Sarah Corbett is an English activist, author, speaker, and the founder of Craftivist Collective. Corbett is known for developing the 'gentle protest' approach to activism, and coining the term 'gentle protest'.
In 2020 she was featured in Forbes' list of 100 UK Leading Environmentalists (Who Happen To Be Women).
She is a lifelong Ashoka fellow and in 2022 was awarded an honorary degree from Goldsmiths.
Her work is based on psychology and neuroscience, and her style is becoming a critical friend to those in power.
Background Corbett grew up in West Everton in Liverpool in the 1980s, when it was one of the most deprived wards in the UK.Katie Harris, Meet the women quietly crafting their own revolution, The Daily Telegraph, 13 March 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2014 Her mother is a local councillor in Liverpool and her father is a vicar.Sharon Barnard and Jameela Oberman, I use my craft skills as a tool for peace, Woman Alive, May 2012 Her parents have been a big influence on Corbett's politics, for example by taking her to South Africa as a childKarima Adi, Craftivism, Lionheart magazine, issue 4 and on protests to save local housing from demolition. She has said "All we ever do around the kitchen table is talk about religion and politics."Charlotte Humphery, We'll change the world stitch by stitch, Oh Comely magazine
At school Corbett was voted Head Girl and successfully campaigned for lockers for students. She studied at the University of ManchesterJameela Oberman, Stitch in time, Big Issue in the North, 10–16 October 2011 where she was active in numerous campaign groups. After graduating she took a course on grassroots community action based on the work of Steve Biko. She went on to work for various international charities in their youth and community programmes and campaigns departments, including Christian Aid and the Department for International Development. In 2011 she worked on campaigns for Oxfam in London. In 2012 she went part-time at Oxfam to devote more time to the Craftivist Collective.
Corbett is a Christian who says faith plays a role in her craftivism and that she has "learnt to act out my faith rather than just talk about it".
One of Corbett's most distinctive features is her tattooed arms, which include a pair of scissors wrapped in thread, a sewing needle, measuring tape, and safety pins. The 'craft tattoos' remind her of "what I do and why and to make sure I keep going."Ruth Lewy, I get frustrated knitting socks. I want to make a difference., The Times Saturday Review, 10 December 2011
Craftivism Corbett has "a huge passion for craft".Nikki Shaill, Craftivist Collective, Lady Craft zine for Ladyfest Ten, Summer 2010 She has no formal training as an artist or craftsperson, saying "I can do it anyone can do it." Her main craft is cross-stitch,Holly Howe, Sarah Corbett, House, Autumn 2010 which she often uses to make mini-protest banners. She has described her work as using "creativity to make the public aware of the struggles people are still going through".DK Goldstein, Make a Stand, Pica Pica magazine, 2010
Books A Little Book of Craftivism, published in 2013 by Cicada.Corbett, Sarah (2013). A Little Book of Craftivism. Cicada.How a piece of fabric can change the world: Sarah Corbett at TEDxBrixton, youtube.com, 23 October 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2014 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.
Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions 'Gentle Protest' in StockholmSarah Corbett Gentle Protest hv-textil.se. Retrieved 13 September 2017 'Gentle Protest' at Helsinki Design Week
Group exhibitions 'Article 31.1' at Workshop 44Article 31.1 programme, 31point1.wordpress.com. Retrieved 7 January 2014 'Renegade Potters and Extreme Craft' at Ink_dHannah Bullivant, The Craftivist Collective, https://www.ameliasmagazine.com/earth/the-craftivist-collective/2010/04/05/, 5 April 2010 'Riot Here, Riot Now' at W3 GalleryExhibition: Riot Here, Riot Now, W3 Gallery, craftivist-collective.com. Retrieved 7 January 2014 'Spoken Threads' in New York and Los AngelesSpoken Threads Craftivist Fiber Art, artragegallery.org. Retrieved 7 January 2014
Talks and lectures Corbett's 2016 talk Activism Needs Introverts was featured on the TED homepage in November 2017 and has generated over 1 million views since. Sarah Corbett: Activism needs Introverts ted.com. Retrieved 23 November 2017
Corbett has also spoken about craftivism at: TedX Salon London Lost Lectures Sunday Wise at The Ivy The Victoria and Albert Museum Women's Institutes Parsons The New School for Design Leeds College of Art Maker FaireSarah Corbett: The Art of Gentle Protest maker faire.com. Retrieved 7 April 2024
She's participated in a project with Falmouth UniversityCraftivist Garden #wellMAKING falmouth.ac.uk. Retrieved 13 September 2017 and been a Twitter chair and guest blogger for the British Museum.Can craft be used to help change the world?, britishmuseum.org, 31 August 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014
Writing Corbett has written columns and blogs for: Crafty Magazine MrXStitch.com, mrxstitch.com. Retrieved 7 January 2014 Campaign Central, campaigncentral.org.uk. Retrieved 7 January 2014
Media Corbett was featured on Stitched Stories, a documentary by Northern Productions.Stitched Stories: a tale of subversive stitchers, vimeo.com. Retrieved 7 January 2014 She was also a panellist discussing 'Not Knowing' for the Lush Speakeasy podcast.The Lush Speakeasy - Not Knowing lush.com. Retrieved 13 September 2017
In April 2026, Corbett was interviewed for the National Museums Liverpool podcast speaking about her history as an activist and the effectiveness of The Craftivist Collective The Craftivist Collective NML Podcast Retrieved 15 April 2026 Transcript:
References
External links
Vida, Obra y Libros usados de Sarah-Corbett Craftivist Collective website