Contemporary Authors

• How to Be a Craftivist: The Art of Gentle Protest - 2018 Random House , London, England
• A Little Book of Craftivism - 2013 Cicada, London, England

• Amazon -

  Sarah Corbett is a professional campaigner. She set up the global Craftivist Collective in 2009 and is now one of the leading spokespeople in the craftivism movement. Sarah has worked with art institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum; charities such as Save the Children and Unicef; cult jewelers Tatty Devine; and many others. She has taught her approach to craftivism at universities including Parsons New School in New York City. Her first book was A Little Book of Craftivism.

• Wikipedia -

  Sarah Corbett
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  For the poet, see Sarah Corbett (poet).
  Sarah P. Corbett

  Born
  West Everton
  Nationality
  British
  Known for
  Founder of Craftivist Collective
  Sarah Corbett is the founder of Craftivist Collective, a social enterprise which uses the technique of craftivism - combining craft and activism[1] - to engage people in social justice issues "in a quiet, non-confrontational manner involving pretty, handcrafted gestures of defiance."[2]
  She wrote A Little Book of Craftivism which was published in 2013,[3][4] and How To Be A Craftivist, published in 2017.[5]

  Contents [hide]
  1
  Craftivism
  2
  Background
  3
  References
  4
  External links

  Craftivism[edit]
  Corbett has "a huge passion for craft".[6] She has no formal training as an artist or craftsperson, saying "I can do it anyone can do it."[7] Her main craft is cross-stitch,[8] which she often uses to make mini-protest banners.[9] She has described her work as using "creativity to make the public aware of the struggles people are still going through".[10]
  Work by Sarah Corbett has been exhibited and sold in art exhibitions[8] including:
  'Article 31.1' at Workshop 44.[11]
  'Renegade Potters and Extreme Craft' at Ink_d.[12]
  'Riot Here, Riot Now' at W3 Gallery.[13]
  'Spoken Threads' in New York and Los Angeles.[14]
  'Gentle Protest' in Stockholm.[15]
  She has spoken about craftivism at various TedX meetups,[4] Salon London,[3] Lost Lectures, Sunday Wise at The Ivy, the Victoria and Albert Museum and at Women's Institutes.[16]
  She has also given guest lectures at Parsons The New School for Design and Leeds College of Art, participated in a project with Falmouth University[17] and has been a Twitter chair and guest blogger for the British Museum.[18] She is a columnist for Crafty Magazine and MrXStitch.com[19] and blogs regularly for Campaign Central.[20]
  Corbett was featured on Stitched Stories, a documentary by Northern Productions.[21] She was also a panellist discussing 'Not Knowing' for the Lush Speakeasy podcast.[22]
  Corbett's 2016 talk Activism Needs Introverts was featured on the TED homepage in November 2017. [23]
  Background[edit]
  Corbett grew up in West Everton in Liverpool in the 1980s,[3] when it was one of the most deprived wards in the UK.[16] Her mother is a local councillor in Liverpool and her father is a vicar.[24] Her parents have been a big influence on Corbett's politics, for example by taking her to South Africa as a child[25] 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."[7]
  At school Corbett was voted Head Girl and successfully campaigned for lockers for students. She studied at the University of Manchester[9] 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.[4] In 2011 she worked on campaigns for Oxfam in London.[9] In 2012 she went part-time at Oxfam to devote more time to the Craftivist Collective.[24]
  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".[24]
  One of Corbett's most distinctive features is her tattooed arms, which include a pair of scissors wrapped in thread,[7] 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."[26]

• TED - https://www.ted.com/speakers/sarah_corbett

  Sarah Corbett is a craftivist who teaches her "gentle protest" approach to individuals and organizations around the world. She also makes craftivism (craft + activism) projects and DIY kits for people who want to do a quieter, kinder and more beautiful form of effective activism than what is sometimes traditionally offered.
  Growing up in a low-income area of the UK, Corbett has been involved in activism since she was three years old and has worked for more than a decade in the UK charity sector as a professional campaigner focusing on international development. But in 2008 she burnt out as an activist and introvert and wanted to find an effective way of campaigning that fitted her skills and ethics and personality. She set up the Craftivist Collective social enterprise in 2009 after people wanted to join in her new form of activism. Now there are craftivists around the world who take part in social change using handicrafts.
  Corbett won the Sheila McKechnie award for Economic Justice campaigner of the Year 2016. Craftivist Collective won an Innovation Award from Care2 Impact Award 2016. She works with charities, arts institutions, universities and has exhibited her solo exhibition, "Gentle Protest," in Stockholm, Helsinki and London. She lives in East London and works worldwide.

