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16 Feb 2016

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Rural broadband – another omnishambles – our public (non EDDC) champion addresses Parliament

A cracking good appearance before Parliament by our own rural broadband champion on broadband – or lack of it. No, definitely not Councillor Phil Twiss who has seemed woefully out of his depth on the current and future situation – but real expert Graham Long.

If the audio or transcript are too long for you, simply open the transcript and look at Mr Long’s replies to MPs – highly enlightening:

The Video record of the hearing is online at:

http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/677e94ae-4479-451e-b139-ee2af3dc2a2e

And a transcript of the hearing is at:

http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/culture-media-and-sport-committee/establishing-worldclass-connectivity-throughout-the-uk/oral/28948.html

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

8 Jan 2016

Posted under

EDDC, EDDC Monitoring Officer, Local Plan, Phil Twiss

Does Councillor Stuart Hughes understand what “confidential” means?

Leader Diviani made it clear that the draft Local Plan is confidential until EDDC has formally responded to Mr Thickett and until facts have been checked and he disclosed nothing except that it allows for 17,000 new homes.

So, how come in today’s Sidmouth Herald (page 5), Councillor Stuart Hughes announced that Mr Thickett has decided that employment land at Sidford will not be included?

Will Councillor Hughes be reported to the Monitoring Officer?

If it had been an Independent Councillor making the announcement in the press, would he or she have engendered the ire of Councillor Twiss?

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

18 Dec 2015

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EDDC, Phil Twiss, Rural communications

Alternative broadband provider suggested by EDDC Councillor Twiss in October 2014

Scrutiny Committee 16 October 2014

Minute 38

… In response to a question, Councillor Phil Twiss informed the committee that he would know more about the SEP funding shortly but the timescales were not expected to be kept. Work was being undertaken to see if the SEP could be extended to open to other providers other than BT.

RECOMMENDED

that clarification is sought from the Connecting Devon and Somerset team, and reported to members, at the earliest opportunity as to whether the SSDC/EDDC element of the potential £22.75 million SEP funding can be redirected to an alternative provider outside of the Connecting Devon and Somerset Programme;

that clarification is sought from the Connecting Devon and Somerset team, and reported to members on whether the original objectives of the BDUK project was to provide improved access for rural residents to Superfast Broadband, in recognition of the fact that such access is now seen as essential in modern domestic and business life, or was it also to support cheaper provision to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in more urban areas. Members would also like to have the position on state aid to businesses clarified in relation to this point;

that whatever decision are taken corporately to address providing Superfast Broadband to “the final 10%”, there is a commitment to openness, transparency and accountability from all those involved and there will be no further use of non-disclosure agreements or similar.

http://eastdevon.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/committees-and-meetings/scrutiny-committee/overview-and-scrutiny-committee-minutes/16-october-2014/broadband-scrutiny-review-report/

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

18 Dec 2015

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EDDC, Phil Twiss, Rural communications

When did EDDC decide to ” go it alone” on broadband coverage?

Owl is confused. When exactly did EDDC decide to formulate its own solution for full broadband coverage in the district?

Certainly as early as May 2015 according to this item in the minutes of the Yarcombe Annual Parish Meeting on 18 May 2015:

“Broadband Briefing

… News had been received that morning from Councillor Phil Twiss of East Devon District Council explaining that EDDC were attempting to go it alone and provide a private equity solution which Steve Horner thought might be a more expensive solution.

Steve also commented that despite the fact that Yarcombe was not a very remote Parish we have both the A 303 and A 30 trunk roads running through the parish, it would appear that we will be left out of the programme and will have to rely on the expensive “Satellite“ solution.

Steve did promise he would continue to lobby long and hard on behalf of Yarcombe to ensure we did have a decent broadband signal.

Cllr Pidgeon thanked Steve for all his work on our behalf.”

http://www.yarcombe.net/docs/Parish%20Council%20APM%2020150518.doc

And as late as Aptil 2015, EDDC was saying that it was working in partnership with CDC – the combined Devon and Somerset group that it now seems to have pulled out of:

http://eastdevon.gov.uk/business-and-investment/business-support-and-advice/

But was EDDC still taking the lead on this with the Devon and Somerset CDC? If so, wouldn’t that be a rather conflicting situation?

