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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.”

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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 Sgt Pepper
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    Sep 28th 2015, 11:35 AM

    I love that guy. I think he’s one of the only true well-know artists we have nowadays.

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    Mute John Lally
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    Sep 28th 2015, 11:44 AM

    Yet nobody knows who he is

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    Mute Lou Tennant
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    Sep 28th 2015, 12:22 PM

    I’m Banksy

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    Mute Keelan O'neill
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    Sep 28th 2015, 1:51 PM

    He’s more of a celebrity because of his anonymity.

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    Mute Keelan O'neill
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    Sep 28th 2015, 2:44 PM

    If he’s so humble why not continue with spray painting walls. That theme park is on the same level of nonsense as Damien Hirst’s shark in formaldehyde.

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    Mute Keelan O'neill
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    Sep 28th 2015, 3:19 PM

    You’re only a true sculptor if you use a hammer and chisel. Banksy probably uses some sort of 3D CNC machine. A phoney.

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    Mute molly coddled
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    Sep 28th 2015, 7:00 PM

    “You’re only a true sculptor if you use a hammer and chisel” what a load of bo**icks Keelan O’Neill.

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    Mute My EL531W
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    Sep 28th 2015, 11:44 AM

    I can’t wait to see the migrants faces when they’re asked to live in a dilapidated plywood castle.

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    Mute Mer Curial
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    Sep 28th 2015, 12:43 PM

    They should house them in a replica crusader castle :)

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    Mute Pronnsias McCarthaigh
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    Sep 28th 2015, 10:53 AM

    McBANKSY

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    Mute Mark Byrne
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    Sep 28th 2015, 12:26 PM

    Franksy! :)

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    Mute Keelan O'neill
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    Sep 28th 2015, 1:54 PM

    Hey Pronnsias. Calais, Banksy and Disney all contain 6 letters. That makes 666.

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    Mute Eoin Fleming
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    Sep 28th 2015, 1:57 PM

    Please don’t encourage him keelan

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    Mute Keelan O'neill
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    Sep 28th 2015, 2:14 PM

    Eoin are you worried more of us are seeing what’s in plain sight and putting the pieces together.

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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Sep 28th 2015, 11:53 AM

    A dismal end to a dismal themepark…

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    Mute Sean Wong
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    Sep 28th 2015, 11:11 AM

    Can’t be better.

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    Mute Sertorius
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    Sep 28th 2015, 12:05 PM

    naive

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    Mute MrsWoman
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    Sep 28th 2015, 8:12 PM

    Banksy.. Rhymes with W@nksy. Overrated, pretentious @rse.

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    Mute Ken O'Neill
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    Nov 29th 2015, 1:35 AM

    …and there is no rhyming or reasoning with you obviously.

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    Mute Ken O'Neill
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    Nov 29th 2015, 1:18 AM

    I was indifferent to Banksy until he surprised me with his recent pro Palestinian and anti-Israeli/Zionist artwork in Gaza/Guanyamino, he had to be spirited in and out via the Egyptian tunnels to complete his work, he can do no wrong in my eyes now.

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    Mute Ken O'Neill
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    Nov 29th 2015, 1:25 AM
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    Mute Ken O'Neill
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    Nov 29th 2015, 1:25 AM
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