• Unbound - https://unbound.com/authors/sarah-corbett

  Sarah Corbett grew up in an activist family and has worked as a professional campaigner for 6 years most recently with Oxfam. She started doing craftivism (craft + activism) in 2008. Due to demand Sarah set up the global Craftivist Collective in 2009 providing projects, tools and services to individuals and organisations wanting to learn effective craftivism. She is now one of the leading spokespeople in the craftivism movement. Corbett has delivered over 300 workshops and events to over 11,000 people worldwide. She works with art institutions such as the Southbank & National Portrait Gallery as well as charities such as Save the Children & Unicef. She has collaborated with cult jewellers Tatty Devine & Secret Cinema amongst others and has just finished her first solo exhibition called ‘Gentle Protest’ in Stockholm. Corbett has taught her approach to craftivism at universities including Bauhaus University in Germany and Parsons New School in New York City*. Her first book “A Little Book of Craftivism” was published October 2013.

• Do - https://www.thedolectures.com/sarah-corbett-why-shouting-quietly-gets-you-heard/#.WwrhsUxuLIU

  Sarah is a reluctant doer who learnt the art of campaigning in her own quiet but very effective way. She became head girl and introduced lockers so the kids didn’t have to carry heavy bags. She did this by finding one important person to help in her campaigns. She used her love of craft and campaigning to create craftivists, which she now runs full time and is making change one stitch at a time. A life-affirming talk from an inspirational role model.
  —
  Sarah was born in Liverpool in 1980s. For 6 years she worked for Christian Aid, DFID and most recently Oxfam as a professional campaigner & mobiliser. She started doing craftivism (craft + activism) in 2008 as a reaction to traditional forms of activism. Due to demand Sarah set up the global Craftivist Collective in 2009.
  This hobby has turned her into one of the leading spokespeople in the craftivism movement (The Times featured her as the leader of one of their 5 'New Tribes' of 2012) & was shortlisted for the 2013 Observer Ethical Award for Arts & Culture- they lost out to the film Beasts of the Southern Wild so weren't too upset. Sarah works with art institutions such as V&A, Southbank & National Portrait Gallery as well as charities such as Save the Children & Unicef and has also collaborated with cult jewellers Tatty Devine & Secret Cinema amongst others. As well as collaborations, she also sells products, delivers training workshops & talks, lecturers & exhibits her own craftivism work around the world & her book “A Little Book of Craftivism’” was released October 2013 distributed by Thames & Hudson & DAP worldwide (50% crowdfunded - random combination aye?!).

• Greenbelt - https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/artists/sarah-corbett/

  Sarah Corbett

  Sarah Corbett grew up in an activist family and has worked as a professional campaigner for over 10 years most recently with Oxfam.
  She started doing craftivism (craft + activism) in 2008 as a reaction to traditional aggressive or quick forms of activism. Due to demand Sarah set up the global Craftivist Collective in 2009 which now has thousands of supporters across the world taking part in her craftivism projects.
  She is now one of the leading spokespeople in the craftivism movement (with media across the world including French and Italian TV), has contributed to six books and regularly gives talks and lectures around the world.
  Sarah works with art institutions such as the V&A, Southbank and National Portrait Gallery as well as charities such as Save the Children and Unicef and has also collaborated, among others, with cult jewellers Tatty Devine and Secret Cinema.
  Sarah also sells products, delivers workshops and exhibits her own craftivism work around the world. She is author of A Little Book of Craftivism and her larger book How To Be A Craftivist: the Art of Gentle Protest will be out in October 2017 with Unbound publishers.
  Links
  Twitter
  Instagram
  Facebook
  Website
  Talks
  A spoonful of craft helps the activism go down (2017)
  Gentle Protest: how gentleness can be a powerful tool in activism. (2017)
  Appearances
  2017 - The Common Good
  2014 - Travelling Light
  2012 - Saving Paradise

