Swords Into Ploughshares: Socially-engaged craft

Jeweller and educator, Dauvit Alexander, considers how craft and making can be powerful tools in engaging people with socially-challenging issues. He will discuss his long-term project “Swords into Ploughshares: Knives into Jewels” which focussed on getting young people to think about knife crime in constructive ways, using the workshop and exhibition space as a catalyst for conversations.

He will outline his latest project, “Dead Pianos” which will use lessons from the knife project to engage people in ideas around creative reuse and adhocism in formats as diverse as jewellery, sculpture, music and experimental performance.