I hoped that one day it would find a more productive use than a stop off point for resting pigeons. All I knew was that it was once a Thames water pump station rumoured to be built on the designs of Stirling Castle, moat and all!

Time moved on and the castle came back to life again, but this time as a bizarre location for an urban indoor rock-climbing centre. When I went to meet the new owners, I found out the official history of the 150 year old listed building, it became even more of a natural home for the proposed Outsider Art Show. All those years ago the local people, confronted with another ugly industrial blob on their landscape banded together and demanded that the building's exterior should be something more attractive, perhaps even a castle, and like in a fairytale the London Borough of Hackney got a castle!

It's a wonderful story and a testament to the community's creative imagination.

The Big Day There were no invites sent out for a private view, it wasn't that kind of a show, instead the launch day was a free party open to everyone to come join us on the grassy meadow outside the Castle where like-minded musicians played on stage, ranging from the acoustic pop of the Picnics, cutting edge jazz of Ian Price, Dave Beebee Band, culminating in the UK debut of headline act, Die Anarchists, a modern classical string quartet that joined us from Belgium.

A historic building, a historic day, and as it turned out historic weather, with the rainiest day in June recorded for over a century. The exterior quickly became a mudfest to remember as a team of helpers ran around handing out bin liners. Surprisingly the friendly crowd that braved the driving wind an rain seemed to have a heightened enjoyment of the show for having to battle against the odds. When I picture it in my head, I still have to remind myself that the show didn't take place in winter but in the middle of British summer time.

The Results Initially it seems impossible to even think or try to quantify the results of effects a show can have, but it seems fair to say that everyone on the 13th June 1998 from artists, musicians to public had a total carnival of self proclaimed outsidership. The show ran for a month, Art work was bought by people who had never considered purchasing a piece of Art before, relations, groups and networks formed between the various artists.

The rock climbing users of the Castle felt it seemed naked when the Artwork was taken away, and so demanded that Art be a permanent feature of the building. Professional Artists now regularly use what once seemed an unlikely and difficult space for exhibitions and hence reaching an audience of outdoor sports fans and rock climbers who would more likely spend time up a mountain than go to an Art Gallery.

The Outsider show was essentially about access on all levels, and this was wholeheartedly achieved.