A group of academics has been using art workshops to explore the role of food in women’s prisons. The artworks produced reveal much about the social inequalities they experience as prisoners.
There are two common misconceptions about food in British prisons: that it is either not fit for human consumption, or too luxurious to be enjoyed by those in prison. The artworks produced by the women prisoners in our project broke down both these myths.
For imprisoned people, creating artworks can be a critical step in overcoming the barriers to discussing sensitive issues such as drug use, mental health or suicide.
As part of Doing Porridge, a two-year project examining the role of food in women’s prisons, we organised workshops for women prisoners in the south-east and north of England.
The classes were facilitated by an art teacher who had expertise in running art programmes with people in prison. The aim was to create a space for open discussion of prison food. The final works were displayed at an exhibition entitled On My Plate in Bracknell, Berkshire, in partnership with the prisons charity, Koestler Arts...Keep reading on The Conversation.
There are two common misconceptions about food in British prisons: that it is either not fit for human consumption, or too luxurious to be enjoyed by those in prison. The artworks produced by the women prisoners in our project broke down both these myths.
For imprisoned people, creating artworks can be a critical step in overcoming the barriers to discussing sensitive issues such as drug use, mental health or suicide.
As part of Doing Porridge, a two-year project examining the role of food in women’s prisons, we organised workshops for women prisoners in the south-east and north of England.
The classes were facilitated by an art teacher who had expertise in running art programmes with people in prison. The aim was to create a space for open discussion of prison food. The final works were displayed at an exhibition entitled On My Plate in Bracknell, Berkshire, in partnership with the prisons charity, Koestler Arts...Keep reading on The Conversation.