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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Respect for rights in the penal system with prison as a last resort.