Robyn Hughes: life skills through art

13 October 2009
Learning life skills such as teamwork, communication, self-criticism and following a project through to its completion are among the many benefits of prison art programmes, says long-time Auckland Prison art tutor and former Auckland University lecturer Robyn Hughes.

Back in 1993 when Robyn was asked to teach art at Auckland Prison, she agreed to try it out for six sessions.

“In an art sense, It turned out to be a very positive experience. The energy put into the classes and the quality of work you could start seeing coming forward was what really interested me, and made me decide to go back.”

Robyn has been tutoring at the prison “more or less ever since”.  On Wednesday mornings she takes a small focused group working on specific projects, and on Fridays she runs an open class for any prisoners wanting to give it a go.

She sees her role less as a teacher and more as a researcher and facilitator – a person who can initiate an exchange.

“I’m bringing in information about what they’re painting about. I see that as part of my role, not just standing there and saying ‘paint it like this’. It’s encouraging them to think about their artwork.”

The classes give the prisoners an opportunity to make positive and constructive use of their time.

“Prisoners who decide to come to the classes have to work together in a small space – just a room with carpet and a supply cupboard. They have to work together on projects or pieces of work they are required to follow through and complete.

“There is a creative focus but all those other skills come into it – life skills that are required anywhere.”

Communication vital

Robyn says communication is a vital component in the prison classes.

“The art is not just about practical skills, learning the technical way of putting paint on. It’s about discussing what the artwork is about, what the conceptual drive is in the artwork. Often people may not have had an opportunity to communicate about things like that. It is pushing those educational boundaries, those thinking skills.”

She sees particular benefits for prisoners for whom English is a second language or people “who are just not good communicators”.

Prisoners are also developing self-critical skills. “The ability to self-evaluate what you are producing is one of the things we talk about – how you critically analyse your own production but still have the confidence to drive it forward. It gives them a chance to reflect, which is another life skill.”

Over the years, Robyn has noticed leaders coming through, particularly among groups of prisoners working on projects.

“We’ve done a lot of exhibitions and community projects. The biggest one I was involved with was the making and donation of work for the Auckland City Hospital. The idea, discussed by the art group at the time, was to give something back to the community.”

Positive outcome

The resulting artworks were produced and presented to the hospital in two phases: in 2003 and 2007.

“There was a lot of support from the Department of Corrections and the community,” Robyn says. ‘Now if the families of the prisoners – or the prisoners when they’re released – visit the hospital, they see all that work hanging there. It’s a great thing; very positive from many angles.

“You see development of art skills. But you also notice a change in the way some of the people start to work together as a team and push towards a goal such as contributing to the community.”

Prisoners also gain mana from “being esteemed for what they do well, or a skill they may have had before but have not used for a long time. People acknowledge a thing well done, particularly with the visual arts. It gives people a sense of pride when their accomplishment is acknowledged – both from fellow inmates and staff.”