Craftivism: A Gentle Protest (With Leeds Craftivists)

Written by Clarrie Ramsden, Hub Worker for Climate Action Seacroft

Craftivism: A gentle protest

Craftivism is a portmanteau word made of “Craft” and “Activism”. In the news recently, there have been stories about activists protesting against the use of oils by glueing themselves to walls and throwing soup onto paintings. This and other direct forms of protest are visible and often get reported in the news, but they do not always get the message to the right person in order to open dialogue and effect change.

Crafts have often been viewed in history as feminine crafts: the women working in the home to clothe the family and provide decoration for the home.  More recently, these craft skills have been used as a way of protesting more gently to get an important message across.

“Leeds Craftivists are a group of creatives passionate about changing the world for the better. We believe that if we’re hoping to build a kinder, more gentle world, then our actions must be kind and gentle too. We craft intriguing objects to invite those in power to join us in working towards a better world”

Anna Bland of Leeds Craftivists

Let’s look further at the language of crafts. Although craftivism is a recent word and concept, the use of craft as a subversive tactic can be found throughout history. First, the word craft is often associated with trickery. To call someone crafty is to identify them as clever and cunning. You can “spin” a plot. Similarly, the French word for the trick is tricoter, which means to tie or knot together…

The term craftivism was coined in 2003 by writer Betsy Greer in order to join the separate spheres of craft and activism. Her favourite self-created definition of the term states, “craftivism is a way of looking at life where voicing opinions through creativity makes your voice stronger, your compassion deeper & your quest for justice more infinite.”

In practice, what is craftivism?

Leeds Craftivists have a campaign each quarter. Their current project is to explore biodiversity and to support the RSPB campaign “Attack on Nature”. They invite you to send a hand-crafted bee to your MP with a handwritten note. “Here in Leeds, we want to encourage biodiversity in Leeds City Centre. In the city centre, some large planters are part of Leeds in Bloom. We are asking the businesses that look after them to take care of them and plant some native plants that will encourage pollinators.”

In Seacroft, a new group created by Climate Action, Seacroft is also exploring how to use crafts to protest and effect change. The Seacroft Craftivists are making a bouquet of flowers with insects, bees and other small creatures on, which will have a wrapper with a message on to be presented to the contractors in order to open a dialogue to discuss the use of pesticides and herbicides used along the bases of walls, fences and hedges after the verges are cut. This is causing a loss of habitat for our natural pollinators.

If you would like to get involved, contact the Leeds Craftivists here: ”. Leeds Craftivists: Biodiversity Campaign – leedssanctuary.org.uk

Seacroft Craftivists can be found on Facebook, at climateactionseacroft@gmail.com or contact Clarrie at 07931 461492