The Art of Activism by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert

 

Subtitled "Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible", this is a very practical guide to using creative approaches to activism, to achieve concrete outcomes. Creative approaches to activism inspire, energise and engage people who might remain unengaged even after signing petitions or joining a march. The text is accessibly written and accompanied by lots of illustrations, including a surprising number of rabbits!

The book includes a historical overview of artistic activism, including the storytelling of Jesus, the spectacle of the Boston Tea Party and a 1968 action by native Americans to claim Alcatraz Island. The authors also examine some of their own projects, drawing out for example, what a group of American Muslim activists learned from watching the Fast and Furious films. These and other examples are analysed to show why they worked, giving the reader insight into how best to use creative approaches to activism and what pitfalls to avoid.

Case studies include: Undocubus, a bus decorated with pictures of the migratory Monarch butterfly, that tours the USA with riders who have been threatened with deportation, raising awareness of the issues around migration. Project by No Papers, No Fears.  

Journal Rappé, a rap news broadcast in Senegal.  

War on Smog, a performance action in China.  

You can find a whole range of case studies on the Actipedia website. 

The physical book is supported by an online workbook, which is full of practical exercises designed to make you more creative, whether or not you want to apply that to activism. You can access the workbook here. 

The Art of Activism by Steve Duncombe and Steve Lambert, illustrated by Steve Lambert, published (2021) by OR Books. Order the free pdf of the interactive workbook here. 

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If you're based in the UK, you may be interested in the Wildlife Trusts' Community Hub, which shares inspiration and ideas on how to get involved in community conservation action.