Global Craftivism, Gender and Handiwork in Manchester, England

Discover how handmade practices connect history, culture, and social change in one of England’s most influential textile cities.

Highlights

• Explore how traditional crafts such as textiles, embroidery, knitting, and sewing can become tools for activism and social change.
• Travel to England to experience Manchester’s rich history at the intersection of textiles, labor movements, technology, and political expression.
• Visit museums, galleries, and cultural institutions including the Science & Industry Museum, People’s History Museum, Whitworth Art Gallery, and Manchester Craft and Design Centre.
• Participate in hands-on textile workshops and create your own craftivist projects using fiber arts techniques.
• Learn from local artists and organizations using sustainable and socially conscious craft practices.
  
  No prior fiber arts experience is required — students of all skill levels are welcome to explore creative making as a tool for expression and social change.

During a spring course in Rochester, you will learn about the intersection of craft, gender, culture, and political activism, then travel to England in May. Through readings, discussions, and creative projects, you will explore how craftivism transforms everyday acts of making into powerful forms of communication and protest. The course will examine the history of craft as a tool for social change, from feminist art movements and labor activism to contemporary movements addressing sustainability, gender equality, and social justice. You will build the historical and cultural context needed to understand Manchester’s unique connection to textile production and craft-based activism.

Manchester provides an ideal setting to explore the past and present of craftivism. Known as “Cottonopolis,” the city’s history is deeply connected to textile production, the Industrial Revolution, and workers’ rights movements. Today, Manchester continues to be a center for creative expression, sustainability, and community activism. You will visit museums and cultural organizations, participate in hands-on workshops with local artists, and explore how contemporary creators use handmade practices to inspire dialogue and social change. Through these experiences, you will discover how creativity and craftsmanship can build community and create meaningful impact.

Course Term: Spring course at RIT, travel to England in early Summer
Summer 2027 Travel Dates: May 12-22, 2027 (estimated)
Credits: 3

Course Details:

• VISL/WGST 295: Global Craftivism, Gender and Handwork (3 credits)
  Students will be enrolled in a spring course at RIT and travel to England in early summer.

No course pre-requisites. Open to all undergraduate majors, all year levels, 2.5 cumulative GPA or above.

Application Deadline: Sunday, October 18th, 2026

Program Cost & Financial Aid

Program Cost: A student budget worksheet outlining all program costs will be available here soon.

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships, which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study abroad program, which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

• Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study abroad appointment
• Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting so they have time to prepare) 
  • Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline so you understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.

Scholarships:

• RIT Education Abroad Travel Grants ($500-$1,000)
  All students with pending applications in the RIT Study Abroad Compass for this program will be automatically considered for an RIT Education Abroad Travel Grant. You will be informed of your scholarship status shortly after the application deadline. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, as determined by financial aid and your FAFSA on file.

• Additional Scholarships
  RIT scholarships and national scholarships for study abroad are good options to explore for scholarship funding. Make sure you check scholarship eligibility requirements and note scholarship deadlines. 

To Apply

1) Start an application in the Compass (RIT's study abroad application system)
Once you login to the Compass you will need to complete some profile/registration questions, then use the “Search Programs” tab to search for “Global Craftivism” to complete an application.

2) Watch this video, which goes over all important application steps for RIT Faculty-Led Programs

Contact

Hinda Mandell
Professor, Journalism
College of Liberal Arts
hbmgpt@rit.edu

Robert Gordon-Fogelson
Lecturer, Communication
College of Liberal Arts
rgfgla@rit.edu