Also, if a ” private equity solution” is being sought, would this not come under EU tendering rules that assume a great deal of transparency on who is talking to whom about what?

If only one “private equity” company is involved surely this would be against competition rules too?

Perhaps councillor Twiss could enlighten us all.

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18 Dec 2015

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Phil Twiss, Rural communications

Now you see him, now you don’t … Councillor Twiss unable to attend crucial Council meeting

The usually ubiquitous Cllr Phil Twiss (Conservative Group Whip, Portfolio holder for Corporate services, Cabinet member, member of the development working party, and Capital strategy and allocation group, member of Local joint panel, representative on Exeter International Airport consultative group and representative on South West councils group (1) was strangely absent from Wednesday’s EDDC full Council Meeting.

Unkind rumours suggest that the Honiton heavyweight, not known for his discretion, was advised to be AWOL to shield him from a perfect storm of embarrassing questions around issues he is involved in.

Stand-in Cllr Ian Thomas struggled to defend the omnishambles that is local rural broadband roll-out under Connectivity in the South West on which Phil is the District representative, given his expertise in IT and broadband issues (Councillor Twiss describes himself on the Linked-In business network site as an “Independent Telecommunications Specialist”).

Independent Cllr Roger Giles was denied the opportunity to ask the Tory Whip ( who, before Owl is challenged, says he NEVER whips!) why his party press release on the Heart of the South West devolution bid had pre-empted an official Council statement.

Most intriguingly, Independent councillor Cathy Gardner, in a follow up to a question on EDDC’s representation on Exeter International Airport consultative group, wondered if there might be a conflict of interest if a representative of EDDC speaks on behalf of their customers rather than EDDC.

The suggestion was dismissed airily by Council leader Diviani, but it would have been interesting to hear from the man himself.

(1) Ironically in 2012 when Stuart Hughes (now back in the fold as Council Chairman) was sacked as Scrutiny committee head for asking embarrassing questions about the East Devon Business Forum, Twiss said the real reason was that Hughes was “too busy”!
Hughes retorted that the Council leadership was “spineless and arrogant”.

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17 Dec 2015

Posted under

Democracy, Devolution, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Exmouth, Moirai Exmouth project, Phil Twiss, Richard Cohen, Rural communications, Spin, Transparency

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“As a young person of Exmouth, I feel misled and horrified …”

So said the Exmouth College student who questioned EDDC leaders last night (16 Dec,2015), about the process behind the seafront development proposals in her town. But Deputy CEO Richard Cohen’s answer skirted around her main point (“I feel misled”), in a Full Council meeting that showed EDDC manipulative management at its very worst.

Blind block-voting without debate; and a Chair who allowed 5 serious questions from Exmouth residents to be rolled into one by the responding officer, thus enabling central points made by the speakers to be glossed over or, (as with the offer by Louise McAllister, specialist in surveys, to meet EDDC), simply ignored.

Not a single question was asked by any Majority Party councillor: only one of the 9 questions put, all from Independents, had a satisfactory answer (given thoroughly by Environment Portfolio holder, Cllr Iain Chubb).

Corporate Services portfolio holder, Cllr Phil Twiss, was unavailable to answer embarrassing questions about broadband, leaving Cllr Ian Thomas apologetically unable to provide informed replies.

The meeting reached a crescendo of ‘confidentiality’, when the critical information needed by councillors before deciding whether to give Leader Paul Diviani ‘delegated powers’ regarding the multi-million pound Heart of the South West (HotSW) devolution bid, was declared (without debate) too sensitive for press and public. So the devolution item was dealt with in private, at the end of the session.

Just a few minutes into this part of the agenda, the Chair, Cllr Stuart Hughes, closed the meeting, somewhat prematurely perhaps. There had been no discussion by councillors, and the whole point of this session had been missed: there was no vote on delegated powers for the Leader.

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

11 Dec 2015

Posted under

EDDC, Exmouth, Independent Councillors, Phil Twiss, Scrutiny, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

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Scrutiny at its best … excuses at their worst … “corporate relations” (un)explained by Councillor Twiss

Last night’s Scrutiny committee meeting exposed two more examples of EDDC leaders’ instinct to make decisions without proper consultation.

The ubiquitous Cllr Phil Twiss (Conservative, Honiton St Michael’s) who, in addition to all his other roles, is portfolio holder for corporate relations, was summoned to explain why the democratic process had been so blatantly short-circuited by a council press release in September.

