The Craftivist Collective is "an inclusive group of people committed to using thoughtful, beautiful crafted works to help themselves and encourage others be the positive change they wish to see in the world."What Exactly Is The Craftivist Collective? Craftivist-Collective.com. Retrieved 3 December 2019 It was set up in 2009 by Sarah Corbett.Charlotte Humphery, We'll change the world stitch by stitch, Oh Comely magazine It is based in London.DK Goldstein, Make a Stand, Pica Pica magazine, 2010
The Independent describes it as "a social enterprise that helps people to engage in activism, or craftivism, in a quiet, non-confrontational manner".Susie Mesure, "How to change the world – and get paid doing it", inews, 1 July 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023 The Guardian has called it "new mindful activism" that is "thought-out, strategic and engaging in approach".Lucy Siegle, "The eco guide to new mindful activism", The Guardian, 22 October 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2023
They were named by the Times as one of their five 'New Tribes' of 2012.The Times Saturday Review, 10 December 2011
Activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has taken part in a workshop. Other followers of the movement include Lauren O'Farrell, Reverse graffiti artist Moose,#imapiece says Moose, youtube.com, retrieved 7 January 2014 Guardian craft columnist Perri Lewis, jewellers Tatty Devine,Karima Adi, Craftivism, Lionheart magazine, issue 4 comedian Josie Long,Contributors, Mollie Makes, issue 9 Tilly Walnes, entrant in the first series of the Great British Sewing Bee,The Craftivist Collective's #minifashionprotest, Crafty magazine, 19 July Company craft columnist and author Jazz Domino Holly,Jazz Domino Holly, Jazz Hearts, Company, January 2012 and mosaic artist Carrie Reichardt.Shannon Denny, Threads of Change, Huck magazine, April/May 2012 Sam Roddick is a mentor to the group and suggested the honorary label 'Craptivist' to cover non-crafty supporters.
There is a manifestoA Craftivists Manifesto and a checklist of goals for the work of the group which includes being welcoming,Ruth Lewy, I get frustrated knitting socks. I want to make a difference., The Times Saturday Review, 10 December 2011 encouraging and positive,Rin Simpson, Getting crafty: a creative approach to activism, Positive News, Winter 2012 creative and non-threatening,Holly Howe, Sarah Corbett, House, Autumn 2010 and to focus on global poverty and human rights injustices.Jameela Oberman, Stitch in time, Big Issue in the North, 10–16 October 2011
The group is supported by patrons.Holly Royce Here’s why you should adopt a Craftivist this Christmas Metro, 21 December 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2024
About
The Craftivist Collective's efforts have been deemed 'guerrilla crafting', as their projects often involve leaving crafted messages in public places. Their projects are often small-scale, intended to bring viewers closer to the work. There are lists of projects to do and video tutorials online.Join the collective, Mollie Makes, issue 9 They run talks, workshops, stalls and exhibitions and sell Craftivist Collective kits and merchandise.
The 'collective' is a loose term that encompasses anyone who gets involved.Gavin, http://www.otesha.org.uk/blog/4662/diy/the-craftivism-qa.html The Craftivism Q&A, otesha.org.uk, 23 March 2012 The group particularly seeks to engage people who haven't previously had much involvement or interest in civic engagement. For many members the group is a stepping stone to more traditional activist methods.Nikki Shaill, Craftivist Collective, Lady Craft zine for Ladyfest Ten, Summer 2010 Corbett calls it 'slow activism' and 'introverted activism', saying "it's not about performance and vying for attention, it's about offering people the choice to engage".Corbett, Sarah (2013). A Little Book of Craftivism. Cicada.
The groups hold regular meetings.Wanda Caton, The art of resistance, Weekly Zaman, 21 July 2012Craftivists, RWD magazine, April 2010 Other groups such as Women's Institutes and schools have also been involved in projects.Sarah Corbett-Batson, http://www.trebuchet-magazine.com/sarah-corbett-interview-part-1/ Sarah Corbett: Interview (part 1), trebuchet-magazine.com, 3 July 2013 The collective is self-funded and receives donated materials from supporters.
History
A self-proclaimed 'burnt-out activist' who disliked the image of the aggressive activist, but wanted to do something to change the world, Sarah Corbett was involved in activism while growing up in Liverpool and then studying at the University of Manchester. She worked for traditional charities for seven years. It was after moving to London for a job in 2007 and joining various activist groups that she started getting increasingly into her hobby of cross-stitch, finding that it helped with stress.
She didn't feel like she fit into any of the activist groups she joined in London. She had been cross-stitching as a hobby since the age of 18 and in August 2008 had the 'light bulb' idea to combine the two.
Corbett set up the Lonely Craftivist blog in 2008 and began receiving comments and emails from people around the world asking to join in. She held a first meeting and got in touch with sociologist Betsy Greer who coined the word 'craftivism' in 2003.Katie Harris, Meet the women quietly crafting their own revolution, telegraph.co.uk, 13 March 2013, retrieved 7 January 2014 Greer encouraged Corbett to found and coordinate a national group called Craftivist Collective. In 2012, Corbett went part-time at her Oxfam job to devote more time to the collective,Sharon Barnard and Jameela Oberman, I use my craft skills as a tool for peace, Woman Alive, May 2012 and in October 2012 she gave up her job to work full-time for Craftivist Collective.
