Hi! Hayley here from Making for Change. I’ve been working with Craftspace over the last few months as the documenter for the Making for Change Expo.

Like everyone, I’ve been finding new ways to spend my time across the last few months, and I’ve loved seeing what different people and organisations are up to creatively during lockdown. I thought I would share some of some creative pages, campaigns, exhibitions & opportunities which I’ve seen. Have you seen any creative ideas during lockdown that you want to share? Let us know!

The Making for Change Expo will be launching soon, along with a whole range of creative, interactive tutorials and challenges. Be the first to know and make sure you’re following us on social media @craftspaceyouth.

Two Metres ApART

Arts Charity Mainspring Arts have curated Two Metres ApART, a digital museum of Neuro-Divergent Art, with a new exhibit each week until 29^th June, with a huge range of different mediums and content, created throughout lockdown. You can view the museum here.

Credit: Mainspring Arts

Feminists Work for Change

Feminists Work for Change are a feminist working groups based in the West Midlands. They’ve been sharing artwork submissions across their social media, responding to the word ‘Empower.’ The works will be sold in the future to raise funds for Baobab Women’s Project.

Find out more about their work here, or view the ‘empower’ submissions on their  social media @feministsworkforchange.

Empower Us Embroidery

Empower Us Embroidery is a project aiming to to empower and connect us through the creation of textile art and is a great example of craftivism. Take a look at some of their work @embroiderymakes, and if you stitch yourself then have a go at creating something. There are also online workshops available.

Gallery Learning Resources

Lots of galleries and museums have a whole range of learning activities online, with info on different artists and tutorials to follow yourself – try something new. Some examples are below:
Paint an Op Art Plant Pot with Tate Modern
Try out the Herbert Museum & Art Gallery’s arts activities

You Are So Very Beautiful

Craftivist Betsy Greer’s project ‘You Are So Very Beautiful’ is something we can all be involved in at the moment. It’s about creating affirmations to remember the intrinsic worth you hold, before placing those in a public space to share the love. Visit the website to find out more and get involved in the project.

Credit: YASVB, Mary England

Zine Making

Textile Artist Seleena Laverne Daye has created a short stop-motion animation on how to page a one page zine. You can view the video on her Vimeo account. She has also created some brilliant worksheets & tutorials on zine-making and its history, which we can’t wait to share with you soon – watch this space!

The Purple Pages – Creative Resources

Activist Ellen Jones runs @thepurplepages, providing community-driven resources on a range of issues including
LGBTQ+ matters, mental health & disability. Visit @thepurplepages on social media, or check out their free creative resource pack here for all sorts of creative tools, guides and ideas.

Credit: @thepurplepages, Ellen Jones

Craftspace Tutorials

In:Site festival is another Craftspace project that takes place each year in Pigeon Park in Birmingham City Centre. Makers and artists run drop-in workshops for public in a range of different craft techniques such as macramé and rag rugging. You can have a go at some of these yourself with Craftspace’s tutorial blogs. Head over to the In Site Blog to find out more.

Credit: Craftspace, In Site Blog