Art as Testimony of Pr*son Experience: Panel event

What can art tell us about life inside Pr*son?

Join us for a unique exhibition showcasing artwork created during a Pr*son sentence, offering rare, personal insight into the realities of imprisonment, rehabilitation, and life beyond crime.

Throughout the day, visitors can explore a collection of artworks the featured artist produced while serving time in Pr*son. Alongside the artwork, extracts from interviews reveal the stories behind the images, exploring why creative expression mattered, how the work was produced in a Pr*son environment, and what the pieces represent in relation to the artist's experiences of offending, incarceration and rebuilding his life.

The exhibition is part of a research project that uses artwork elicitation to better understand the role of creativity in Pr*son and the lived experiences of people within the criminal justice system. It invites visitors to reflect on how society responds to crime and punishment, and the potential of the arts to support personal growth, reflection and change.

The day will conclude with a panel discussion (from 2-4pm) featuring the artist alongside experts in criminal justice, Pr*son policy and Pr*son reform. Together, they will discuss the challenges facing the Pr*son system, the value of creative programmes in prisons, and what a more effective approach to rehabilitation might look like.

Whether you are interested in criminal justice, considering a future career in the sector, or simply curious about the human stories behind the headlines, this event offers a thought-provoking opportunity to engage with art, research and lived experience.