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Action guide 9: Hold a "creative" demonstration

Want to do something new and different? Then a creative demonstration could be for you. The aim is to get your message across by grabbing people’s attention.

Here’s an example: in 2000 a 6m tall shoe pile was made underneath the Eiffel Tower – the shoes represented the limbs and lives lost to landmines. This is a great example of something eye catching and that gets your message across – the effect of landmines!

Getting lots of attention is only part of the exercise. You also need to be sure that people understand your message or the issue that you are raising awareness about. So this action guide aims to:

• inspire you to get creative and
• remind you of the practical ways to make sure your message is heard and understood.

• promotes your message clearly just in case people don’t “get it” from your creative demonstration, and
• is useful for people who don’t have time to watch your demonstration but want to read about it later.

• The message – build your creative demonstration around your message.
• Fun – think outside the box and have fun!
• Timing is everything – find out if there is anything else happening at the same time. If you want the public to get involved, try to make it at a time when people will be around to see it. There’s no point having it on a Monday at 9am if you know no one’s going to be there to see it.  If you hope local media will attend, contact them to find out when their deadlines are and plan it at a time that suits them.
• Location, location, location – Be sure it’s at a public space. Are you going to hold it indoors or outdoors? What resources do you need to make it a success? How many people are you expecting to turn up? Is the venue easy for people to find and to get to?
• Backup location – necessary if your event is outdoors. A little rain or bad weather won’t ruin an event, but if it’s pouring with rain you may need a backup location or even to postpone.
• Keep it safe – keep in mind the safety of both the people involved in your creative demonstration and the bystanders. Be smart about this – brainstorm any possible risks about your idea and ways to keep everyone safe. Keep yourself safe – make sure you’re not breaking any laws or bylaws, check with your local council.

• Action Guide 3: Writing a media release
• Action Guide 4: Doing a media interview.

• Get different colours of chalk and draw a mural on your school grounds, outside your youth organisation or in town.
• Don’t forget to ask permission – check with your local council. Chalk is good because it isn’t permanent and washes away when it rains.
• You could make chalking into a competition and award a small prize for the best sidewalk art.
• Don’t forget to keep the message short.
• You might want to go chalking when it’s quieter too as it’s harder to draw when people are walking over it!

• Find a public space in your community and ask if it can be used for a mural. Work with other young people to design and paint the awareness-raising mural.
• Design and sew quilt squares around a theme. Put the finished product on display in your community.
• Create banners with your messages on it. Find places around town where these banners can be displayed, eg ask your school or public library.

• Take theatre to the streets! Design and perform a simple skit at your school, shopping centre, busy park, sidewalks or other visible locations.
• Talk to a drama teacher for some ideas or see if their students would like to help you out.
• Create signs, costumes and other materials that will help you get your message across.
• Keep your message clear and simple.
• It’s better if your role play is short, so people will stick around to watch it. Once you’ve finished have a break, then start it again to reach new people walking pass.

• Shoe pile: in September 2000 a 6m tall shoe pile was made underneath the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The shoes represented the limbs and lives lost to landmines. You could use the same idea to represent other loss of life, eg road deaths. Ask your classmates, community groups, or other young people to participate in gathering shoes. Once you have finished with your shoe pile you could donate the shoes to a local charity.
• During the GE Free campaign in 2001, 1,000 Wellingtonians stood close together to spell out the words GE FREE to make their point. This was one of 20 visual displays around the country.
• Imagine a group of 20 young people all dressed in white and standing in a circle creating a human white band for the Make Poverty History campaign. This would be a great photo opportunity for your local paper!
• During SADD (Students Against Driving Drunk) week students dressed up as grim reapers and stood at busy holiday spots so people driving past could see them.

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