Gentle Craftivism: Sarah P Corbett & Tom Dyckhoff in conversation

Award-winning activist, author and Ashoka Fellow Sarah P Corbett will be in-conversation with broadcaster and design expert Tom Dyckhoff. They will be discussing Sarah's new book, The Craftivist Collective Handbook, through the lens of design-thinking and the role gentle protest can have in the spaces today.

Sarah Corbett set up the global community ‘Craftivist Collective’ in 2009 after demand from individuals, groups and organisations around the world. They wanted to take part in her unique methodology to ‘craftivism’ (craft + activism), a term she coined as ‘Gentle Protest’ in 2014. Sarah provides products and services to help people to be strategic gentle protesters, and she nurtures a growing global community of quiet craftivists. Sarah’s work has helped change laws, policies, hearts and minds around the world through her innovative protests. 

The protests are rooted in neuroscience and psychology and use the process of craft (mostly hand-embroidery and papercrafts) to help activists engage thoughtfully in social change issues and respond strategically. Sarah uses intriguing handmade products as personal reminders to be conscious citizens, as bespoke gifts for decision-makers from critical friends (not aggressive enemies), or to leave as small pieces of street art to provoke thought and action from the public, offline and online. 

Copies of the Craftivist Collective Handbook as well as ethical kits and tools will be available to buy at the event (available to buy on card only for safety reasons).
 

Biographies:

Sarah P Corbett was born in 1983 into an activist family in Everton, Liverpool. A professional campaigner most recently with Oxfam GB, she works with charities, museums, galleries and unusual allies to reach new and nervous audiences to activism. Sarah was included in the Crafts Council 2018 ‘Power List’. She has given lectures including at Parsons College of Design in New York, exhibited in Stockholm (2015), Helsinki Design Week (2016), Design Museum Danmark in Copenhagen (2022-2024) and her speech ‘Activism Needs Introverts’ was chosen as a TED Talk of the Day. 

Tom Dyckhoff is a historian, teacher, writer and broadcaster about cities, architecture, geographies and visual culture. He teaches the history and theory of cities and architecture at the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment, University College London and Central St Martins, University of the Arts, London. Tom is the author of The Age of Spectacle: the rise and fall of iconic architecture (Windmill Books, 2017), and has written and presented many series for television and radio. He is currently design judge on Channel 4’s design-and-making competition series, Handmade.

X + Why is a home for social changemakers across the UK. Each site is carbon negative, uses clean energy and has exceptional recycling policies. B Corp Certified and host of this exciting event. The members at x+why are comprised of businesses across a huge range of sectors, who are collectively striving to make an impact. This is not just about Charity and Social Enterprise. It is about responsible business and the theory that you can do good and do well at the same time. They ask every member to sign their pledge for better business. It's our non-negotiable if you want to join their community. You don't have to be perfect - but you have to commit to trying harder. They are a brilliant community to join. 

*These are difficult times. We know some people may struggle to afford full price tickets. If you would like to attend this event but can’t afford to, I have donated a number of tickets. All of these 'gifted tickets' will be treated in confidence.