The Caz Story Continued:
The CAZ (Cork Autonomous Zone) was conceived in chats between Corkonians
working together on diverse campaigns… peace, immigration, anti-capitalism,
green space, public spaces etc. The idea was to build a centre in
Cork where activists could meet and make things happen without having
to buy a pint in a pub, a place that could offer a certain amount
of comfort and security. As luck would have it somebody stumbled on
one floor of a building for rent and thought it might be a good first
step and hence began its reality. The centre’s past life as a computer
repair house left behind for its sexy, fun, activist set up complete
with a tiger hanging from the ceiling (no animals were hurt in the
mounting).
I first visited the CAZ late January, about four months after it
began, during a non-violent direct action workshop. A big, open room
with books and leaflets about, which I skimmed while watching interesting
characters come and go and listening to grunting weight lifters on
the floor above drop their heavy pieces to the ground with such force
that noise shook my insides. We moved a large table with legs made
of catalogues and computer monitors. Every thing was made of makeshift
bits and pieces, but the integrity that follows independence, autonomy,
filled the place as it does still. Even then, in a much less evolved
stage, the CAZ impressed me. Since, there’ve been a good few days
of love, care and work to the centre that resulted in proper tables,
shelving, an archive, organised literature and a small library. It’s
such a diverse space… artists use it for life drawing, bands for practice,
groups for meeting and creating, improvisational groups rehearse,
martial arts train and the users grow and grow. So already the CAZ
succeeded in providing space for good things to come together, despite
the weighty imperfections.
Because independence is essential to the CAZ, the funding comes entirely
from its users and whatever hair brained fundraising schemes we create.
Individuals contribute funds as well as each group giving rent for
the space each time it’s used. The same individuals take care of the
space, clean and maintain it. Every group is encouraged to attend
CAZ general meetings and take some responsibility for the space, so
it will always improve. The CAZ itself will move from this space in
time, a few users are looking for something more along the lines of
the vision, preferably an entire building that we can take over and
build into a community space.
Over the weekend a group of us met up at the CAZ to begin our journey
to Belfast and the Grassroots Gathering. How excited we were by the
meeting space. Giros centre, café, recording studio, gig venue, complete
with a kid’s facilities. Excited to see a place built and run by people,
for the good of anybody who finds it useful… Our collective dream
for the CAZ being lived out hundreds of miles away and what an inspiration
for what’s already a great resource to the left in Cork. At the Grassroots
Gathering I went to a workshop on centres and social spaces only to
find out that the CAZ is the only centre of it’s kind in the republic
and one of two in Ireland – the other being Giros. Many other places
are trying to get centres together but are having a hard time getting
the making the first step. Giros has been around for twenty years
and is great but was by no means an overnight project. Talking to
folks from that centre about the CAZ we recognized challenges that
the CAZ faces now Giros has experienced too and we talked about building
more together. For the cities working out how to start, the CAZ idea
of starting with one floor and building from there was useful to them.
We all hope to work together to see our visions through, which is
the very best way. Long live Giros and long live the CAZ!!!
The CAZ is located at #4 Knapp’s Square, next door to the CAT Club.
