Between 2019-2022 Artsadmin delivered multi-disciplinary creative projects in prisons and provide opportunities for people who have lived experience of the criminal justice system to engage in the arts after a prison sentence.
Take Up Space was a project delivered in male prisons in London, where participants work with an artist to create a performance for an invited audience and their families. Artsadmin delivered Take Up Space in HMP Thameside and YOI Feltham and partnered with the resettlement prison services of social justice charity Catch 22 on this work. Previous Take Up Space projects have seen poet and musician Joshua Idehen delivering performance poetry workshops and Lanre Malaolu leading movement workshops, exploring strength and masculinity. Read poetry from Take Up Space 2017 and Education Producer Siobhán’s blog on the 2018 project.
For people who have lived experience of the criminal justice system we offered support by providing mentoring and resources to artists and by setting up artist peer networks. As part of this work we supported artist Lady Unchained and host her creative platform Unchained Nights – a music and poetry platform for artists with lived experience of the criminal justice system. Read more on our blog.
“I enjoyed being able to come and express in a safe place and the feeling of normality.”
Participant, 2018
“Prisons should do more arts activities because it lets people express themselves in ways that cannot on the wing.”
Participant, 2018
| Date | Title | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 November 2021 | Unchained Nights | Toynbee Studios | |
| 28 March 2019 | Unchained Nights #3 | Toynbee Studios | |
| 27 September 2018 | Unchained Nights #2 | Toynbee Studios | |
| 3 May 2018 | Unchained Nights | Toynbee Studios |
