The Right to Protest EXHIBITION Coverage
Header from the Design Week article, 17 September 2025.
For 10 days The Right to Protest Exhibition enjoyed a constant footfall, with some days seeing over 600 visitors in a day.
The events attracted different audiences. The print workshop with kennardphillipps and Ocean Rebellion was visited by many families and locals. The Protest Performance Night attracted a younger demographic.
Exhibition coverage certainly added to this footfall. Appearing in all the leading UK design publications meant there was significant interest among design practitioners and students, as well as people interested in specific artists and designers. The exhibition enjoyed a lot of repeat visits.
Below we’ve gathered a sample of some of the online coverage.
Many posts were significantly liked. This post by Pigmeat was liked over 97k time and shared over 18k times.
MEDIA
Many of the main design and advertising magazines covered the exhibition.
It’s Nice That
The mid week article in ‘It’s Nice That’ meant a very busy Saturday on the last weekend of the exhibition.
The article includes many quotes including the following from Clive Russell:
“The exhibition is a call to arms to all artists, designers, and citizens. It’s time to give a shit about what’s happening in the world. It’s time to use whatever tools you possess in defence of care and freedom.”
Creative Review
Creative Review attended the UnPrivate View opening. The article and online clip helped publicise the exhibition to London Design Festival goers.
The article contained this reminder about the timeliness and seriousness of the exhibition:
“The Public Order Act 2023 granted law enforcement agencies new powers to restrict public demonstrations deemed likely to cause “serious disruption”. Against this backdrop, a new exhibition in east London reminds us of protest’s radical past while reasserting its relevance today.”
Design Week
The coverage in Design Week came out the day before the Exhibition.
The article featured an interview with one of the curators and a preview of some of the artwork in the exhibition.
Shots Magazine
Shots interviewed exhibition curator John Phillips.
The extensive interview covers John’s influences and creative life in detail. It contains gems like the quote answering whether ‘Does he [John] ever get downcast that the problems he was addressing 50 years ago are still around today?’:
“If you were too sensitive, you’d get depressed. But there’s a great phrase,” he says, smiling broadly. “Forget about the good old days, work with the bad new ones.”
Creative Bloq
Covering the exhibition earlier than anyone else Creative Bloq featured this extensive article, 7 September, by Rosie Hilder.
Ecohustler
SOCIAL MEDIA
The Museum of UnRest does not use social media but many of the artists and designers involved in the exhibition do. Here’s a snapshot of some of the posts to illustrate the significant engagement the exhibition enjoyed.
Greatorex gallery uses social media, it promoted the exhibition and the exhibition events.
The exhibition was publicised on social media via collaborations with artists and designers.
Feedback across social media channels was very positive, negative comments mentioned the short (10 day) timespan of the exhibition. View the post on IG.
Comments also called for the exhibition to be repeated or to travel throughout the UK.
Posts continued across the duration of the exhibition inspiring continuous footfall.