Russell’s story: “I hadn’t picked up a pencil in 15 years”
Russell was expelled from school at 13 and sent to a pupil referral unit. Now he’s studying for an Arts degree with the Open University.
Creative Arts and Art students at HMP Pentonville have written and designed a commemorative book marking the prison’s 20-year partnership with Prisoners’ Education Trust.
In this foreword, Project Lead Jose Aguiar explains the background to the unique five-month project – with two classes creating artwork, poetry, and writing and the wider prison community making a contribution.
Read the book herePrison education can open up opportunities, broaden horizons, transform life chances, and personal identity.
As adults, we often see education as belonging to our past something that we have completed. In prison, it has the potential through which people can shape their future.
Prisoners took a central and active role in the production of this booklet
The way education is organised in prisons, varies a great deal. Fortunately, some organisations, like the Prisoners’ Education Trust, try to keep the level, quality, and offer of education high, through their Distance Learning courses.
The theme of this commemorative booklet is the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Prisoners’ Education Trust, and the transformational impact of Distance Learning courses on HMP Pentonville residents, since 1998.
Moss. Prison Bus. 2019. Pencil on paper.
Mathias, Lawrence, Pentonville, 2019. Pencil on paper.
Femi. Hope... .2019. Pastille, pencil, acrylic on paper.
Russell. The Books. 2019. Pencil on paper.
A. Always. 2019. Collage and watercolour on paper
D. S. A Place of Solace. 2020. Pen on paper.
Obeney. Jail, Blessing in Disguise. 2019. Acrylic on paper.
Ali. The Globe. 2019. Pencil and collage on paper.
Yatin. Help to Succeed. 2019. Pen and pencil on paper.
Yatin. Help to Succeed 2. 2019. Pen and pencil on paper
Russell. Partners. 2020. Pencil and collage on paper.
Femi. The Right Track. 2020. Watercolour on paper
Yatin, The Key to Your Future. 2019. Collage.
Obeney. Education is Key. 2020. Watercolour and pen on paper.
Russell. Education is the Key. 2020. Pen on paper.
Ali. Butterfly. 2019. Pencil on paper
Moss. Art Materials. 2019. Pencil on paper.
D.S. Untitled. 2019. Collage, pen and pencil on paper.
This project was built around active collaborations led by the Creative Arts class tutor, Helena Baptista, and Art & Design class tutor, Kirk Lawrence, with support from the Prisoners’ Education Trust.
Prisoners took a central and active role in the production of this booklet; they were an integral part of its planning, research, and content.
The project proved that when different stakeholders come together, success happens
The production of the booklet was innovative, in the sense that, for the first time, a five-month project involved two classes, and the wider prison community, collaborating and contributing in equal terms. It proved that when different stakeholders come together, success happens.
In the words of one prisoner involved in the project: “Learning in prison has been like a duvet on a winter night; it is something comforting when everything appears bleak.”
Happy 30th anniversary to the Prisoners’ Education Trust, and may your amazing work continue for a long time!
You can read an interactive version of the book here.
Related Posts