on and seeing how they can help" says one Loose Space campaigner in a new Raised By Feminists film released this morning

"...But instead of doing so, they're actually getting bailiffs to drag us out of these buildings and put us back at square one" she explains "But if they came in and actually see what we are doing...we're building community and trying to work through a lot of the problems and understanding ourselves. There's a lot of thought a lot of time and a lot of passion gets put into these spaces...we're trying to make democracy fair."

The ideas for Loose Space came out of the homeless camps and squats that have been springing up all over Manchester city centre over the past few years. It's about allowing homeless people to use empty buildings as a living space. And putting on events, exhibitions and talks within those spaces as a meeting place where new ideas can be discussed; and where people who aren't involved in the homelessness struggle are welcomed in to get an insight into the issues.

Loose Space is about Do-It-Yourself creative solutions to huge problems. Because those getting paid and elected to come up with solutions are just not cutting it as developers run riot, putting profit before people.

The Cornerhouse on Oxford Road, which has been derelict and empty for two years, was previously the heartbeat of Greater Manchester's creative community, where many local artists had their first exhibitions, radical films were shown and its bars were a meeting place for musicians, comedians and performers who went on to achieve national fame.

The occupation of the building brought it back to life and attracted thousands of people in a kickback against gentrification, right in the middle of Manchester city centre where unaffordable housing and sterilised culture is rampant.

Yesterday, Loose Space campaigners took to the roof of the building when Network Rail police tried to evict them, in a move that was eventually resisted. This morning a nine minute film has been released, with footage of the eviction attempt and three members of the Loose Space collective talking to Raised by Feminists about the ideas and practice behind the squat.

"There are so many people who are slipping through the cracks, so I think the squatting action is a symptom of capitalism and the Orwellian system that's becoming more nightmarish by the day it seems" says one Loose Space member

"But what other choice do people have when the housing market is just designed for profit?" he asks "They're not arsed about housing people or providing for people's needs...I've worked alongside the Council, the Greater Manchester Police and a whole range of other networks that work to tackle issues like homelessness, and it's such a big problem. We all realise it's systemic...it's a big problem and it needs to be solved..."

Behind the dramatic footage of yesterday's Loose Space resistance are real stories, real issues and an attempt at some real solutions. This short film attempts to get these across to anyone who wants to know where this new movement is coming from and where it is going...

To view the video direct on YouTube - click here

* See also previous Salford Star article on Loose Space – click here