Cllr Cathy Gardner (Independent, Sidmouth Town) asked him why she and the other Sidmouth ward councillors had been taken by surprise by an announcement in the Sidmouth Herald that the Council was considering building affordable housing on Mill Street carpark. There had been no consultation with interested parties like the town council, and ward members were sent copies of the press release 14 minutes before it was published!

Cllr Twiss’ replied that he had not been involved with the release, (“It wasn’t me, guv”) but claimed it was a matter of urgency because a journalist had asked for a statement, and the deadline was pressing.

Cllr Marianne Rixson (Independent, Sidmouth Sidford) retorted that this sounded very much like “the journalist tail wagging the council dog” and it was no excuse for not consulting democratically before arbitrarily publishing controversial initiatives.

The Scrutiny Committee agreed and voted to remind Cabinet that there was a Protocol that councillors concerned should be consulted before press releases were authorised. It also welcomed guidance produced by the Communications Officer which made a similar point.

Silence remained about who had authorised the Sidmouth story but Cllr Bill Nash (Conservative Exmouth Town) may have been warm when he said only floods and other emergencies required urgent press releases. All other communications were non-urgent and should not be released if authorised only by “the Leader and senior officers.”

In passing, Cllr Nash also slammed the Council leadership for publishing detailed pictures and maps of developments along Queen’s Drive in Exmouth which were very different from any plans that had been consulted upon.

This was taken up by Scrutiny Chair Cllr Roger Giles (Independent, Ottery St Mary Town) who read a letter from two Exmouth residents complaining about pending planning applications for major works, including diverting Queen’s Drive, part of the latest, much altered, waterfront development scheme.

Exmouth Cllr Brenda Taylor (Lib Dem,Exmouth ) angrily commented that these plans proposed massive residential development which had never been agreed to by councillors. She felt she was “wasting her time” attending meetings when such arbitrary decisions were made in secret.

At this point the Democratic Services Officer and a Legal Officer intervened to argue that the Scrutiny Committee could not discuss the Waterfront Project because planning was outside its remit.

Cllr Rob Longhurst (Independent, Woodbury and Lympstone) wasn’t having any of this. “The reputation of EDDC is nil in Exmouth,” he said, because the current extravagant plans were being “justified” by a few hundred replies to a questionnaire about the different, more modest, “Splash” project.

Cllr Megan Armstrong (Independent, Exmouth Halsdon) agreed. “It’s not about planning, it’s about independent public consultation”, she said. It was about whether the people of Exmouth wanted or needed what the Council leadership was imposing on them.

Cllr Val Ranger (Independent, Newton Poppleford and Harpford) said it was quite within the remit of Scrutiny to look at questions of process, on “whether public consultation is being properly followed.”

The committee voted to do precisely that, once the current legal actions over Exmouth seafront businesses are resolved.

In the meantime, watch out for fireworks over Exmouth seafront at the full Council meeting on Wednesday 16th December.

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Posted on

13 Nov 2015

Posted under

DCC, EDDC, Infrastructure, Latest news, Phil Twiss, Rural communications, Rural communities, Scrutiny

“Broadband a question of haves and havenots”, Councillor Twiss told EDDC Scrutiny.

Report sent to East Devon Watch:

‘More ‘best practice’ was evident at EDDC Scrutiny Committee at Knowle yesterday evening (12/11/2015). From the start, Chair Roger Giles (Independent, Ottery St Mary) insisted that presentations should be brief and not include the reading out of information that had been circulated to councillors in advance. Using questions and answers was a more useful tool for this committee , he advised.
This proved correct straightaway, in the close examination of Devon’s broadband provision. Five stakeholders had been called to speak and answer questions. They were Andrew Moulding, Chair of Devon County Council’s (DCC) Place Scrutiny Committee and Deputy Leader of East Devon District Council (EDDC); Cllr Phil Twiss, EDDC Corporate Services portfolio holder; Paul Coles, BT Regional Manager, South West ; Phil Roberts, Programme Manager for superfast broadband delivery, Connecting Devon & Somerset (CDS) ; and Graham Long, Upottery Parish Councillor, with 20 years’ experience with Hewlett Packard, for whom he ran the EU support network.

