Back at the start of October, we decided to venture in to unknown territory - a Craft meeting. The 'Mini Protest Banner' workshop that was held at Spitalfield City Farm, just off Brick Lane in East London, was hosted by Sarah Corbett, the founder of the group ‘Craftivist Collective’, was a day in which anyone could drop in for a one stop education on ‘Craftivism’. 

Now for all who have not come across it yet, craft + activism = Craftivism, a new craze that has been hitting London (they also have banners that have spread as far as LA, Seattle, Vancouver and Berlin). Arts and crafts are combined with good causes to create an innovative form of activism for anyone who has a passion for change, or how Corbett puts it; “Craftism is a way to make craft meaningful at the same time making activism fun.”

“Activism doesn’t have to be boring, scary or elitist. ‘Craftivism’ is a great way to get likeminded people together to talk about and tackle the issues they feel strongly about, such as climate change, while at the same time having fun. The end products are presented to the public in a non-violent, non-threatening way for passersby to think about issues without feeling harassed allowing them to think about in their own time and then act on them to make the world a better place… hopefully!”

Indeed it was actually really good fun; picture this, the tranquil environment of the city farm, sitting in the sunshine and talking to the different characters that have come along and the issues they are concerned about, while being handed cup after cup of tea (along with the mandatory Hobnob and locally grown apple). I can definitely think of more taxing ways of protesting than this.

Now you may be asking “How is this eradicating poverty?” “Making little protest banners to do what?” 


The group's manifesto is this: "To expose the scandal of global poverty, and human rights injustices though the power of craft and public art. This will be done through provocative, non-violent creative actions."


But before this session we had never imagined a ‘Craftivism’ day to have any protest element, nor had I ever taken part in craft work, such as stitching banners, and you know what, the experience left a profound impression on me.

We're big men but got into the cross stitching - after knocking out a mini banner ourselves that read “Time for organic exposure” (don’t ask) we became impressed with the power that a design on a little banner has. Both Mann-Ray and I are even consider getting our needle and thread out to practice our newfound skills for birthdays and Christmas, as the personal touch would work wonders over the standard happy /merry generic cards everyone receives and throws away after a week on their fireplace.

But it also got us thinking that if the personal touch can carry so much weight in this sort of context then what must it do to people who encounter these mini protest banners in the nooks and crannies that the group leave them in around the capital.

Surely finding something so tiny, with all the personal touches you get with something that has been created in this manner, discovered while you're going about your mundane day, would stop you in your tracks and make you think. And thinking will surely lead to somebody being inspired to do something, or question the issue being presented.

Words: Ben Anderson

Photos: Mann-Ray Powell 

For more info on the Craftivist Collective all their Facebook, Flicker and contact details can be found on www.craftivist-collective.com