Open to all, bookings essential.
Due to cyclone impacts this event will now run for one day only.
Join Tal Fitzpatrick and Melissa Spratt for an engaging, hands-on workshop at StoryFest 2025 focused on guerrilla kindness - a craftivism practice using craft and gift-giving to spread random acts of kindness in public spaces.
Participants will learn finger-knitting and fabric crafts, creating handmade objects that will be gifted or placed in the activation space for others to discover. This interactive workshop will explore how small acts of creativity can foster social change and enhance community well-being.
Tal and Melissa’s collaboration draws from their shared passion for text-based textile art, aimed at gently intervening in public spaces to encourage reflection and kindness.
In addition, don’t miss the ‘The City Speaks Softly’ exhibition on Somerset Drive, featuring four stunning artworks by Tal and Melissa. Developed through conversations with students and the community, these street-pole banners tell a story of place and celebrate the power of craft to inspire positive impact.
About the artists:
Tal Fitzpatrick (she/her) works in the field of craftivism, and employs craft as a medium for activism and collaboration. Her works tackle complex social, political and environmental issues, drawing inspiration from her own experiences, and from collective conversations with her community. Tal employs textiles to create intricate wallhangings, quilts and banners that tackle challenging topics and emotional landscapes.
Melissa Spratt (she/her) works primarily in fibre-based art with her practice extending to various mediums including painting, photography, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and installation. Her work is concerned with immediacy and attunement to sensations and reflects on our sensitivity to an ever-changing environment and her own inner feelings and contemplations.