The History of Art in Prisons
10 Jul 2025, 17:30 - 19:00
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An event exploring the history of art in prisons and contemporary exhibitions on prisoner art.
In the Victorian era, there was a keen interest in art in secure settings. Art was supposed to evoke a domestic atmosphere, as well as aiming to improve minds and morals. But it could also be a way for prisoners to have a voice – through graffiti, or handcrafted objects.
This event brings together speakers on the history of art in prisons, alongside contemporary exhibitions on prisoner art. Speakers include Laura McAtackney on the history of graffiti and other art in Irish prisons and Dominique Moran, who curated the exhibition ‘Incarcerated: Contemporary Arts from the Victorian Prison’.
Speakers:
Laura McAtackney is Professor in Archaeology and co-Director of the Radical Humanities Laboratory at University College Cork, Ireland. She was Associate Professor (2015-2022) and Professor of Heritage Studies at the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, Aarhus University, Denmark (2022-2024). She is also Docent in Contemporary Historical Archaeology at the University of Oulu, Finland. Amongst many interests her research focuses on material-based approaches to understanding marginalized, difficult and contested pasts. This includes experiences of people held in institutions and lived experience of post-conflict and post-colonial societies (and the politics of how they are remembered).
Dominique Moran is Professor of Carceral Geography at the University of Birmingham. A specialist in research into prison design and the lived experience of incarceration, she is lead investigator of an ESRC-funded research project considering the Persistence of the Victorian Prison in the UK. This project involved extensive creative methodologies with incarcerated people, as well as specially-commissioned photography, culminating in three exhibitions featuring artwork and creative writing by men incarcerated in Victorian-era prisons in England.
Fiona Curran is Chief Executive Officer of Koestler Arts. Koestler Arts is the UK’s best-known and oldest prison arts charity. Their vision is that the power of the arts unlocks hope, talent and potential in the lives of people in the criminal justice system. They inspire participation in the arts, including fine art, design, music, poetry and more, by people in prisons and beyond through the annual Koestler Awards scheme. They continue to build public recognition of prisoners’ creative work, fostering communities that support rehabilitation. Their programmes across the UK include a membership scheme, post release arts mentoring, awards, feedback, participants’ family days, exhibitions, events and publications.
Image: Art created for the ‘Prison Nursing Unlocked’ exhibition at HMP Eastwood Park
This event is open to all and takes place in person only. There will be live subtitles.
If you have any questions or accessibility needs, please contact us on rcn.library@rcn.org.uk or 0345 337 3368.
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For any queries about this event please contact
国内精品伊人久久久久妇 Library and Museum
rcn.library@rcn.org.uk
0345 337 3368
20 Cavendish Square
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Page last updated - 02/07/2025
