Irish Penal Reform Trust

Education, Arts and Sports in Prison

Peggy - JB, Portlaoise PrisonFacilities 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. 

Prison Photography: 'Still Life: Killing Time'

22nd June 2010

Edmund Clark’s 'Still Life: Killing Time' captures in photographs the "slowness, the fabric and the accoutrements of prison life for elderly inmates."

50% increase in prisoners sitting Leaving Cert exams

9th June 2010

117 prisoners are sitting Leaving Cert exams, and 161 are taking Junior Certificate subjects in the exams which start today. Given the chronic conditions that many of our prisoners live in, this is truly an achievement...

Guardian: Good things can happen in our prisons

1st June 2010

Erwin James reflects on his turning point in prison, the introduction to philosophy.

Guardian: Homeless people and prisoners to exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show

18th May 2010

A collaboration between the Eden Project and homeless people and prisoners is creating Chelsea's largest ever garden.

Guardian: Theatre project leads to West End stage for ex-prisoners

14th April 2010

The transformative power of theatre has been harnassed to provide a lifeline for some prisoners.

UK: Crafts in Prison

25th March 2010

A quilt hand-crafted by prisoners has taken pride of place in an exhibition at London's V&A museum.

UK: Professional Dance Training for Young Offenders

24th February 2010

UK project 'Dance United' sees reduction in reoffending rates for those young people participating.

Guardian: Appreciating the Magic of the Moors

19th February 2010

Landscape and literature are the tools of change for some young offenders in England.

UK: Prisoners' Education Trust

19th February 2010

Prisoners' Education Trust provides learning opportunities for offenders in custody to broaden their horizons and to focus on a more positive life on release.

What keeps prisoners from learning?

16th February 2010

Even when offenders have the courage to undertake a course in prison, there are many barriers to overcome

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

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