Since early Monday morning, about 200 people have sat outside the alternative club and art gallery, Le Madame, protesting its closure. The artists, students, and clientele believe plans to close the venue are influenced more by politics then law.
Although the site and others next door are situated on Kozla Street, the building they occupy is actually auxiliary to one registered on Freta Street. Recently in December of 2004 it fell into city government ownership. City officials claim they have tried for 11 years to gain control of this real-estate. They now have the right to determine to whom they want to lease the space. Le Madame may stay in its current location, but it must first apply for a new lease from the new landlord – the city of Warsaw – and be accepted. In the event it does not pan out, the city does not guarantee help in securing a new site for the club.
Protesters have tried to argue that Le Madame is not only a club, but also a cultural venue, supporting local film, theater, and music – and therefore should be encouraged by the city to remain open. Krystian Legierski, owner of the club, is a strong proponent of the arts, and has continuously chosen to invest in them rather then build his club into a more mainstream, money-making machine.
For the past few evenings, petitions have circulated around Le Madame informing its patrons of the recent issues. Feminist and literary critic Kazimiera Szczuka informed that 3,500 letters of appeal were received by the city on Sunday only.
More information on Le Madame.
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