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
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
Maghaberry Prison - Writing Workshops for prisoners 6th August 2009
Sean Rocks from RTE Radio 1’s The Arts Show talks to prisoners and staff at Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn in Co Antrim about creative writing workshops for prisoners. Read more
“Inside story: Why does prison provide such inspiration for poetry?” 31st July 2009
When the magazine for prisoners asked for inmates’ poetry, the response was overwhelming. Peter Stanford for the Independent asks why inspiration comes as the cell door slams. Read more
“Comings and Goings” 29th July 2009
A photography exhibition by Casey Orr on the outer walls of Armley Prison, Leeds, from 3 July – 31 August 2009 portraying prisoners and their families. Read more
“The Power of Guitars behind Bars” 5th January 2009
Erwin James in the Irish Times reports that musicians who play to prisoners for the right reasons can touch damaged and broken lives. Read more
"Odd is Good" 11th July 2007
Iain Aitch reports in the Guardian that the Koestler awards, a 'Turner prize for prisoners', are finally making it into the mainstream. Read more
The 'La Boheme' Prison Project 18th November 2006
A project run by Opera Ireland with Mountjoy Prison to create the sets and costumes for La Bohème which was staged as part of the Winter Season 2006. Read more