This document summarizes the results of a questionnaire on arts activities in UK prisons. 35 prisons responded. It found that most prisons offer regular arts activities, especially in visual arts and music. Drama and dance were less common. Prisons expressed interest in expanding arts provision, particularly in drama. Funding often comes from prison budgets and charities. Barriers included lack of finances and negative media portrayal. The document provides examples of good practice arts projects in UK prisons.

1. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke11
RESEARCH RESULTSRESEARCH RESULTS
ON ARTS IN UK PRISONSON ARTS IN UK PRISONS
Coordinated by Dr Alan ClarkeCoordinated by Dr Alan Clarke
for the Art & Culture in Prison projectfor the Art & Culture in Prison project
on behalf of The Manchester Collegeon behalf of The Manchester College
UK QUESTIONNAIRE FEEDBACKUK QUESTIONNAIRE FEEDBACK
Prisons = 35Prisons = 35 Good practice =Good practice =
3636
Arts groups =Arts groups =
1111

2. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke22
UK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSESUK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSES
Q. 1/2 Regular arts activities?Q. 1/2 Regular arts activities? 30 Yes - 5 No30 Yes - 5 No
THEATRE/ DRAMATHEATRE/ DRAMA
= 4= 4
MUSICMUSIC
= 15= 15
DANCEDANCE
= 1= 1
VISUAL ARTSVISUAL ARTS
= 25= 25
MULTIMEDIMULTIMEDI
AA
= 9= 9
WRITINGWRITING
= 15= 15
OTHEROTHER
= 7= 7
COMMENT: Regular activities in most artsCOMMENT: Regular activities in most arts
areas, except drama & particularly danceareas, except drama & particularly dance

3. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke33
Q. 3/4 One-off arts activities?Q. 3/4 One-off arts activities? 30 Yes - 5 No30 Yes - 5 No
THEATRE/ DRAMATHEATRE/ DRAMA
= 21= 21
MUSICMUSIC
= 18= 18
DANCEDANCE
= 1= 1
VISUAL ARTSVISUAL ARTS
= 11= 11
MULTIMEDIAMULTIMEDIA
= 6= 6
WRITINGWRITING
= 13= 13
OTHEROTHER
= 3= 3
UK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSESUK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSES
COMMENT: Drama very strong as a one-offCOMMENT: Drama very strong as a one-off
activity as are the other art-forms except foractivity as are the other art-forms except for
dancedance

4. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke44
Q.5 Forms of activity?Q.5 Forms of activity?
OutsidOutsid
ee
artistsartists
= 21= 21
PrisonerPrisoner
performancperformanc
eses
= 16= 16
WorkshopWorkshop
ss
= 21= 21
ExhibitioExhibitio
nsns
= 11= 11
EducatioEducatio
nn
classesclasses
= 24= 24
TherapyTherapy
sessionssessions
= 6= 6
OtherOther
= 1= 1
Q.6 Organisers?Q.6 Organisers?
EducatioEducatio
nn
staffstaff
= 29= 29
PrisonPrison
officersofficers
= 7= 7
TherapistTherapist
ss
= 5= 5
IndividualIndividual
artistsartists
= 8= 8
ArtsArts
organisationorganisation
ss
= 14= 14
OtherOther
= 11= 11
UK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSESUK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSES
COMMENT: Large proportion of activitiesCOMMENT: Large proportion of activities
organised as part of education provisionorganised as part of education provision

5. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke55
Q.7 Rationale?Q.7 Rationale?
CreativeCreative
= 29= 29
EducationalEducational
= 32= 32
TherapeutiTherapeuti
cc
= 11= 11
InterventionIntervention
ss
= 11= 11
OtherOther
= 4= 4
Q.8 Location?Q.8 Location?
ExerciseExercise
yardyard
= 1= 1
CanteenCanteen
= 0= 0
ArtsArts
spacesspaces
= 14= 14
ChapelChapel
= 21= 21
Sports hallSports hall
= 10= 10
OtherOther
= 23= 23
UK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSESUK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSES
COMMENT: Rationale divided mainly between creativeCOMMENT: Rationale divided mainly between creative
& educational – surprising amount of dedicated arts& educational – surprising amount of dedicated arts
spacesspaces

6. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke66
Q.9 Funding sources?Q.9 Funding sources?
PrisonPrison
budgetbudget
= 18= 18
EducationEducation
budgetbudget
= 26= 26
ArtistsArtists
= 9= 9
CharitiesCharities
= 14= 14
OtherOther
= 2= 2
Q.10 Limiting factors?Q.10 Limiting factors?
SpaceSpace
= 11= 11
SecuritySecurity
= 11= 11
Lack ofLack of
artistsartists
= 3= 3
FinancesFinances
= 30= 30
MediaMedia
scrutinyscrutiny
= 15= 15
OtherOther
= 5= 5
UK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSESUK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSES
COMMENT: Charities provide quite a lot of theCOMMENT: Charities provide quite a lot of the
financial support – negative media impact a majorfinancial support – negative media impact a major
concernconcern

7. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke77
Q. 11/12 More arts provision?Q. 11/12 More arts provision? 32 Yes - 3 No32 Yes - 3 No
THEATRE/ DRAMATHEATRE/ DRAMA
= 27= 27
MUSICMUSIC
= 22= 22
DANCEDANCE
= 14= 14
VISUAL ARTSVISUAL ARTS
= 18= 18
MULTIMEDIMULTIMEDI
AA
= 17= 17
WRITINGWRITING
= 15= 15 OTHEROTHER
= 4= 4
UK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSESUK QUESTIONNAIRE: PRISON RESPONSES
COMMENT: Real interest in providing more artsCOMMENT: Real interest in providing more arts
activities in all areas, especially in drama – clearactivities in all areas, especially in drama – clear
demand for more dancedemand for more dance

8. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke88
RESPONSES FROM ARTS GROUPSRESPONSES FROM ARTS GROUPS
WORKING IN UK PRISONSWORKING IN UK PRISONS
Writers inWriters in
PrisonsPrisons
Music inMusic in
PrisonsPrisons
RideoutRideout
Music inMusic in
DetentionDetention
Escape ArtistsEscape Artists
Fine CellFine Cell
WorkWork
Geese TheatreGeese Theatre
CompanyCompany
LondonLondon
ShakespeareShakespeare
WorkoutWorkout
GlasgowGlasgow
CitizensCitizens
TheatreTheatre
Prison ArtsPrison Arts
FoundationFoundation
TiPP (Theatre inTiPP (Theatre in
Prisons &Prisons &
Probation)Probation)
GENERALGENERAL
ARTSARTS
THEATRETHEATRE MUSICMUSIC
WRITINGWRITING

9. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke99
PROJECT:PROJECT:
““Stepping Stones for edible garden”Stepping Stones for edible garden”
PRISON:PRISON:
HMP HewellHMP Hewell
DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION:
For the Royal Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show, the artFor the Royal Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show, the art
class made stepping stones out of clay to represent aclass made stepping stones out of clay to represent a
prisoner’s progressionprisoner’s progression
COMMENT:COMMENT:
““Everyone who took part took pride in the final garden,Everyone who took part took pride in the final garden,
woodwork, art, literacy, numeracy, farms & gardens andwoodwork, art, literacy, numeracy, farms & gardens and
many more (prison) departments took part in this project.”many more (prison) departments took part in this project.”
AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE (1)AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE (1)

10. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke1010
AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE (2)AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE (2)
PROJECT:PROJECT:
““Da Boyz Banged up”Da Boyz Banged up”
PRISON:PRISON:
HMP GarthHMP Garth
DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION:
A drama production looking at the perspective from the prisoner's, aA drama production looking at the perspective from the prisoner's, a
mother's & a girlfriend's point of viewmother's & a girlfriend's point of view
COMMENT 1:COMMENT 1:
““Education staff felt it was an innovative way to get a message across &Education staff felt it was an innovative way to get a message across &
was useful for prisoners undertaking Social &was useful for prisoners undertaking Social & Life Skills classes”Life Skills classes”
COMMENT 2:COMMENT 2:
““The ‘Pull Up Chair’ production team felt that they got a buzz from theThe ‘Pull Up Chair’ production team felt that they got a buzz from the
prisoners involved & would like to do something again.”prisoners involved & would like to do something again.”

11. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke1111
AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE (3)AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE (3)
PROJECT:PROJECT:
““Gamelan - Storytelling and ShadowGamelan - Storytelling and Shadow
puppet show”puppet show”
PRISON:PRISON:
HMYOI Thorn CrossHMYOI Thorn Cross
DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION:
Using the Gamelan created a visual show with Shadow Puppets, StoryUsing the Gamelan created a visual show with Shadow Puppets, Story
Telling, Poetry & MusicTelling, Poetry & Music
COMMENT 1:COMMENT 1:
““Excellent involvement of all departments across the prison: education,Excellent involvement of all departments across the prison: education,
chapel, the governors, all making a successful diverse evening.”chapel, the governors, all making a successful diverse evening.”
COMMENT 2:COMMENT 2:
““Impressed to be involved in a project that created a model for teamImpressed to be involved in a project that created a model for team
work over several months using partnerships to fully support the event.”work over several months using partnerships to fully support the event.”

12. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke1212
AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE (4)AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE (4)
PROJECT:PROJECT:
““Community Art Project: The Big DrawCommunity Art Project: The Big Draw ””
PRISON:PRISON:
HMP LindholmeHMP Lindholme
DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION:
A student-based initiative to make their environment aA student-based initiative to make their environment a
better place, starting with murals on the wings &better place, starting with murals on the wings &
extending to other areas of the prison.extending to other areas of the prison.
COMMENT 1:COMMENT 1:
““A positive reaction was given by the prison to the painting on theA positive reaction was given by the prison to the painting on the
wings, & they initiated more areas to be completed.”wings, & they initiated more areas to be completed.”
COMMENT 2:COMMENT 2:
““One of the reactions to having their work admired by other learners,One of the reactions to having their work admired by other learners,
staff & employees has been to encourage learners to do extra workstaff & employees has been to encourage learners to do extra work
for a new display.”for a new display.”

13. Dr Alan ClarkeDr Alan Clarke1313
AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE (5)AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD PRACTICE (5)
PROJECT:PROJECT:
““Museums, Libraries, Archives project (MLA)”Museums, Libraries, Archives project (MLA)”
PRISON:PRISON:
HMYOI DeerboltHMYOI Deerbolt
DESCRIPTION:DESCRIPTION:
The production of original artwork, music & a play inThe production of original artwork, music & a play in
collaboration with an outside arts group, Safegroundcollaboration with an outside arts group, Safeground
COMMENT:COMMENT:
““A genuine transformation in attitude from the generalA genuine transformation in attitude from the general
public towards young offenders, seeing them aspublic towards young offenders, seeing them as
individuals & in a more positive light.”individuals & in a more positive light.”