Questions included one sent, in her absence, from Cllr Susie Bond (Independent, Feniton & Buckerell), asking why the broadband situation in parts of her constituency was “appalling”. Particularly intense questioning came from Cllrs Marianne Rixson (Independent, Sidmouth Sidford Ward ) , and Val Ranger (Independent, Newton Poppleford & Harpford),who had clearly done their homework, both closely referring to the document submitted by CDS, and finding some apparent inaccuracies (e.g. Could the audit done by EDDC’s internal auditors, SWAP, properly be described as ‘independent’?). Cllr Ranger wondered why, of 26 interested parties in 2014, only two had submitted a formal tender.
Phil Roberts (CDS) reported that CDS had decided not to sign a second contact with BT, and that there would now be a different approach to tendering . For the next phase, CDS were currently looking at other providers , as well as talking to BT, he said.

Much of the time, Cllrs Moulding and Twiss looked uncomfortably out of their depth, not least when it emerged that EDDC and DCC had not worked together to obtain maximum funding, thereby missing out on millions of pounds.

Graham Long, “astonished to find how slow broadband is in Devon”, explained that “Fibre is best for reliability, speed and bandwidth. But fibre-to-cabinet works as an urbancentric solution. It doesn’t work in rural areas”. Cllr Ben Ingham (Independent, Woodbury & Lympstone) told the Committee, “I’m really flabbergasted that BT are picking the poor relation of technology”.

The broadband issue is certain to continue. Next Monday DCC’s Place Scrutiny Committee will hear CDS feedback on its recommendations (14h00, County Hall, Exeter). More questions and answers are no doubt being prepared!’

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

9 Oct 2015

Posted under

Affordable and Social Housing, East Devon Tories, Exmouth, Phil Twiss, Regeneration, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

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Councillor Twiss gets his knickers in a twiss yet again – and it’s personal – yet again

The most extraordinary rant has appeared in the Sidmouth Herald under the authorship of (“I am not and never have been the Whip for the East Devon Conservative Party”) Councillor Phil Twiss, which is reproduced in its entirety below (with comments added). It puts us in mind of the early days of the sterling work of Councillor Claire Wright, when she was also attacked for attempting to change the much-derided status quo.

I have quoted the full press release provided by a local newspaper, not the shorter version in the Sidmouth Herald

WE WANT SIDMOUTH TO MOVE FORWARD, NOT BE HELD BACK’ (HELD BACK FROM WHAT?)

The Conservative Group on East Devon District Council (EDDC) have hit back at comments made by an East Devon Alliance councillor for her naïve and misleading rant in last week’s Sidmouth Herald. (So, here follows a naive and misleading rant from Councillor Twiss)

In the report, EDA Councillor Cathy Gardner, who represents Sidmouth Town Ward, claimed that a proposal to build social housing on the site of a car park in Mill Street was part of a wider plan for Eastern Town and spoke of the town being at risk of ‘fighting a battle but losing a war’.

Cllr Gardner is guilty of muddled thinking and of embarking on a naïve and misleading rant aimed at making political capital out of the vital issue of providing homes for Sidmouth’s young families. (You be the judge of who is out to make political capital here)

A consultation proposed by the EDA councillor would muddy the waters if and when the district council came to conduct its own public survey – which would take place as part of the normal democratic process. (So, what we always knew – early consultations muddy the waters and council surveys late in the day are the way forward)

ROUTINE

No firm plans had yet been drawn up for Mill Street and if and when such proposals were formed, a public consultation would follow as a matter of routine. (How much more firm could you be when you hike car park prices 300%, reduce ability to rent spaces and then put out a hasty press release saying you intend to turn it into social housing?)

