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HANDMADE HAPPINESS – Documentary Animation An animated documentary exploring how a passion for craft helps four makers overcome adversity. A carer finds purpose in knitting and making yarn. A health worker starts a men’s knitting circle. A new Tasmanian inspires others by teaching ceramics, and an arts worker sews old textiles to create new items and new hope for a sustainable future.

HANDMADE HAPPINESS

HANDMADE HAPPINESS – Documentary Animation 8:30 minutes

Director/Producer: Vivien Mason

Synopsis

An animated documentary exploring how a passion for craft helps four makers overcome adversity. A carer finds purpose in knitting and making yarn. A health worker starts a men’s knitting circle. A new Tasmanian inspires others by teaching ceramics, and an arts worker sews old textiles to create new items and new hope for a sustainable future.

Themes

  • The value of creativity
  • Social/ emotional intelligence to overcome adversity
  • Creating resilience through craft

Discussion Questions

  • What activities help you to feel balanced and connected?
  • Which character do you most identify with? Why?
  • What crafts have you tried, and have you enjoyed them?
  • Are there gender biases/expectations around craft?
  • What materials are used in this animation and how do they reflect the story?
  • What do you know about stop-motion animation?

Ideas to explore

  • Health benefits of taking up a craft (relaxation, social activity, sense of achievement)
  • Challenging gender roles (examining historical and cultural contexts)
  • Sustainability (creative use of found/ everyday objects)
  • The difference between craft and art

Pre or post-viewing activities

  • Start a craft group.
  • Have a craft activity after the screening.
  • Provide resources for craft groups in the area.

Alice Webb

Alice Webb is a passionate advocate for diversity, inclusion, and social justice, bringing over 18 years of leadership experience to her role as CEO of A Fairer World. With a background in education, disability advocacy, and organisational leadership, Alice is dedicated to empowering individuals and organisations to create meaningful change. She holds a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in Business Administration, equipping her with both the strategic insight and educational expertise to drive impactful change. Alice is a skilled facilitator in unconscious bias training, diversity and inclusion programs, and workplace cultural change initiatives. Under her leadership, A Fairer World delivers innovative programs like the Hobart Human Library, where real-life storytellers share lived experiences of bias and discrimination to foster empathy and challenge assumptions. Committed to creating inclusive spaces, Alice believes that awareness leads to action and that education is the key to breaking down barriers. Her engaging training style, combined with real-world case studies and interactive discussions, makes her an inspiring leader in the fight for a fairer, more equitable society.