What’s the Emporium all about?

– The Emporium has been open since december 2008. It is not an art gallery. We do not think that creativity can be bracketed into the confines of the standard conception of ‘art’ – any project or event is possible.

-A posse renovated and maintains the place. This group along with a growing number of people takes proposals from anyone wanting to use the space. our intention is that the Emporium is run, and decisions made by, whoever is prepared to input time and effort. the group sorts through proposals because there is a lot of money-driven projects that simply reinforce this repressive state of self-interest that is society – these need to be destroyed. In a world where there’s so much shit, we need to filter it out.

-The ethos that we have attempted to live by in using this space is to be independent from corporations, council, or other forms of authority. It is meant to be a free space where people can bring whatever idea into existence, be that meetings, skillshares, workshops, exhibitions, performances, practice, kids parties… the list goes on.

-Proposals for any type of event are welcome.

-Amongst us there are those who wanted the place to run on a purely not-for-profit basis. this has been largely successful. There is never any charge on the door, events are always free or people are asked to donate, but no one is ever turned away. For the most part any donations, or if anything has been sold, goes back into paying for the event being held; or a donation is made to keep the Emporium maintained. We don’t want money going to peoples’ pockets, organised charities, corporations or the state – only grass roots causes.

-We are conscious however that on a street under high levels of gentrification that we too are part of this process – a cool, trendy, squatted space. this was not the intention from the beginning and so we are trying to think of different ways to use the space.

-In such a money-driven society we feel it is vital that people can do whatever they like in this space in order to have a more real realm of creativity. Anyone/group wanting to use the space should be given their own choice over what goes on in the time they have there, whatever the project.

-We want to therefore make it more accessible to different types of projects.

-We feel that these types of projects should be on every street corner.  ‘Communes come into being when people find each other, get on with each other, and decide on a common path. It’s what makes us say “we”, and makes that an event… A commune forms every time a few people, freed of their individual straight-jackets, decide to rely only on themselves and measure their strength against reality. Communes would not define themselves – as collectives tend to do – by whats inside and what’s outside them, but by the density of the ties at their core. Not by their membership, but by the spirit that animates them…’

-We’re are trying to encourage people to put any money made in the space towards grass roots causes. So please if you receive donations above what you needed to put into the event consider this; and we can communicate to you information about what projects need money at the time.

-The space consists of one large room, with a ramp 2/3 of the way in leading to a raised level with a small room to the side and a toilet, there is a small outside yard with an outdoor tap.

[step by step guide to proposals.]
1. go to DIARY (to see when the space is free to use)
2. read through the proposal process at: PROPOSAL PROCESS (to understand how to propose)
3. send proposals to emporium37@gmail.com or The Emporium, 37 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3PY.
4. make cup of tea and await response.