Craftivists – the folk who combine craft with activism based in Kings Road, St Leonards – is a work in progress at present. But a work in progress with high ideals, writes Lauris Morgan-Griffiths. The shop, the new social enterprise place for arts and crafts, is located in the former Claremont Gallery and doubles as an event space for exhibitions, interactive workshops and mini-makers’ markets for local creative charities and groups.

Craftivists has already staged a well-received exhibition of local, older women’s knitted memories. Working together, sharing memories, stories and photographs, they innovatively sewed and knitted  their life experiences and tales into fantastic original shapes and artefacts.

And their next exhibition, 10 Squared, promises to be equally original.

At the back of the shop a line of blank, square boards wait for budding, and a few established, local artists to make their marks on them and transform the brown squares into art. There will be 100 in all and these original artworks will be exhibited and sold anonymously for £10.

10x10 postbox.

The squares have already been taken up enthusiastically by members of art and craft groups across Hastings and Rother local charities: Artworks, Autism East Sussex, ARRCC (Activities, Respite, Rehabilitation, Care Centres), Culture Shift, Horizons Community Learning, Hastings Furniture Service (HFS), and Your Way. The artists can decorate them in absolutely anyway they wish, flat or 3-D, mosaic, collage, paint, plasticine, photographs or fabric. The only thing they are asked is to keep their creativity to the limits of the square.

It will be intriguing to see what their creativity comes up with.

Craftivists is a great believer in ‘craft through well-being’. Gerald Myers explains: “Taking part in creative activities is very therapeutic. By working on activities together it increases confidence, social skills, manual dexterity, enjoyment. And creativity. At Craftivists, now and in the future, their work can be seen by the general public, which may well lead to them creating art works that they can sell.’

Craftivists is a project started by HFS and supported by the ESCC Social Business Investment Fund for local creative charities and groups to showcase and generate income on a social enterprise basis from their art and craft work. The various organisations work with adults who have a range of support needs, including learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health, autism and long-term unemployment.

Drop in to Craftivists at 48 Kings Road, St Leonards, on Saturday 13 December between 10am and 5pm and see 10 squared for yourselves. The funds raised will help local charities maintain their art groups for vulnerable adults in our community.

Craftivists website

Also in: Community Arts