DEATH OF THE PARIS ART-SQUAT SCENE?

'Le Generale' like dozens of other illegal arts venues in Paris - empty factories, warehouses and parcel depots have been used for many years with the support of communities to provide a new outlet for artists either to research and develop their work or to provide a useful antidote the the current trend of culture as defined by the city.

Now this has been put to a halt with police moving in on art-squatters, evicting them, then the city swiftly and purchasing the buildings.

La Generaleis the biggest art squat in Paris with 3 exhibition spaces, a cinema and a photographic lab. It has been called by the newspaper 'Le Parisien' "an ideal city of art". Now the city wants to turn it into an asylum.

Who knows what will happen next? - but the art-squat is a hub for creativity and a real autonomous space in the Paris scene and we hope that, should the worst occur, a new space will be found and the spirit of free autonomous art space is available to the young and not so young creatives of Paris.

Vive L'Art!!!!