The Birth of the Peace Movement Remix: A New Chapter in Art as Activism
“There is a place inside you untouched by the world’s chaos. From there, we begin again.”
In a world that often feels like it is unravelling, how do we respond to injustice, burnout, and the weight of global crises? This question sparked a transformation. The Art as Activism Toolkit has evolved into something deeper—something quieter, yet more radical in its simplicity. The Peace Movement Remix was born not out of strength, but surrender. It rose from the ashes of personal and collective exhaustion, and now, it extends an invitation to rethink what activism means.
A Burnout That Led to a Breakthrough
The original Art as Activism Toolkit was rooted in grassroots action. It was an educational pilot part of the 2018 Pankhurst in the Park program of events, which honoured the centenary of women's rights and activated local engagement. But by late 2019, after pouring everything into these efforts, I hit a wall. A breakdown. The pandemic forced stillness. And in that stillness, I came face-to-face with something I had ignored: my own need for healing.
In that quiet space, I realized that fighting only on the outside while crumbling on the inside wasn't sustainable. If the Toolkit was to survive—if I was to survive—it needed to change.
I knew that a toolkit addressing mental health and mindfulness was essential. The post-pandemic world hasn't returned to "normal" as many hoped—instead, we face an unrelenting cycle of crises. This toolkit became necessary, but amid my own recovery, I lacked the inspiration to complete it.
Fast forward four years
At the end of 2023, the genocide in Gaza pierced through my numbness. I live-streamed it on TikTok night after night for three months—through Christmas and into the New Year. I was haunted by the cruelty and helplessness of it all. The slaughtering of innocent women, the elderly, and children was unfathomable. That kind of heartbreak either breaks you or opens something. The madness of it, it still ongoing.
Working at an after-school art club, I observed very young children creating art influenced by this global conflict. It made me revisit the toolkit concept with fresh eyes—how do we help even our youngest citizens mentally manage exposure to such injustice?
In 2024, when the Art as Activism Toolkit T-shirts were confirmed to go on sale in the gallery shop in connection with Women in Revolt exhibition at The Whitworth Art Gallery, I came across the historic Peace Movement again. But this time, something clicked.
"For us to have peace in this world, we need to start with ourselves."
The idea struck like lightning: We don't need just a peace movement. We need to reinvent the Peace Movement for this moment in time. After considering various names, it all fell into place.
Manchester: Where Protest Meets Party
Let's go for the Peace Movement Remix. It immediately felt right—not just for its youthful energy, but because it pays homage to Manchester's rich heritage of both protest and musical flair.
Manchester has always been a city where revolution and rhythm intertwine. From the Peterloo Massacre to the Suffragettes, from the anti-poll tax demonstrations to environmental activism—this is a city with protest in its DNA. But Manchester is equally famous for transforming pain into creative expression, most notably through its groundbreaking music scene.
From Joy Division's haunting reflections on isolation to the ecstatic communal experience of the Haçienda, from the working-class poetry of The Smiths to the defiant optimism of the Madchester scene—Manchester has always known how to take what's broken and create something beautiful from it. The city of the "24 Hour Party People" has always understood that joy itself can be an act of rebellion.
This is the spirit of the Peace Movement Remix—taking the historic peace movement and sampling it for a new generation, creating something that honours tradition while boldly stepping into new territory. It's activism with a breakbeat, protest with a pulse.
Why Inner Peace is a Radical Act
The Peace Movement Remix is not escapism. It's not about turning away from the world's pain. It's about grounding ourselves so we can walk into the fire without being consumed by it.
It offers tools—especially for children—to cultivate inner stillness and strength. It's about creating peace that radiates from the inside out. It's about responding to the world's noise with a clarity that only comes from deep listening.
This is for the burned-out activists. For the educators, the artists, the dreamers. For the ones who have been screaming into the void and need to remember their breath. This is for those who want to do something, but without abandoning their soul in the process.
This isn't about dropping out. It's about tuning in.
How You Can Be Part of This Movement
The first phase of this project is now in motion, with plans to return to St. Mary's Primary School—where the toolkit first began—this time involving not just students but staff and families in this journey toward inner peace. If you're curious—if this vision speaks to something deep within—you're invited. Whether you want to test the materials, provide feedback, fund its growth, or simply follow the journey, your presence matters.
A Closing Invitation
The Peace Movement Remix is not mine alone. It is yours, too. It belongs to anyone ready to reimagine what power looks like, what resistance can feel like, and how healing itself can be an evolutionary act.
If this vision resonates, get in touch.
This is peace for a planet on the edge.
This is not a rewind.
This is a remix.