Hounslow Borough Council is forging ahead with plans to close the Watermans Arts Centre in Brentford – another casualty of capitalism’s war on the arts.
This historic venue has paid hosts to such legendary artists as Ravi Shankar, Elvis Costello, and Peter Greenaway.
Watermans is a beacon of culture in a borough beset by one of the highest poverty levels in London. It was already saved once in 2020 by a crowdfunding campaign which raised £100,000. But now it once again faces the chop.
The council has effectively said to locals: if you forked out to keep your favourite public space open, well…tough!
Profits vs culture
Hounslow Arts Trust, which runs Watermans, says it has to close because of rising costs, and falling revenue.
In 2018, Hounslow’s Labour-controlled council approved a plan to “redevelop” the site and build 193 flats, relocating the arts centre to a dismal setting in central Brentford, where there presently stands a disused police station.
Dozens of staff will be laid off by the closure. And it will be at least five years before the “replacement” starts, if it is ever built at all! The final notice period was a mere 22 days – cynically brief enough to avoid any attempts to forestall it.
The council and Arts Trust both tried to pass the buck, denying ultimate responsibility for the decision. But everyone suspects that,
behind these bureaucrats lie the private property developers, who stand to make millions.
Local fightback
The short notice, lack of consultation, and disinterest from Labour councillors, have all angered local people, who held a spontaneous meeting to berate representatives of the council and Arts Trust.
At a hastily arranged public campaign meeting to save the Watermans Arts Centre, over 80 attendees expressed their deep frustration and sorrow.
Wendy, a local artist, said to The Communist:
“We urgently need those in a position to reverse this sudden decision…The promise we were given from the council was that the Arts Centre would remain at its current location until new premises were created to house it.”
Unfortunately, it seems the council lied.
Communists present mooted the idea of an occupation. If the borough council refuses to budge, then residents of Brentford should force them back to the table! This was met with applause and cries of: “Hear hear!”
Arts under attack
Theatres, cinemas, and galleries are closing at a rate of knots. The Tories slash budgets for bodies like the Arts Council. And if Hounslow is anything to go by, Starmer’s Labour cannot be trusted to protect culture either.
Workers and youth must organise to defend the arts from the cynics and fatcats who understand the price of everything and the value of nothing.