• Craftivist Collective - https://craftivist-collective.com/

  Founded by award-winning campaigner Sarah Corbett, the Craftivist Collective is more than an alternative use for craft. Our gentle protest approach to craftivism aims to change the world with deliberate, thoughtful actions that provoke reflection and respectful conversation instead of aggression and division.

  Craftivism is for everyone from skilled crafters to burnt out activists, and those people who want to challenge injustice in the world but don’t know what to do, where to start or how to prioritise their energies and time.

• Time Out London - https://www.timeout.com/london/blog/it-sounds-quirky-but-it-really-does-work-craftivist-sarah-corbett-on-the-power-of-positive-crafting-122216

  ‘It sounds quirky, but it really does work’: craftivist Sarah Corbett on the power of positive crafting

  By Alexi D
  Posted: Thursday December 22 2016, 3:17pm

  I was raised as an activist. My parents even took me squatting at the age of three. But one day I realised I’d stopped enjoying activism. I’m quite a shy person and I found that so much of political protest involved screaming at people while holding placards, or shouting at politicians to tell them how awful they were. It felt a bit like bullying, really, and it definitely didn’t agree with my sensibilities.

  But I hadn’t lost my desire to do something about injustice, and I kept asking myself: if we want to make the world kinder, more beautiful and more just, shouldn’t our activism be kind, beautiful and just too? Amid all the name-calling, shouldn’t we be able to do something nice?

  –– ADVERTISEMENT ––

  At the time, I’d started getting into cross-stitch and I wondered: could craft help to make the world a better place? So I began stitching political messages and putting them up in public as mini banners in the hope that people might share them online. I just wanted to try to start a conversation in a gentle way.
  Then I started a blog about it and it just took off. Suddenly I had people from all across the world asking to join in. Galleries started asking me to do events. International development charities such as Unicef asked me to create campaigns for them.
  One campaign we did even convinced Marks & Spencer to pay the living wage. We bought shares in the company so we could attend their AGM and made each board member a bespoke hanky, into which we stitched a message asking them to pay their staff the living wage. They really were bespoke: we googled the crap out of those people, used their favourite colours, decorated them with things that they liked… the hankies were even from M&S. They were totally overwhelmed and ended up working with us. One of them recently told me that her hanky has gone into the M&S archives in Leeds.
  It sounds like this deliberately quirky thing, but it really does work. It helps give quieter people who want to make a difference a way to make things happen. I’m so proud to have been able to do all the things I’ve done so far. I’ve delivered more than 300 talks and workshops, reaching 12,000 people.
  Unfortunately, craftivism isn’t something you can make money from. A lot of the charities or galleries who want me to work for them can’t afford to pay for it. I can’t do it as a hobby as it’s just too much work, and I’ve realised that I can’t carry on week after week stressing about money. I’m just doing tiny jobs, getting completely stressed out by my financial situation. It’s a horrible place to be. I hate how much power money has over us.
  But I don’t want to give it up. I feel like so many people have told me how much of a difference my work has made to their lives. So this Christmas I’m asking people to ‘adopt’ me. I’m looking for at least 160 people to give me £10 a month in 2017, so that I can earn the equivalent of the Living Wage and keep my Craftivist Collective alive.
  There are so many more things I want to do. I want to set up a school of gentle protest, to help shy people like me to learn how they can make a difference. I want to start teaching craftivism to kids. I want to expand the model of shareholder activism we used with Marks & Spencer.
  Ultimately, I want to carry on doing kind, gentle activism, because I don’t want to live in a world where we battle each other constantly. No one wants to live like that. Or at least I hope not.

