Protest Art

The formation of the United Democratic Movement (UDF) in 1983 amalgamated many grassroot organisations under one banner. Some organisations consisted of cultural workers who established screen-printing resource centres. These were aimed at providing training, while serving the needs of all the UDF affiliates. In Johannesburg, the Screen Training Project (STP) was established while the Community Arts Project (CAP) was based in Cape Town. These projects were responsible for the production of thousands of posters, T-shirts, badges and banners. As a result of these activities, they also attracted the attention of security police who raided the premises and confiscated posters. With increasing intimidation STP was forced to go underground and with this production declined. The project re-emerged as the Media Training Workshop after the 1990 unbannings.