The Prison Arts Foundation was
founded as a charitable trust in November 1996 after
extensive discussions between our main stakeholders
the Northern Ireland Prison
Service, the Probation Board for Northern Ireland,
the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Community
Relations Council and the Community Arts Forum.
Its aims are to create, both individually and in
partnership, access to the arts for all prisoners,
ex-prisoners, young offenders and ex-young offenders
in Northern Ireland.
With the closure of HMP Maze there are now three
prisons within the Northern Ireland Prison Service.
Through ‘Artist in Residence’ programmes
the Foundation has endeavoured to promote and
widen the practice and appreciation of the arts
to all those serving custodial sentences. Recognised
and practicing Artists work in a variety of art
forms including writing, drama, fine art, craft,
music, circus/physical theatre and dance. These
workshops seek to release the creative self of
all prisoners, to encourage and to inspire them
to use their time more creatively through achievable
methods. The residencies are bolstered by a visiting
artist scheme where local artists demonstrate
their work then lead an interactive workshop in
the technique used.
On average, over 20% of the prison population
are enrolled in the various parts of the Prison
Arts Foundation programme. Many prisoners continue
their artistic endeavours upon release and the
Foundation does what it can to encourage and support
this important aspect of their re-integration
into society.
Traditionally, writing and the visual arts have
been the main channels for the creative self within
the prison culture. The work produced is at times
so good that it can stand by itself and bears
comparison with the best. This is evident by the
resounding success of the 1998 and 1999 ‘Captivating’
exhibition of work; the publication of ‘The
Magilligan Sentence: an anthology of writing from
H.M. Prison Magilligan’ edited by John Brown;
the documentary film ‘The Big Question’
and the short film and documentary of its making
‘The Inside Job’ – both films
won National Film Awards.
