Introduction
Welcome to the Arts & Creativity topic in the Commons Social Change Library. We have gathered a wide range of materials to inform the public about options for utilising art and creativity in social change activities.
Here are some suggested links. You can also narrow down the results in the Arts & Creativity Topic according to your interests by using the ‘Refine by Format’; ‘Refine by Topic’ (for cross overs with other topics eg Coalition Building); ‘Refine by Author’; and ‘Refine by Collection’ functions.
Get Started
To get started the Librarians recommend reading the following resources:
- Creative Activism: An Antidote to Despair
- Art and Campaigning: Lessons about the Effective Use of Art in Campaigns
- Changing the world via shock and beauty: Visual Artworks
- Items of Mass Instruction: Posters, Stickers, Memes and More
- Pranks, Performances and Protestivals: Public Events
Planning and Theory
These resources further discuss the thinking behind creative activism as well as provide templates and general tips.
- AEffect Planning and Assessment Toolset
- 10 Tips for Planning a Theatrical Action, Empowering Nonviolence
- How Artistic Activism can move us Toward a Better Future
- Top Tips for Advanced Artistic Activism
- The Art(s) of Non-violent Activism
- Subvertising: Sharing a Different Set of Messages
- The Copenhagen Experiment: Measuring the Effectiveness of Creative vs. Conventional Forms of Activism
- Activism and the Power of Humour
- Hopepunk: Strategies for Serious Urban Play
- Craftivism: A Manifesto Methodology
Examples
For practical examples and case studies of art being used in campaigning read these:
- Ducks For Detainees: Art events for awareness raising
- Cheeky and Disorganized: Nannagogy and the Knitting Nannas
- Menstrual Pies! Creative Activism Against Far-Right Bigotry During the 1970s
- Humorous Political Stunts: Nonviolent Public Challenges to Power
- Billboard Utilising Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions (BUGA UP) campaigns against tobacco advertising, Australia, 1978-1994
- Art for Change: Fundraising with art
- Grevillea: Creative Interventions in Western Australia during the 1990s
- Sign Language: The Story of the Jabiluka Symbol
- Pop the Vote: Culture On The Ballot: Artivism as a Call to Action for Democracy, see p 20
- “You can’t eat money”: An interview with Extinction Rebellion activist Jo Flanagan
- Creative activism: Hologram protest
- The art of inclusivity: Using art to welcome new migrant communities
- The Case for Laughter in Social Movements
- No War Opera House Graffiti Action: An Interview with Dave Burgess
- Warm Cookies of the Revolution: Creative Approaches to Civic Health
- Using humour and art with Pauline Pantsdown
- Dangerous Visions and New Worlds: Radical Science Fiction, 1950 to 1986
- Lines of Resistance: What can the Old Left offer today’s creatives?
How-tos
- A Better World is Paintable: How to make banners, stencils, street murals, parachute banners, and more!
- How to do a Successful and Safe Banner Drop
- The Visibility Brigade: A Template For Activism
- The Power of Music for Social Change: Tips on Using Live Music to Promote Action
- Parasols of protest: How to make beautiful parasols to stand out at actions
- Organize a Community Street Mural, Greenpeace Canada
- How to Make Puppets
- Screen Printing Basics (Video), Greenpeace Canada
- How to make a Wheatpaste Poster
- Learn to make a Parachute Banner, 350.org
- Banner Making Techniques (Video)
- How To Make Stencil Posters, The Centre for Cultural Power (Video
- Dance Flash Mob Step-by-Step How-To Kit, Backbone Campaign
- BDS Song and/or Dance Flash Mob Step-by-Step How-To Kit, End the Occupation
- Sing the Way: Library of songs, poetry, and chants, from around the global climate movement
Want a Break from Reading?
- Listening to the Artivists: Podcasts about activism and the arts
- Listen and watch 40 years of Australian blockading songs
- Insights into Indigenous Solidarity, Creativity and Social Justice with Laniyuk & Te Raukura O’Connell Rapira (Commons Conversations Podcast)
- The spirit of Mambesak – West Papuan freedom music
- TED talk: Activism needs introverts; An introduction to ‘craftivism’