It’s all very well for ward representatives to genuinely stand up for what they see as the rights of their constituents. It’s quite another to say things that will mislead people into forming the wrong conclusions, especially when this is based on a poor understanding of how the planning process works. (Still not sure what the “wrong conclusions” are here)

There is a lot of incorrect information in Councillor Gardner’s reported remarks and this displays either a naïve ignorance of the facts or a desire to stir up a political storm in a teacup – or both. (Not that he does not specifically say at any point what this incorrect information might be)

Councillor Gardner appears to be linking a possible plan for affordable homes in Mill Street with a wider redevelopment scheme for Eastern Town and even the project to create a Beach Management Plan for Sidmouth. Her suggestion that the Beach Management Plan lacked progress is mischievous and untrue. (But surely the proper thing to do in this situation IS to link plans for Mill Street to wider Port Royal and beach management? This is the joined-up thinking that Councillor Twiss and his colleagues say needs to be done)

Derogatory comments about EDDC’s ongoing and successful regeneration projects in Seaton and Exmouth take conspiracy theories to a whole new level of fantasy. (Oh wow – ask the residents of Exmouth and Seaton what they think of their so-called regeneration plans, Councillor Twiss. A big Tesco and non-affordable housing for Seaton. Exmouth – where a protest group is going from strength to strength as initial plans turn into luxury flats)

Building homes on the Mill Street site, if this did go ahead, would be part of the district council’s ongoing commitment to providing jobs and affordable housing for Sidmouth’s upcoming generation of school-leavers and young families and was entirely in line with the Government’s wish to see an end to a nationwide housing drought. (Er, no it isn’t – the Government just announced that it is dropping affordable housing from the requirements for developers – and as affordable rent is still considered 80% of the cost of non-affordable housing still well out of reach of Sidmouth’s young people).

MOVE FORWARD (er, not sure about that)

The Conservatives on EDDC want to see the district and its communities move forward, not stay stuck in the present or the past. They are following very carefully developed regeneration strategies in Seaton and Exmouth and these are based on years of careful study and prior consultation with the community. (See above – when consulted, both towns rejected EDDC’s plans – which went ahead anyway)

Ask fair-minded councillors in Seaton and Exmouth whether regeneration projects in their towns have been beneficial and you might get a different view from the jaundiced judgement of Ms Gardner. (Ah, fair-minded councillors – these seem to be anyone who agrees with Councillor Twiss!)

Sidmouth must not be left behind. We want to see a number of improvements to help the town move forward and we will resist any attempt by people like Ms Gardner to hold Sidmouth back. (Did you notice here that none of the so-called improvements are named? That’s because there aren’t any apparently!)

Any assumption by recently elected councillors that nothing happened before they arrived on the scene is both naïve and arrogant. A lot of good things are happening. These new councillors should make the effort to find out how hard members and officers have worked in the past and resist the temptation to be new brooms sweeping away good ideas just for the sake of scoring cheap political points. (Oh, Councillor Twiss – it is precisely because such a lot DID happen before they were elected that they got elected in the first place. Just why should new councillors be tied to the past and why should they not be new brooms – and just who is trying to score cheap political points here?)

Well done, Councillor Gardner – you must be doing something right if you have brought out the attack dogs so early in your councillorship! Keep up the good work for the citizens of Sidmouth! They needed someone like you and the district needs someone like you to hold power to account.

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Posted on

11 Apr 2015

Posted under

EDDC, Independent Councillors, Paul Diviani, Phil Twiss

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If you can’t whip ’em, try seduction! Fifty shades of blue?

Usually well-informed sources tell us that Paul Diviani and Andrew Moulding have been seen together being very, very friendly and obliging to an independent candidate.

Now why should that be, when, as Tory Whip Phil “I’ve never whipped anyone in my life” Twiss memorably said: Independents never do anything useful for their electors?

Is it remotely possible that Paul and Andrew are desperately trying to nobble a few new recruits to make up the Tory losses expected on May 7th?

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

7 Apr 2015

Posted under

Claire Wright, EDDC, Phil Twiss

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And more cracking letters in the “View from …” local newspapers this week

Two pages of absolutely cracking letter in the “View from …” titles this week.

One from a former recent town councillor in Seaton saying how EDDC ignores some towns and parishes totally, a critique of the “waves sculpture” in Seaton from a local artist, letters in support of Independent Parliamentary candidate Claire Wright, a letter about dinosaurs of the political kind, one about all of us NOT being in it together, particularly Hugo Swire, Phil Twiss yet again desperately attempting to bring down his EDA opponents and one supporting independence in local politics in general.

The View from titles are all available free in various retail outlets across East Devon and also online:

http://www.viewfrompublishing.co.uk/

History in the making!

