Craftivism is the practice of engaged creativity to highlight political or social causes. It is a gentle act of protest, where you create and gift something beautiful, handmade and personalised to a decision-maker, in order to highlight an issue and ask for constructive action to help make the world a better place.

What is Climate Craftivism?

Climate craftivism focuses on raising awareness of climate change and asking decision-makers to take climate action. In the lead up to COP26, climate craftivism is being used to highlight climate issues to national and international leaders.

The Craftivism Collective are encouraging non-typical climate change activists to get involved with their #canarycraftivists campaign which aims to use the soothing, thoughtful process of craft to help channel feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety or powerlessness about the climate into proactive, encouraging action and engagement with political decisionmakers.

Stiches for Survival are using mass craftivism to put the Earth centre-stage at COP26 by knitting, crocheting, stitching and crafting 1.5 miles of climate messages for the COP26 negotiators to urge them to take bold and binding action together.

Climate Craftivism in Bristol

This summer, one of our Bristol Community Climate Action project artists Dee Moxon, is using climate craftivism as a way to engage a diverse range of Bristol citizens in community level climate action. She has been working with our six community partners to understand the climate related challenges affecting their communities, and designing climate craftivism activities to highlight these issues.

If you fancy getting creative and trying your hand at a spot of climate craftivism this summer, Dee has created several short films to guide you through the process:

Love Your Lungs – make a botanical sun catcher

This activity is to raise awareness of air pollution and it is a cheap and easy activity that all the family can get involved with. Watch the ‘how to’ film and read about how to gift your climate craftivism sun catcher to a local decision with a personalised climate action message on Dee’s artist blog.

High-Rise Planter – grow food in an old pair of jeans

This activity highlights recycling and how you can grow food in the smallest of spaces. Watch the ‘how to’ film and read Dee’s blog to see how you can upcycle an old pair of trousers to create a vegetable or herb planter.

Dee will be developing more climate craftivism activities over the summer and for Great Big Green week, so keep an eye on our social media channels to find out more.

Summer Family Creativity with Heart of BS13

Our Community Climate Action partners Heart of BS13 have also been working with creatives to engage local young people in climate action. Artist Steph Reeves has created a great short film on how to make a fish puppet out of recycled rubbish – a great summer holiday creative project for all the family.

 

Read more about how we are using creativity to help inspire community led climate action

Read more about the Bristol Community Climate Action Project