Soft Power Agency

 

Soft Power Agency is Cath Carver’s project for her High Street Happenings Residency at Arbeit Studios, Palmers Green in North London.

Cath has been on the trail of Soft Power – in it’s varied forms and levels, exploring too the awakening of community agency.

Inviting the community on a soft power journey via workshops, gatherings, interviews and a participatory exhibition. 

Working with communications, colour and textiles.

Residency: 13th January - 6th April 2025
Exhibition: 4th - 27th April 2025

 

Exhibition

5th - 27th April: open weekends only, 12-4pm

At the Soft Agency exhibition people can expect: an exploration of power narratives and activation – centred around soft power and its potential to empower our lives and community at this time; community-design new street signs, sensory softness through textiles; a personal colour power story; and community voices celebrating Palmers Green’s considerable soft power.

Soft power is a fascinating topic to unpack at this time.

Free exhibition, just pop-in!

Arbeit Studios Palmers Green: rear of 310 Green Lanes, London N13 5TT

Coming up...

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Coming up... 〰️

Workshop 4

States of Softness

Saturday 26/04/25 2-4pm 

Creative exploration of softness as a tool for care, healing & personal alchemy with artist Cath Colour Carver.

An afternoon of softness and sharing, weaving soft sensations, colour and textiles.

A final workshop amidst the Soft Power Agency exhibition.

Open to all, free

Please book your place ♡

 
 

Programming

WORKSHOP 1

What is Soft Power? 11/03/25

How can we awaken our power and activate agency?

A workshop with soft power expert Indra Adnan and artist Cath Carver.

An insightful talk and Q&A with Indra, was fused with embodiment and discussion opportunities on power and agency at this time. Topics covered included:

  • Power literacy: hard - soft, domination -empowerment.

  • The interdependency of power at three levels: I - personal, We - community, World - planet.

  • Activation, awakening agency, the feminine economy, collective imagination.

Huge thanks to all who joined this successful hybrid circle of in-the-room and Zoom participants, from London, San Francisco and Todmorden!

 

WORKSHOP 2

Words on the Street 22/03/25

Narrative mapping, sign design and stop-motion animation

A discussion about Soft Power and what it meant to each. Field research on the high street to snap signs and map narratives. Collective imagination practices to envision new ways to spark community connections, civic agency and soft power. 

Our enthusiastic group of mixed ages and several families made terrific speculative signs, creating their own designs.

Animator Camrhon Mitchell worked with participants to create their own stop-motion action, brought together in a beautiful video.

Fused with footage courtesy of London in 360, allowing for a playful ride along Green Lanes and Broomfield Park. 

 

Workshop 3

Power Jam 19/04/25

Words and sounds improv.

A creative exploration of soft power, power scenarios and community empowerment through an experimental improv session with music and words. 

Featuring the musician talents of Mikrokosmos: a classical, ambient and electronic inspired band. Salvatore and Owen brought guitars, flute, synth, and influences from Baroque to John Cage.

Facilitated by Colour Carver.

Special thanks to Michael Mendones who brought instruments and sounds as well, and all those who participated via spoken words, poetry, rap, song, presence and support!

What a delight to launch the COLOURWORXX manifesto as well - Colour Power YES!

(Pics/vids to come!)

 

Press & Radio

The Alternative Global

Artist Cath Carver spreads soft power everywhere in her London area

It was an honour to write an article for a favourite platform; a true source of hopeful news and constructive approaches across politics, media, regenerative economics and much more.

Maritime 96.5 FM

It was wonderful to speak with the legend Trevor Blackman for his radio show on Maritime 96.5 FM.

The interview was also replayed on his show for Get Live Radio in New York.

Interview starts from 08:48 min!

 

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