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Welcome to Arts on the Out!
This site is designed to help prisoners and ex-prisoners interested in the arts.
Maybe you’ve discovered arts activities while inside and want to take them further; maybe you’ve always thought of becoming an artist, but never been sure where to start…
Whether you’re thinking of pursuing an arts related career, or just fancy getting involved for fun, this site will provide you with lots of useful info and advice.
Check out the fact sheet section for info on each arts form and how to get involved… watch interviews of ex-cons now working in the arts…get some financial tips on how to fund your passion…
Most of the info and advice on this site comes from ex-prisoners who managed to create a successful career in the arts for themselves; so they know where you’re coming from and where you’d like to get to!
Introducing Charlie Ryder
My name is Charlie Ryder, I have recently started working at Anne Peaker Centre as an Information Officer. One aspect of my job is to respond to (ex) prisoners’ enquiries about funding; what really excites me is the passion that prisoners have for arts and the difference it makes to their lives, as it significantly affects a person’s self esteem and general outlook.
I also edit an arts magazine for ex-prisoners called The A Word. The theme of the first magazine is the art of forgiveness which has generated some incredibly moving interpretations.
- Marian Partington shines a light on the creative effect of sharing the gift of forgiveness. Marian’s sister Lucy was murdered by Fred and Rosemary West. Marian has forgiven them, and has visited Bristol prison to raise victim awareness. A burglar was so moved by her story he asked to be taken to his flat where he showed police all the other items he’d stolen. Then he wrote to Marian, and out of the experience started to write poetry for the first time.
- In 1991 Sue Hanisch was caught up in an IRA bombing at Victoria Station, London. Sue lost her right leg and suffered severe permanent injuries to her left foot. Sue has written a beautiful piece on the art of forgiving.
- A writer who was part of the Koestler Trust’s ‘Prose and Cons’ event has written a very honest piece about how he can’t forgive himself.
- Finally Sunny Jacobs who was condemned to death and spent 16 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, has written an article entitled “Forgiveness as an Art Form”
The A Word will be circulated initially to prison libraries and writing groups. If you are, or know of, an ex-prisoner that would like to subscribe for free to The A Word, please contact me on 01227 470 629 or io@apcentre.org.uk
We are planning an online gallery for ex prisoners who would like their work exhibited. The next theme for the magazine is the art of hope. If you are an exprisoner that is involved in arts and would like to share your story of how the arts have given you hope or you are an exprisoner that would like to have your work exhibited then please contact me.
We would like to extend special thanks to Ozzie Evbuomwen who has been volunteering with Anne Peaker Centre as an Art’s Researcher. He has written some great reviews for The A Word and has been a big help with editing the fortnightly enews.
Charlie can be contacted on 01227 470 629 or email io@apcentre.org.uk