Catalyst Social Centre is a radical community space located in Coburg, on unceded Wurundjeri Country. The centre offers free meeting/event spaces for individuals and collectives engaged in leftist organising and solidarity work.
Many different collectives and individuals meet at Catalyst every single day! There is no sole group, collective or individual that owns Catalyst, it is the culmination of all the collectives and community members who utilise the space.
Catalyst remains operational through financial contributions from the community, and with support and direction from its ‘Federation’. The Federation has a horizontal organising structure, made up of 13 collectives, which assist with the ongoing financial and practical efforts in keeping Catalyst running. The Federation has a shared understanding of its values, rooted in anti-capitalist, decolonial and liberatory struggles.
In early August 2022, a Federation of collectives was formed as the governance structure for the space. Prior to this, a series of public meetings occurred throughout May, June and July 2022 in which the Federation’s structure grew from. The Federation has a specific responsibilities at Catalyst, including site maintenance, financial security and developing Catalyst’s values.
Catalyst’s Federation is open to new collectives, that share Catalyst’s values, actively organise in the space, participate in Federation decision-making and assist with responsibilities of keeping Catalyst functioning. For more info, get in touch with the bookings crew bookings@catalystcentre.net