• - http://hebdenbridgeartsfestival.co.uk/2015/07/02/review-craftivism-with-sarah-corbett/

  Review: Craftivism with Sarah Corbett.
  Posted by admin_hbaf | Jul 2, 2015

  So, what on earth is Craftivism? Sarah Corbett, Founder of the London-based Craftivist Collective in 2008, tells us it’s a form of activism using craft to get the message across. Despite sounding rather benign, it is actually a clever and politically savvy way of being activist, without all the noise. Betsy Greer, a writer who first coined the phrase, says “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”.
  Sarah has been involved in social justice issues since she was three years old, when her community occupied council houses in Liverpool earmarked for demolition, during the turbulent mid-eighties. The houses survived and Sarah has been an activist ever since.
  Her working background is in the charity sector, but she realised that she found the traditional methods of activism to be too confrontational and aggressive, and therefore often counter-productive. And because of her naturally introvert personality she also found it exhausting, and felt burned out after several years.
  So Sarah turned to craft – cross-stitch – as a form of therapeutic escape, and had a light bulb moment: she thought she could combine craft with activism to better ends. She did some research, contacted Betsy Greer and set up the Craftivist Collective. The ‘collective’ is formed by the all people who join in and contribute, whether that is using one of the kits available on the website, or using their own form of craft to be activist.
  Women have long used craft to make powerful statements – think American Quilts and Suffrage Banners – and the Craftivism movement is gaining a foothold in activist circles. It is not without detractors; many harder-core activists think it is too cute, too soft, but the fans say it’s just another string to the activist bow. A quieter, more considered, more strategic and low-key string, which can attract a whole new type of activist.
  Sarah teaches and runs workshops with various groups, including prisoners and charities, and finds that the considered approach helps people discuss difficult topics and avoid arguments. You need to concentrate when you are sewing, so eye contact is reduced, and you are also prompted the think hard about what you are involved in. She finds that a lot of people who would not normally get involved in activism say it feels safe to do so with craftivism. They can be effective alone or in groups. If you have been bothered to sew a message on a fabric circle and make a pot of jam to attach it to, people are far more likely to stop and think than at any number of click-campaigns. In fact the activist is more to likely to think about it too.
  Sarah comes across as likeable, engaging and funny, but there is a steel behind those eyes. She is not messing about here, is passionate about this vocation. Her tattoos attest to this, echoing her passions in ink. She says she has managed to engage people in dialogue, including her MP, far more successfully using craftivism than she ever would have by shouting through a loud-hailer or clicking endless online petitions. Her MP told her online clicks were a waste of everyone’s time, so instead she presented her message embroidered on a handkerchief. The effect was to cut through their previous barriers, allowed them to set up a serious dialogue, and they were able to work together for several years.
  Sarah’s talk was inspiring and uplifting. She outlined her ‘top five’ types of activism (Inner Activism, Gentle Activism, Intriguing Activism, Inclusive Activism and Transformational Activism) explaining how she thinks this way is effective, both for the activist and the ‘target’. And she urges us to be the change that we want to see, to make it part of our lives. It can be effective, thought-provoking and rewarding.
  By Sally Harrop (Moonantlers.co.uk)

How to Be a Craftivist: The Art of Gentle Protest

Publishers Weekly. 265.8 (Feb. 19, 2018): p71.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
How to Be a Craftivist: The Art of Gentle Protest
Sarah Corbett. Random House UK (IPG, dist.), $21.95 (304p) ISBN 978-1-78352-407-5
Corbett, founder of the Craftivist Collective, a worldwide network of activists who use crafting as their method of outreach, practices what she preaches in this deeply felt, finely wrought how-to book. She encourages crafters--or even people who've never wielded a needle--to "gain wisdom from engaging with global injustices and looking for answers to problems while we craft, engaging our hands, heart and head." Corbett divides her craftivist manifesto into two sections. The first addresses power in the process of slowing down, being mindful, and working creatively and communally. The second half of the book looks at the product, which, like the pink knit hats distributed among friends at the Women's Marches, function as a gift and a message while being a catalyst for change through greater awareness. The book offers more guidelines for living with integrity as a craftivist than it does actual projects, which are briefly described in the book and accompanied by a footnote with a URL directing readers to the collective's website for more concrete directions. Peaceful protestors will appreciate the thread of Corbett's understanding encouragement. (Apr.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"How to Be a Craftivist: The Art of Gentle Protest." Publishers Weekly, 19 Feb. 2018, p. 71. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A529357578/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=9ab10b07. Accessed 27 May 2018.

