Education, Arts and Sports in PrisonEducation, Arts and Sports in Prison
Facilities for education and the arts in prison are provided by the Prison Education Service, which consists of a partnership between the Irish Prison Service and a range of educational agencies from the community.
A number of programmes are co-funded by the Arts Council of Ireland, including the Writers in Prison scheme and the Visual artists in prisons scheme.
The Prison Education Service website offers a comprehensive overview of programmes, with useful information about the work of artists in prisons along with galleries of art work by the prisoners themselves.
Further information on prisoner education and associated news and events is available from Prison Education News, a website run by the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee's (CDVEC) Educational Service to Prisons.
News and media items on arts (music, drama, visual art) and sports in prison are included below.
Image taken from a gallery of art work by prisoners. See: www.pesireland.org
UK: Prisoners' Education Trust 19th February 2010
Prisoners' Education Trust provides learning opportunities for offenders in custody to broaden their horizons and to focus on a more positive life on release. Read more
What keeps prisoners from learning? 16th February 2010
Even when offenders have the courage to undertake a course in prison, there are many barriers to overcome Read more
Art Behind Bars 9th February 2010
An interesting way of harnessing the creative talent of juvenile offenders. Read more
Fine Cell Work: Rehabilitation through Craftwork 3rd December 2009
Fine Cell Work is a registered charity in the UK established in 1995. The charity teaches needlework to prisoners in UK prisons. The aim of the charity is to rehabilitate prisoners. Fine Cell Work supply materials and volunteer instructors to allow prisoners to carry out embroidery in their cells. Read more
OUT: National Prison Art Exhibition 2009 10th November 2009
"Out" is the National Prison Art Exhibition 2009, running at Kilmainham Gaol from runs from Friday 13th of November to Sunday, 31st of January. Read more
'Clean Break' Theatre Co: working women whose lives have been affected by the Criminal Justice System. 29th October 2009
‘Clean Break’ is a theatre, education and writing company set up to provide for and work with women whose lives have been affected by the British criminal justice system. The theatre is used as a platform to educate, inform and change lives. Read more
'Breaking Rocks': a film about Jail Guitar Doors project with Billy Bragg 2nd October 2009 
'Breaking Rocks' is an inspiring documentary which tells the story of Billy Bragg's independent initiative, Jail Guitar Doors, which provides instruments to those who are using music as a means of achieving the rehabilitation of prison inmates. Read more
Football Behind Bars 9th September 2009
Rehabilitation and social integration are the goals behind a football academy with former Arsenal player Ian Wright at a Young Offenders Institution in Dorset. Read more
"Songs from the Inside" 15th August 2009
This documentary focuses on Noel Shine and his music students who are prisoners at Cork Prison. Read more
“Inmates discover artistic freedom” 12th August 2009
David Batty from the Guardian reports on the Freedom of Art exhibition at St. Pancras Hospital, London, displaying art by prisoners from Pentonville Prison. Read more