Diorama Arts Cooperative

"[4] At Christmas 1992, Diorama Arts Centre left the building; its landlords, the Crown Estate Commissioners and Camden Council relocated the organisation to a new development nearby in Osnaburgh Street.

[7] Artist John Constable, who attended the first showing in September 1823, wrote to his friend Archdeacon Fisher: "It is in part a transparency, the spectator is in a dark chamber, and it is very pleasing and has great illusion..."[8] Daguerre's diorama closed in 1848 due to falling income, and by 1854 had been converted into a Baptist chapel.

[1][10] According to a New Statesman article, "The Crown granted annual leases to some dyslexia therapists who used music and drama; gradually the building filled with artists and therapy groups who paid small rents (to cover the cost of the upkeep) to the collective which became Diorama Arts.

"[11] Poet and drama therapist Larry Butler remembered his involvement: "Before coming to Glasgow in 1981, I was the founder and warden of the Diorama Arts Co-operative, director of PlaySpace Trust and Matchbox Theatre.

"[14] After a Crown Estate Commissioners (CEC) request, Diorama Arts Centre was incorporated as a charity and company on 15 September 1981; in 1982, a rental agreement was formalised.

[1] Helped by URBED's (Urbanism, Environment and Design Ltd.) 'Re-use of Industrial Buildings Service' by February 1984, the Diorama Arts Trust was formed to propose a scheme which resulted in a £4 million fundraising effort through and beyond 1984.

[1][17][18] CAST (Cartoon Archetypical Slogan Theatre, led by Roland Muldoon) agreed to become members of Diorama Arts in June and July 1984.

"[7] At Christmas 1992, Diorama Arts Centre left the building as the CEC and CC relocated the organisation to a new development in nearby Osnaburgh Street.

[61] The London Disabilities Forum (LDF) held their first annual general meeting at the Diorama in April 1988; that month, a cabaret (later to become the Workhorse) was launched.

[68] The magazine was founded by Steve Beresford, Sue Steward and David Toop in 1981, and its musical content included experimental, global, popular and world.

With its maverick and punk ethos Performance Magazine embodied an immensely active community of artists, writers and publics that crossed disciplines throughout the late 70s, 80s and the start of the 90s.

They perch in a workroom in a run-down peculiarity of a building - the Diorama - and their place looks like a carnival novelties store, or a backstage attic prior to final closure.

Behind its Regency facade, Diorama's interior hides a hive of activity including a cafe (The Octagon), Tai Chi classes, and musicians of all sorts".