
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.
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.
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.
An interview with a member of the Western Australia-based Grevillea about how the group applied a dynamic and creative perspective to approaching issues such as militarism, pollution and international solidarity during the 1980s and 1990s.
Rukiya, a 350.org organiser in Kenya, shares stories of how they recruited people for the African DeCOALinise Campaign.
In this article Denver, Colorado based group Warm Cookies of the Revolution outline how they use innovative arts and cultural programs to help people exercise their “Civic Health” and engage in social change.
Exposing the manipulation and damage wrought by the advertising industry and outline the ways in which subvertisers are fighting back.
Frontline Action on Coal (FLAC) have used blockades and non-violent direct action to oppose new fossil fuel projects in Australia.
Read an excerpt from the book, The New Theatre: People Plays and Politics Behind Australia’s Radical Theatre.
Interview with Dave Burgess who graffitied No War onto the Sydney Opera House to show opposition to the war in Iraq in 2003.
Tools, skills, and resources from 350.org to build capacity to run effective campaigns and movements to tackle the climate crisis.
Radical Science Fiction – Watch videos from a symposium held in 2022 focused on the links between sci-fi and forms of activism.
Interview with an Extinction Rebellion activist about a protest against BlackRock in 2019. She explains how the action was conceptualised, organised & run.
A new book called “The Art of Activism” provides a deep dive on the process, principles, history and practice of artistic activism.
Lines of Resistance: A Symposium on Media, Arts & Activism that profiles research on the role of media and visual arts in activist movements.
The practicalities and possibilities of using holograms to challenge and subvert anti-protest laws are explored in this case study from Spain.
An exploration of how creative activists combine humour with seriousness via stunts to create change, including case study – John Howard Ladies’ Auxiliary Fan Club.
Actions and learnings from Australia’s Disrupt Land Forces Campaign at the Brisbane’s 2021 Land Forces weapons expo.
ChangeMakers Organising School – Training (videos and slides) to connect and deepen knowledge to organise for social change.
ChangeMakers Organising School – Training (videos and slides) to connect and deepen knowledge to organise for social change.
Beautiful Trouble examines some of the principles showing up in the Black Lives Matter movement. Includes direct action, the power of ritual and joy, making the invisible visible, take risks but take care, and more.
Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement this article includes tips and links to make what you need for safe, peaceful, and effective protest. Includes signs, effigies, banners, street art, ways to manage pepper spray and tear gas, surveillance considerations and interactions with police liaison.