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. Some information about the Prison Education Service is available on the IPS website.
News and media items on arts (music, drama, visual art) and sports in prison are included below.
Image taken from a gallery of artwork by prisoners.
9th February 2010
An interesting way of harnessing the creative talent of juvenile offenders.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
15th August 2009
This documentary focuses on Noel Shine and his music students who are prisoners at Cork Prison.
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.
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.
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.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.