Craftivism: online communities of practice as platforms for creative protest

The term ‘craftivism’ was coined by Greer in 2003 as “a way of looking at life where voicing opinions [on social, economic and political issues] through creativity makes your voice stronger, your compassion deeper and your quest for justice more infinite” (Greer, 2016 para 1). This has since emerged into a world-wide movement, whereby “craftivists bomb urban spaces and inanimate objects as a means of art and consciousness-raising – sometimes political, sometimes humorous, sometimes dazzling, but always unexpected.” (Wallace, 2012; para 4). Discussions, debates and calls-to-action via online communities allow craftivists to connect with each other and “express their creativity in ways that provide a sense of meaning and value” (Orton- Johnson, 2014, 147).
A recent small-scale study explored the pivotal role of online communities of practice in developing, strengthening and influencing the work and status of craft activists on a world wide and ongoing basis, across the radical crafting community. Such forums enable online discussion, debate and promotion of events and also support the ‘practical activism’ that takes place offline through objects made by craftmakers (e.g. yarn-bombing, guerilla art, radical ceramics and rebellious embroidery projects). Future research is planned to explore creative protest – activism, subversion and political expression - through radical craft.