The collective's work employs craft to speak to broader issues. In 2010 and 2011, the group left 'samplers' around London Fashion Week Sites with cross-stitched statistics on the low wages of laborers making the clothes that high-paid fashion models wore on the runway. Sarah Corbett encourages people to send cross-stitched messages to politicians, arguing that they are more memorable than an email or a petition. In 2015, Corbett and the Craftivist Collective researched the members of the board for Marks & Spencer, a retail company that failed to pay its employees livable wages. The group presented cross-stitched gifts to M&S board members, encouraging the company to pay 50,000 of their staff members fairly. Ten months later, the company made significant changes to their wages; Corbett said that the board took her side and that it was "the most powerful campaign they'd witnessed."
Partnerships
The group have worked with: Bystander Revolution Christian Aid Mind"Why I stitched a message to my MP", Mind, 7 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2023 One World Week'’And Sew To Bed official blog’’, andsewtobed.wordpress.com, retrieved 7 January 2014 OxfamHannah Bullivant, The Craftivist Collective, http://www.ameliasmagazine.com/earth/the-craftivist-collective/2010/04/05/, 5 April 2010 People & Planet Save the ChildrenRin Simpson, Crafts enthusiasts in stitch-up against world hunger, Positive News, Winter 2012 Toms ShoesToms Pop Up Give Shop in Spitalfields, londonpopups.com, December 2012, retrieved 7 January 2014 UNICEF‘’Instructions’’ , unicef.org.uk, retrieved 7 January 2014 War on Want
They co-created the Craftivism badge for Girlguiding. "How To Be a Craftivist as a Form of Gentle Protest with Sarah Corbett", Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft. Retrieved 30 March 2024"Interest Badges: Craftivism", Girlguiding. Retrieved 4 September 2023
Their manifesto was used by the World Wildlife Fund in a campaign that helped change the law to protect migratory birds.Vicky Allan, "Rebel knitters. How craftivism is changing the world, one cross stitch at a time.", The Herald Scotland, 13 October 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2023
The collective supports Fine Cell Work, a social enterprise that trains prisoners in needlework.Stitched Stories: a tale of subversive stitchers, vimeo.com, retrieved 7 January 2014Craftivist Collective – Craft As A Tool For Personal Transformation, mrxstitch.com, 8 December 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
Workshops
The group have run workshops at: Anya Hindmarch"Anya Hindmarch: Craftivist Collective Workshop with Sarah Corbett", Ticket Tailor. Retrieved 4 September 2023 Craft Contemporary in Los Angeles, 'Craft Contemporary', 27 March 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2023 Greenbelt festival Hayward Gallery NUS Student Conference Queen Elizabeth Hall Secret Cinema Secret Garden Party Sheffield Doc/Fest Southbank Centre Tate Britain UCL Victoria and Albert Museum with CoatsThe Craft Campaign: You're A Star , vam.ac.uk, retrieved 7 January 2014 Wilderness Festival The Women's Library
Exhibitions
The group's work has been exhibited at:
The Bluecoat gallery in Liverpool The People's History Museum St Fagans museum in CardiffWhat's On, museumwales.ac.uk, retrieved 7 January 2014 The Ulster Hall, BelfastThe Craftivist Collective, visit-belfast.com, retrieved 7 January 2014
Talks and lectures
Bauhaus University, "D&AD". Retrieved 30 March 2024. British MuseumCan craft be used to help change the world?, britishmuseum.org, 31 August 2011, retrieved 7 January 2014 Leeds College of Art Parsons The New School for Design Sunday Wise TedXHow a piece of fabric can change the world: Sarah Corbett at TEDxBrixton, youtube.com, 23 October 2013, retrieved 7 January 2014 University College London, "art + activism: queer and feminist visibilities", 27 April 2018. Retrieved 30 March 2024. Wigtown Book Festival
Books
A Little Book of Craftivism, published in 2013 by Cicada. How To Be A Craftivist, published in 2017 by Unbound.Corbett, Sarah (2017). How To Be A Craftivist. Unbound. Canary Craftivists Manual, self-published in 2021.Corbett, Sarah (2021). Canary Craftivists Manual. Self-published. Craftivist Collective Handbook: 20 craft projects to help to make a positive difference in our world, due to be published in 2024 by Unbound.Corbett, Sarah (2024). Craftivist Collective Handbook. Unbound.
Media
BBC Radio 4 'Four Thought'"Craftivism: Gentle Protest", "BBC Radio 4", 23 September 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2024. NPR"Sarah Corbett: How Can Introverts Be Activists Too?", "NPR", 12 April 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2024. Sarah Brown's Better Angels podcast"Meet the introvert activists who are quietly changing the world", "Their World", 3 April 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2024. Material Matters with Grant Gibson podcast"Sarah Corbett on stitching and activism.", "Podtails", 2 December 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2024. Al JazeeraWorkers' plight in focus at UK fashion week, aljazeera.com, 12 September 2013, retrieved 7 January 2014 Canal+ television show Nouveaux Explorateurs: MegalopolisJameela Oberman, Panache!, Adbusters Australia, Nov/Dec 2011London Craftivists filmed for French TV: Canal+ Nov 2011, 14 January 2012, retrieved 7 January 2014
Awards
Civility in Politics - Campaigner of the Year 2022, nominated alongside Marcus Rashford and Richard Ratcliffe, partner of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe"2022 AWARDS SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED", "Civility in Politics", 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2024. Sheila McKechnie Foundation - Economic Justice Campaigner 2017, winner"SMK 2017 Campaigner Awards Speech", "The Right Ethos", March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2024. Care2 Innovator Award 2017 Vote now for the 2017 UK Impact Award finalists! care2services.com. Retrieved 7 April 2024 Observer Ethical Awards - Arts & Culture Award 2013, runner-upLucy Siegle, If your aim is true and good, you will succeed, The Observer Magazine, 16 June 2013
References
External links
A Lonely Craftivist blog