MATILDA - I fought the law and the law won

You may be interested in giving your support to a recently launched non-partisan, grass roots movement called Voters Revolt. www.votersrevolt.org.uk

We've also had it up to our back teeth with overweening officialdom and the insidious tyranny of Quangomen.
If you think the movement has merit.. we'd appreciate you passing the word around.
Good luck with Matilda.
JO

Replying to Derek:
From what i've heard, there aren't enough arts spaces for artists in Sheff and those that are there (the newly built Persistance Works, for example) are too expensive for anyone other than "professional artists" to use. In hindsight, maybe Matilda should've been named "Resistance Works!" in response to the Cultural Industry's shifting of artists from the Matilda building (when it was Yorkshire Art Space) several years ago.
Persistance Works is the building where most of the artists moved to.

Part One:

Its Goodnight Matilda well not just yet!

Hello here is what has been asked of from the representatives of Yorkshire
forward Further to the Court hearing yesterday and the subsequent conversations, I have now had the opportunity to take my client's instructions.

My client reiterates that it does not wish to have to use bailiffs to evict you and would prefer to agree an exit strategy.

I understand that you intend to hold a meeting on Monday night and my
client is prepared to allow for this meeting to go ahead to allow all
squatters to be made aware that the possession order has been granted.
This is only on the basis however that you confirm that no events
involving the public will be held at the building as my clients are
extremely concerned as to health and safety issues. We then require your
confirmation that the building will be vacated by all no later than 9 am
Tuesday 27th June 2006 - the date my client has stipulated they require
possession.

Again, these requirements are being driven by my client's serious concerns about the safety of the building and the risks posed to those occupying it.

I look forward to hearing from you. In the last twelve months, MATILDA
have turned an abandoned building into a thriving social centre. For a
year we have put on performances, film showings and exhibitions, as well
as providing much needed working and meeting space for local artists and
activists. So – if you've ever been to a gig / film night / art showing
/ Thursday social / meeting / bike workshop / clown training or anything
else,

If you desire to come down to Matilda over this weekend and on Monday all day
you can sign our guestbook giving your thoughts, feelings and even images.
Once completed this guestbook and the diary of Matilda will be given to
Councilor Jan Wilson who sits on the board for Yorkshire Forward/Creative
Sheffield as well being the Labour leader for Sheffield, on the morning of
our eviction.

We hope to see you over the weekend to say thank you for your support over
our last year.

The Matilda moles have risen from their shadows and though we shall go
back into the darkness for a while we will no doubt meet again soon as our
next venue is owned by Yorkshire Forward too! We hope to see you there
keep in touch our web page will be updated often also for more news goto
Sheffield Indymedia.

Its good night from Matilda

Part TWO

Dear Jan Wilson,

As leader of Sheffield City council, and a board member of Creative
Sheffield/Yorkshire Forward we cordially invite you to join us for our

handing over ceremony of 111 Matilda Street from The Matilda Collective to
the deserved and rightful legal owners – Yorkshire Forward, at 9am on
Tuesday 27th of June.

We wish to apologize for borrowing the empty building and using it for
such unsavoury purposes as free and affordable arts and activist space for
the people of Sheffield and the UK. We also apologize for any possible
loss of revenues that could have been extracted from the creative folk of
Sheffield had we not been offering these resources for free.

Given Sheffield City's councils decision not to put out 111 Matilda Street
to public tender and instead to generously accept Sheffield Hallam
University's lower offer, than the one made by the long term tenant -
Adrenaline Studios , and given the subsequent profitable sale of the
property to Yorkshire Forward who have tasked Creative Sheffield with the
development of the site, we thought that you would enjoy bearing witness
to the vacation of the premises by The Matilda Collective at 9am on
Tuesday 27th of June.

Hope to see you,

Yours Sincerely,

Person Unknown of 111 Matilda Street

Part Three:

From 8pm Monday night full on all NIGHT PARTY stay the night enjoy the
morning lets say hello to them hope you are about:

Some actions we are told could face arrest others are just NVDA you decide.