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Banksy's theme park taken apart to build refugee shelters

After five weeks and 150,000 visitors, the artist’s take on Disneyland is no more.

land PA PA

BANKSY’S DYSTOPIAN THEME park Dismaland is being dismantled today before being shipped to a migrant and refugee camp near Calais in France to make shelters.

Featuring a ruined fairytale castle, a crashed Cinderella coach and miserable stewards wearing Mickey Mouse ears, the ‘bemusement park’ was designed to satirise commercialised tourist attractions.

After five weeks and 150,000 visitors, the attraction in the faded seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare in southwest England shut down last night.

It is now being taken apart and parts of it will be sent to a migrant and refugee camp in Calais, where thousands of people from troubled countries like Syria are living in squalid conditions and hoping to cross into Britain.

“Coming soon… Dismaland Calais,” a message on the attraction’s website reads.

“All the timber and fixtures from Dismaland are being sent to the ‘jungle’ refugee camp near Calais to build shelters. No online tickets will be available.”

ref PA PA

Dismaland featured an exhibit showing crammed migrant boats circling the waters near the White Cliffs of Dover, the first sight of Britain for many people who cross the Channel from France.

As well as works by Banksy, who keeps his true identity secret, the attraction also hosted pieces by Syrian, Israeli and Palestinian artists.

damon albarn Damon Albarn PA PA

A farewell concert featuring Pussy Riot, De La Soul and Damon Albarn was held at Dismaland on Friday night.

WATCH: The trailer for Banksy’s Dismaland has arrived

PHOTOS: Banksy’s take on ‘the happiest place on earth’

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 4:54 PM

    It’s amazing what you can do when you couldn’t care less about a single solitary person.

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    Mute Vladimir Macro
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 5:38 PM

    @Peter Cavey: Why the outrage about him since his election. We never heard any protests about him before. What changed overnight?

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    Mute Peter Cavey
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 5:39 PM

    @Vladimir Macro: I think he was a bit of a Donald Trump. Universally despised. So when he won by a “landslide” the people won’t stand for it.

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    Mute Vladimir Macro
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 6:16 PM

    @Peter Cavey: it’s hardly the first time hes rigged an election

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    Mute SilexFlint
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 7:21 PM

    @Vladimir Macro: There were protests before but they were tiny in comparison to what is occurring now. Some of it is to do with his dismissive handling of covid 19, some is to do with his over long time in power. However I think that the Belarusian people have self examined among themselves to realise that he overwhelmingly lost the election. Previously I reckon he still won elections, but not by the margins declared. This time people realise that very few of their friends, family and colleagues voted for him so have turned against him.

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 7:27 PM

    @Vladimir Macro: Who’s we? I heard plenty about him, there was protests in the last few years often suppressed. The last European dictator according to one of the EU heads.

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    Mute Damian Mac An Bháird
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 8:11 PM

    @Peter Cavey: it’s amazing what he can do when he doesnt listen to the globalist bankers too.

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    Mute Vladimir Macro
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 10:11 PM

    @Paul Mcnevin: we as in western society who listen to mainstream media, dont you know.

    It’s all very coincidental. I mean the opposition leader is lauded as someone who is persecuted for existing and supported my many high profile European politicians and the same time as a opposition voice in Russia is poisoned.

    Like a bad soap opera.

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    Mute Ray Jakans
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 5:05 PM

    He was elected by himself

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    Mute Маша Добринец
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 5:29 PM

    @Ray Jakans: who told you that Tikhanovskaya?

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    Mute Ray Jakans
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 5:38 PM

    @Маша Добринец: no, V V Putin

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    Mute Mary Fitzsimons
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    Sep 24th 2020, 8:01 AM

    @Ray Jakans: it’s a coup. Everybody knows

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    Mute Will
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    Sep 24th 2020, 11:43 AM

    @Маша Добринец: Tikhanovskaya is a puppet of EU! The commission is expanding through coups and meddling. They are far worse than the dicator that is there.

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    Mute Ross
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 4:53 PM

    The mustache and all… Looks like a nice bloke who wouldn’t rig an election

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    Mute Shelly Levine
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 5:16 PM

    @Ross: shave off the moustache, add some trendy round glasses and … Big Phil!

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    Mute D'oh
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 5:26 PM

    @Shelly Levine: I think Fat Phil has a better ring to it.

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    Mute Paul Somers
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 5:03 PM

    Backed by Putin …

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    Mute Paul Somers
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 5:32 PM

    @Paul Somers: stop using my name :)

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    Mute Paul Cunningham
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 5:59 PM

    @Paul Somers: and Xi Xingping, He was amongst the first to congratulate him.
    Must be the belt and road plan he signed Belarus up for.

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    Mute Sean O'dowd
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    Sep 23rd 2020, 5:12 PM

    His cousin Trump will probably do the same. What a farce.

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    Mute Clurichaun
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    Sep 24th 2020, 8:18 PM

    Time to bring back hanging

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