A Guide to Gentle Protest
With Tina Dempsey & Joseph Doubtfire
A Guide to Gentle Protest is a film that creatively expresses cares and concerns about Barrow-in-Furness. Artists Joseph Doubtfire and Tina Dempsey created the film using the visual manifestos that a group of local participants created throughout a series of workshops.
A Guide to Gentle Protest began with a three-part workshop series inviting participants to explore and creatively express their cares and concerns about Barrow-in-Furness. Through guided town-centre and coastal walks, participants collected images, objects, and ideas that captured their connection to the town’s industrial and natural landscapes. Participants worked towards creating visual manifestos. Manifestos are public declarations of policies, cares and aims; in these gentle manifestos, participants instead communicate their ideas through artworks and creative writing.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on A Guide to Gentle Protest! Your feedback help us continue to fund, develop and create the work we do and is always greatly appreciated. Thank you!
The participants documented the surrounding natural scenery and ecological beauty at Roanhead by creating audio recordings, filming video clips, writing sound lists and making sand drawings. They also enjoyed an urban walk, exploring Barrow’s industrial landscape, gathering imagery of the overlooked, leftovers and fragments that might be pieced together to tell a broader story. They also experimented with processes such as free association list making, photography walks, creating found text poetry and phone-based collage.
The visual manifestos participants co-produced with artists Tina Dempsey and Joseph Doubtfire are currently on display at Barrow Train Station. We hope you enjoy seeing them on your journeys to and from our beautiful home town.
