Talk: The History of Art in Prisons

Location: The REAR entrance to John Lewis Oxford Street
- I will hold up a meetup sign.
Time: 17:00
Cost: £2.00 which goes towards paying meetup fees.

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 graffiti of women political prisoners in Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin, Dominique Moran, who curated the exhibition ‘Incarcerated: Contemporary Arts from the Victorian Prison’, and Fiona Curran, Chief Executive Officer of Koestler Arts.