Da! collective
Encyclopedia
The DA! collective was an art collective who squatted
a townhouse at in Mayfair
, Westminster
, Greater London
in October 2008. The property, at 18 Upper Grosvenor Street, is a 30-room grade II-listed 1730s mansion worth an estimated £6.25 million pounds owned by the billionaire Duke of Westminster
, Britain's wealthiest private landlord. The collective changed the locks on the property.
In a statement delivered from the balcony (bedecked with a blacked-out
tattered Union Jack), Stephanie Smith (in a mask and a ragged miniskirt) declared:
The Da! collective is made up of a dozen teenagers, students, and artists. They have been acclaimed as winners of "the National Squattery" by The Sun
. The collective claim a squatters' portfolio worth over £100 million.
Squatting
Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
a townhouse at in Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
in October 2008. The property, at 18 Upper Grosvenor Street, is a 30-room grade II-listed 1730s mansion worth an estimated £6.25 million pounds owned by the billionaire Duke of Westminster
Duke of Westminster
The title Duke of Westminster was created by Queen Victoria in 1874 and bestowed upon Hugh Grosvenor, 3rd Marquess of Westminster. The current holder of the title is Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster....
, Britain's wealthiest private landlord. The collective changed the locks on the property.
In a statement delivered from the balcony (bedecked with a blacked-out
Anarchist symbolism
While anarchists have historically largely denied the importance of symbols to political movement, they have embraced certain symbols for their cause, including most prominently the circle-A and the black flag...
tattered Union Jack), Stephanie Smith (in a mask and a ragged miniskirt) declared:
The Da! collective is made up of a dozen teenagers, students, and artists. They have been acclaimed as winners of "the National Squattery" by The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
. The collective claim a squatters' portfolio worth over £100 million.