Gentle protest

{{Short description|Type of activism}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox cultural movement

| name = Gentle protest

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| yearsactive = 2015 -

| country =

| majorfigures = Sarah Corbett

| influences =

| influenced =

}}

Gentle protest is an approach to activism{{cite web |url=https://www.ashoka.org/en-gb/fellow/sarah-corbett |title=Sarah Corbett |date=2018 |website=Ashoka |access-date=4 September 2023}} which states that it aims to change hearts, minds, policies and laws through thoughtful and compassionate actions, intending to invite reflection and respectful conversation rather than division. It is purposefully non-aggressive.{{cite journal |last=Townsend|first=Solitaire |date=16 November 2020 |title=100 UK Leading Environmentalists (Who Happen To Be Women) |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/solitairetownsend/2020/11/16/100-uk-leading-environmentalists-who-happen-to-be-women/ |journal=Forbes |access-date=4 September 2023}}

Its name came from a 2015 exhibition by Sarah Corbett at Föreningen Handarbetets Vänner in Stockholm which aimed to show that protests do not always have to be aggressive. The message of the exhibition was: "If we want our world to be more beautiful, kind & just, then our activism should be beautiful, kind & just".{{cite journal |last=Corbett|first=Sarah |date=15 July 2015 |title=‘Gentle Protest’ exhibition by Sarah Corbett, Stockholm |url=https://craftivist-collective.com/blog/event/gentle-protest-exhibition-by-sarah-corbett-stockholm/ |journal=Craftivist Collective blog |access-date=4 September 2023}} The exhibition was shown at Helsinki Design Week{{cite journal |date= September 2016 |title=Gentle Protest by Sarah Corbett |url=https://designdistrict.fi/en/events/gentle-protest-by-sarah-corbett/ |journal=Design District Helsinki |access-date=8 September 2023}} and as part of The Future Is Present exhibition at Designmuseum Denmark.

Corbett is an activist for social justice, Ashoka fellow, author and founder of the Craftivist Collective, a global social enterprise for individuals, groups and organisations to learn how to use crafts as a tool for activism.{{cite journal |last=Thompson|first=Kailey |date=30 November 2021 |title=Craftivism Offers an Alternative To Traditional Protests as a Powerful Means of Expression |url=https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/craftivism-offers-an-alternative-to-traditional-protests-as-a-powerful-means-of-expression |journal=Good Good Good |access-date=4 September 2023}} She has said that 'gentleness'—which is not passive or weak—is the golden thread that creates real positive impact in her work.{{cite AV media|title=Four Thought: Craftivism: Gentle Protest|type=23' radio programme|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000mr46|publisher=BBC Radio 4 |date=23 September 2020}}

In 2017 she wrote a book, How To Be A Craftivist: The Art of Gentle Protest,Corbett, Sarah (2017). How To Be A Craftivist. Unbound. and ran a six-week online course titled "The School of Gentle Protest"{{cite journal |last=Morrison|first=Greg |date=17 April 2017 |title=The art of gentle protest|url=https://www.positive.news/society/the-art-of-gentle-protest/ |journal=Positive News |access-date=4 September 2023}} as part of a project funded by Arts Council England in collaboration with the University of Lincoln. Visiting professors included Orsola de Castro of Fashion Revolution and Catherine Howarth, CEO of ShareAction.{{cite journal |last=Corbett|first=Sarah |date=15 March 2017 |title=Become a student of our 6week School of Gentle Protest |url= https://craftivist-collective.com/School-of-Gentle-Protest+/ |journal=Craftivist Collective blog |access-date=8 September 2023}}

Gentle protest has been used as a framework by groups in Potsdam,{{cite journal |date=30 July 2023 |title=Rücknahme der Kürzungen im Sozialbereich gefordert |url=https://awo-potsdam.de/de/news-artikel/ruecknahme-der-kuerzungen-im-sozialbereich-gefordert/ |journal=AWO Bezirksverband Potsdam e.V. |access-date=4 September 2023}} the Lake District,{{cite journal |last=Dingwall|first=Ed |date=7 September 2021 |title=High Peak crafters stage 'gentle protest' on Mam Tor to pressure MP over climate crisis|url=https://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/environment/high-peak-crafters-gentle-protest-pressures-mp-over-climate-crisis-3374176 |journal=Buxton Advertiser |access-date=4 September 2023}} and at WWF to protest on a broad range of issues. Corbett has worked with organisations including The Scout Association.{{cite journal |last=Abraham |first=Aimee-lee |date=29 October 2018 |title=The art of gentle protest |url=https://medium.com/@ukscouts/the-art-of-gentle-protest-527d6b8bcf8a |journal=Medium |access-date=8 September 2023}}