Creative Activism: Start Here
Suggestions from the Commons Librarians about resources to explore in the Arts & Creativity topic area – to help you bring more art and heart to your social change activities.
Topic
Arts & Creativity
Creativity is an abundant resource! People have the ability to come up with imaginative means to challenge and solve the many problems in our society. Creative approaches can be fun and attention grabbing, engaging new audiences and supporters and catching opponents off-guard. Here are many examples along with practical tips.
The Copenhagen Experiment: Measuring the Relative Effectiveness of Creative vs. Conventional Forms of Activism
The Copenhagen experiment took place in Denmark in 2018 and discovered that creative activism was more effective than conventional forms of activism.
Creative Activism 101: An Antidote For Despair
Creative troublemaking! What is creative activism? Why do we use creative tactics? What are the advantages of using cheek, shock and surprise?
Changing the world via shock and beauty: Visual Artworks
Creative tactics for social change: Different ways of spreading messages and information in a creative way, including placards, plaques, projections and craftivism.
Items of Mass Instruction: Posters, Stickers, Memes and More
Creative tactics for social change: Different ways of spreading messages and information in a creative way… memes, posters, postcards, stencils, etc.
Pranks, Performances and Protestivals: Public Events
Creative tactics for social change: A number of examples of fun, empowering and engaging actions incorporating a creative approach.
Parasols of protest
Activism and Artivism – Sharon France, graphic designer, shares how she created the designs for ‘parasols for protests’ for the People’s Climate March.
The Art(s) of Non-violent Activism
Marty Branagan discusses the role of the arts (music, visual art, street theatre) as an effective method of protest and social change in Australia.
Listening to the Artivists: Podcasts about activism and the arts
A series of audio recordings about activism and the arts from 3CR Community Radio.
Listen and watch 40 years of Australian blockading songs
A list of songs from the last 40 years of the environmental movement in Australia including the Terania and Franklin River blockades.
The spirit of Mambesak – West Papuan freedom music
An introduction to West Papuan protest songs and the courageous artists and activists behind them.
Radically Re-Imagining the World as our Climate Changes
Alex Kelly gives a powerful speech about seeing the opportunities and how the arts can help to remake, to reimagine and to redefine our world.
Art for Change: Interview about fundraising with art
An interview with Brenda from Art for Change, a group of artists who donate time and art to help humanity, with useful tips on how to fundraise with art.
Ducks For Detainees: Interview about artivism
An interview with Maggie Cowling from Ducks for Detainees which is a group that holds art events to maintain awareness of the plight of offshore detainees.
Sign Language: The story of the Jabiluka symbol
The artist’s story of how the Stop Jabiluka hand symbol was designed and developed and grew to become a symbol for the anti-nuclear movement.
Activism and the power of humour
This paper uses Australian case studies to demonstrate the continued evolution of the use of humour in environmental, peace, and social justice movements.
Performing Political History: An interview with Gary Foley
An interview with Professor Gary Foley about using creative practice to bring attention to the political challenges facing Aboriginal people in Australia.
Craftivism: A Manifesto/Methodology
This handbook defines craftivism & provides strategies and tools designed to help readers develop greater confidence in their practice.
TED talk: Activism needs introverts
Sarah Corbett introduces us to “craftivism,” a quieter form of activism that uses handicrafts as a way to get people to slow down and think deeply.
BUGA-UP
Formed in 1979, Billboard Utilising Graffitists Against Unhealthy Promotions (BUGA-UP) made its mark on hoardings around the nation. By revising advertising slogans and disrupting tobacco-sponsored events, the group revealed the true cost of tobacco and alcohol company deception.