The Art of Resistance

Access

About

Creative Protest Lab: A One-Day Workshop for Youth Expression & Activism

This immersive 4-hour workshop is designed for 16–25 year olds interested in using art, fashion, performance, and strategy to engage in creative, non-violent protest. Participants will move through three dynamic, hands-on sessions that blend into one powerful experience of expression, identity, and collective action.

Session Highlights:

Sign-Making & Message Design: A hands-on creative station with poster boards, paints, stencils, and collage materials. Participants will craft bold visual messages and learn how to use art as a tool for non-violent resistance and self-expression.

What to Wear + Action Planning: A discussion and DIY fashion lab focused on safety, visibility, and identity in protest spaces. Participants will leave with a customized “protest-ready” item to wear and practical strategies for participating confidently and safely in demonstrations.

Protest Persona & Performance: Guided by a performance artist or theatre facilitator, this session invites participants to explore character, humor, and presence in protest. Each person will experiment with developing a personal "protest persona" to express their message with creativity and impact.

This one-day event encourages civic participation, community-building, and artistic activism. Drawing on traditions from punk, public theatre, and performance art, the workshop empowers young people to find their voice and take up space through visuals, identity, and public presence. It also fosters an understanding of intersectional activism, affirming that protest can be both powerful and playful.

Organizer

Tony Churchill

I am a retired educator and practicing visual artist with a degree in Fine Arts, currently focusing on oil painting and printmaking. With a background in creative teaching and lifelong learning, I bring both structure and play to educational spaces. Now, new to the Paris community, I am interested in offering workshops that combine art, performance, and protest in playful, thoughtful ways — helping young people raise their voices safely and powerfully. I will be working with 3 other creatives during this workshop, all with years of experience, to help provide a positive, fun and safe environment for expressing your ideas.