Art through prison bars

Yesterday we attended the opening of Art by Offenders: Secure Patients and Detainees, the 2010 Koestler Awards exhibition. With a panel of curators wholly made up of victims of crime, the 2010 exhibition has an interesting twist to previous years, echoing the move to restorative justice across the sector. The commitment to arts was reiterated by MP Crispin Blunt in his opening speech where he also confirmed the government’s continuing support of the role of the arts in the Criminal Justice sector.

A presentation by the seven curators explored their various reasons for selecting the exhibited work, ranging from personal associations to an appreciation of the aesthetic and technical value of the pieces. Mirroring this, two award winning ex-offender artists spoke about what having their work recognised publicly meant to them.

For both the curators and the artists on the panel, the process of selection or creation of the work formed a key role in overcoming various issues. One curator commented “I came to realise although my family were victims of crime, these people [prisoners] are also victims of society.”

Rebecca who recently graduated with a BTEC in Media Production from The Media House, HMP Downview won the Roger Graef Platinum Award for her film Stuck in the System. She reiterated the importance of gaining education and qualifications whilst in prison and the positive difference that being involved in a project made to how she felt about life after prison.

The Inside Job Production Training Scheme works with offenders nearing the end of their sentence who join the company on day release for a period of four months. The scheme aims to provide valuable confidence and life skills enabling trainees to more effectively bridge the gap between release and rehabilitation.  At IJP, the process that we see our trainees go through from the beginning to the end of their placements is one that has a profound affect, both on their self esteem and perception, and their determination and attitude towards rehabilitation.  

Ann Summerhayes & Louise Brown, IJP

To view a short film of a day in the life of one of IJP's production trainees, click here