Prison art in Wales

25 November, 2010
An exhibition of prison art at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff includes a remarkable painting of The Oliver Cromwell, one of the last steam locomotives to operate in Britain before steam was banned in 1968. Remarkable because the detailed work was painted from memory by an inmate who cannot read or write and had only seen the train once.

The exhibition, titled Parc Life, is a collection of works created as part of education and recreational programmes at Her Majesty’s Prison and Young Offenders’ Institute at Parc Prison in Bridgend.

Another work is an intricate sculpture of a flower in a vase made from a paste of bread, glue and water.

The exhibition, according to a review in the South Wales Echo, is designed to show the role art can play in the rehabilitation of prisoners and how it can help them to develop practical skills and gain formal qualifications.

Helping with reintegration

These in turn can help them gain work when they are released from prison, as well as helping with their reintegration back into society.

An introduction to the exhibition on the Wales Millennium Centre website notes that art and its creative process can change people’s perceptions of the world and boost confidence in their ability to progress and achieve.

“For prisoners, realising a previously hidden talent for drawing, writing, playing an instrument or drama can be the motivation and self-belief required to change other aspects of their lives.”

Millennium Centre staff worked for several months with the prison to put together the exhibition.

Encouraging self-reflection and motivation

“In the process of doing this we’ve learnt about how art is involved with the work that they do, especially the way that art rehabilitation programmes – through both interventions and education – are used to engage with prisoners as a way of encouraging self-reflection and self-motivation.”

Maintaining healthy family links while in custody has been proven to reduce an individual’s likelihood of offending by up to six times. Parc Prison’s Supporting Families Initiative is designed to support and develop new ways that healthy family ties can be established, maintained and enhanced while a person is in custody.

“The exhibition will provide another opportunity for prisoners to engage with their families and the wider community in a neutral and non-threatening environment.”

It will enable prisoners of all ages to showcase their talents to a local Welsh audience and give opportunities for their friends and families to see the works exhibited in their national arts centre.

Talks and workshops on how and why the arts are promoted as a tool for prisoner rehabilitation have been organised to coincide with the exhibition.