Gale Document Number: GALE|A529357578

• She Zine
  http://shezinemag.com/2018/03/book-review-little-book-craftivism/
  Word count: 322

  I am taking another trip deep into my bookcase this evening to review another one of my favourite books on the subject of ‘Craftivism‘. It is written by Craftivist Collective founder and author of the new book ‘How To Be A Craftivist‘, Sarah Corbett. I am presently reading her current title and am looking forward to an interview with Sarah once I have finished the book. The book I am reviewing today is called ‘A Little Book of Craftivism‘ and it very literally is a little book, measuring only 6.1″ tall.
  When I first unpacked it from the mail, I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but was definitely a little surprised, as this mini-tome offers a brilliant glimpse into the world of Craftivism, even giving you the tools and a variety of different ideas to get started on your own.
  Try the simple cross stitch tutorial and stitch your Craftivist message onto recycled fabric swatches or whatever other scrap materials you can find.

  The author sits down with a very inspiring pop up Craftivist, who has set herself in a beautiful public park setting, making herself available to answer bystanders questions.
  There are even a list of inspiring quotes that the author has included to get your mental juices flowing!

  So whether you are looking to start a Craftivist group of your very own with 5 or 6 of your pals or if you are just interested in changing the world solo, this little book is a must read!
  Highly recommended!!
  If you live in the Toronto area, She Zine will be sponsoring Craftivist Nights, beginning in May (details TBC). Once we have confirmed the details, tickets will be available on this site and the Craftivist Night facebook group. Tickets are $18 and include everything you need to get started. All you need to do is show up and be ready to stitch!!

• Crafty Escapism
  http://www.craftyescapism.com/2018/01/a-book-review-of-how-to-be-craftivist.html
  Word count: 451

  Friday, January 5, 2018
  A Book Review of How to be a Craftivist by Sarah Corbett

  I realized I was a craftivist three years ago discovering "Craftivism: The Art of Craft and Activism" by Betsy Greer on a "new and notable in the 700s" display in Houston Downtown Library. Shortly afterwards I was fortunate enough to hear Betsy speak, on the topic, at our fantastic Houston Centre for Contemporary Craft. (I love this place and really don't visit it often enough!) I know we even spoke briefly but I really can't remember what I said now. It was something disappointingly inane because I was feeling so inspired by the talk. The book and Betsy's lecture changed the way I viewed my craft. Craftivism is "using your creativity to make the world a better place" (Betsy Greer, craftivism.com). I realized that I was making a difference and it was a wonderful feeling.

  I teach crochet and knitting and I can see the positive impact this has on my students firsthand. I run a yak and yarn group where we hook items for local charities. I make items for larger craftivism projects to raise awareness of social issues. I buy local, independent and sustainable yarn whenever I can (that's a lot of buying). But I've realized I have become too comfortable with my definition of craftivism. So I supported and bought a copy of "How to be a Craftivist" by Sarah Corbett on Unbound because I hoped that reading this book would help me to become a more effective craftivist.

  And it has been just the book to take my craftivism to the next level. It's a very practical book aimed at "everyone who wants to help improve our wonderful world in a beautiful, gentle and loving way". That's me! Yes!

  The definitions at the beginning of the book are extremely useful. Sarah provides a valuable insight with her background in activism and the nonprofit sector.

  I kept reading. So many ideas! Here's an excerpt from the book on Slow Activism. Read it! It's so good! The case study on #imapiece - jigsaw pieces crafted for the Save the Children "Race against Hunger" campaign was the one to convince me that craftivism can effectively tackle social injustice.

  This amazing book has shown me that craftivism can be more effective and powerful than I'd realized. My advice would be to read the book, take it all in and join the collective too. Buy a hard copy here on the Craftivist Collective website or an Ebook edition here on the Unbound website. Then report back and tell me what you think!