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Posted on

7 Apr 2015

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EDDC, Honiton/ Gittisham, Phil Twiss

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And the Independents just keep on coming …

This drip-feeding of names and wards by East Devon Alliance is nail-biting stuff. Another four candidates announced today to add to others already announced are:

Geoff Jung (Rayleigh) against current incumbent Ray Bloxham who did so much work on reducing public speaking at planning meetings and pushing forward relocation) and who has since the last election moved to Cranbrook;

Martin Shaw in Seaton who has been successfully campaigning for better planning rules for the coastal town so often sadly neglected by EDDC and dominated by Tesco;

Jackie Wadsworth for Honiton St Michaels, where “I am not the Tory Whip” Phil Twiss currently holds sway along with long-time Councillor and former Chairman of EDDC Peter Halse and Mike Allen, latterly Chairman of the Local Plan Committee.

And more names to come between now and the Thursday 4 pm closing date for nominations.

Oh, what a lovely election!

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Posted on

10 Mar 2015

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East Devon Tories, Phil Twiss

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Twissgate Two

Great coverage of “Twissgate Two” on Real Zorro!

http://realzorro1.blogspot.co.uk/

Not only could you not make it up – you wouldn’t want to. This should not be happening here: we deserve better. And we can get it – if we vote him and his party out in May.

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Posted on

5 Mar 2015

Posted under

Democracy, EDDC, Phil Twiss

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EAST DEVON TORY CULL?

(please note this is a Microsoft clip art cartoon of a sheriff, freely available for download throughout the world and is highly unlikely to be considered as threatening by any police force anywhere – if it is, best take it up with Microsoft – we are assured that no real guns were used in the drawing of this cartoon which depicts a cartoon gun with no real bang and no ability to hurt anyone at all anywhere and it has no connection whatsoever with any prophets anywhere)

We already knew that several Tory councillors have been “de-selected” from the East Devon Conservatives’ list of candidates for the May 7 election, for refusing to toe the party line.

Now we hear from several reliable sources that warning letters have also been sent to another group of cowering Conservatives telling them to “pull their socks up” – or else!

The bearer of this unwelcome news? None other than the weighty Phil “I’ve never whipped anyone in my life” Twiss.

Readers will remember that Cllr Twiss was widely ridiculed last year for complaining to the police that Independent Claire Wright had a comment on her blog calling for – yes!- a cull of East Devon Tories.

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East Devon Watch

Posted on

16 Feb 2015

Posted under

DCC, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Exeter City Council, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation, Land Supply, Latest news, Local Infrastructure and CIL, Local Plan, Paul Diviani, Phil Twiss, Planning System

Do we need a District Council?

Subject brought up today on this local blog:

https://www.streetlife.com/conversation/cvsuowbds7d0/

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Posted on

29 Jan 2015

Posted under

Phil Twiss

Tesco “culls” Head Office staff – should Councillor Twiss report them to Hertfordshire police?

See story re Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition below and recall that Tory Councillor and maybe-or-maybe-not Tory awhip Twiss reported Independent Councillor Claire Wright to Devon and Cornwall Police when a commentator on her blog suggested that Tory councillors should be culled. He went on to say that Councillor Wright was “beneath contempt” for allowing use of the phrase on her blog.

The Daily Mail online has now used the phrase in its headline about Tesco reducing the number of staff at its head office.

It appears Councillor Wright has been much more mature and has made no comment on Councillor Twiss’s actions.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2931350/Tesco-begins-telling-2-000-members-head-office-staff-lose-jobs.html

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Posted on

28 Jan 2015

Posted under

Claire Wright, Phil Twiss

Twissgate: London’s Victoria and Albert Museum makes Claire Wright famous and Councillor Twiss infamous!

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has a current exhibition (soon to close) called “Disobedient Objects” which the museum describes as:

“From a Suffragette tea service to protest robots, this exhibition is the first to examine the powerful role of objects in movements for social change. It demonstrates how political activism drives a wealth of design ingenuity and collective creativity that defy standard definitions of art and design. Disobedient Objects focuses on the period from the late 1970s to now, a time that has brought new technologies and political challenges. On display are arts of rebellion from around the world that illuminate the role of making in grassroots movements for social change: finely woven banners; defaced currency; changing designs for barricades and blockades; political video games; an inflatable general assembly to facilitate consensus decision-making; experimental activist-bicycles; and textiles bearing witness to political murders.”

A major exhibit is a wall of recent sayings associated with civil disobedience: