Prisoners’ talents on display

9 March 2009
A stakeholder open day at the Northland Regional Corrections Facility, to be held on Friday 13 March, will showcase the artwork of staff, prisoners and providers taking part in the Portfolios art programme.

The theme for the day is  Hidden Talent, and paintings, graphic design, a mural project, drawing, cartooning, carving and a card project will be displayed. The open day will show work by a dozen prisoners participating in the art programme.

The Northland Regional Corrections Facility, situated at Ngawha Springs near Kaikohe, is inviting community stakeholders to the event. This includes Victim Support, iwi services, local elders, graphic design businesses and youth arts workers.

The Portfolios art programme was set up by art tutor Lory Avery in 2006, soon after the Northland Regional Corrections Facility was opened. It aims to record and develop the students’ work into individual portfolios, which can be used by the prisoners to present and promote their work professionally when they are released from prison.

“Many of the students doing the programme are talented artists,” Lory says. “The programme acknowledges their inherent gifts and then provides them with opportunities to explore their whakapapa and identity, and work towards their creative goals.”

Between 12 and 20 prisoners attend the Portfolios programme every week, with a waiting list of 30. Learning Connexion sponsorship provides art materials for students undertaking the course.