Arts in Prison- A Starting Point
Hello, I am Jack. I’m originally from Fort William, in the north of Scotland, but I have been living in Glasgow for the past six years where I have been developing my arts practice at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. I am an artist that works a lot with the written and the spoken word. I am part of the team at Speculative Books. We publish poetry and short fiction books as well as hosting a poetry night at Inn Deep bar on Great Western Road.
I also work within a facilitation context. Running writing workshops and working with schools and communities to engage with and lead workshops based on theater, writing and performance.
I also have my own solo performance practice. My most recent work Short/Long:Long/Short was a durational performance that can be viewed digitally here
https://jackpoetry.com/shortlonglongshort
Now that I have been thoroughly introduced I will move on.
Why am I here and what am I doing?
I have always known that this is the module that I would be taking in my 4th year since I knew that it existed. I can remember, years ago having conversations with students undertaking the module, hearing stories of how transformative the process of undertaking it was. Hearing about the importance of this work.
I am reminded now of a conversation I had with my friend Leyla when I was doing my 3rd year placement with her. I remember that I had decided that I was going to be finishing my studies a year early and not complete the 4th year. I remember her stressing the importance of undertaking the prisons module. I wasn’t super convinced at the time. I remember being in a strange place as an artist, not quite sure what I wanted to do. I felt like I was questioning my arts practice, specifically my role as a facilitator and in my own ability.
A month or so later Leyla released a video as part of a project she was doing with Vox Liminis which showcased her poem “Heroes”
I remember the effect that this poem had on me. It made me think about the effects that this system has had on members of my community in Fort William and unfortunately, the tragic outcomes that can occur as a result of a system that feels like it is set up not to aid and support, but to punish and abandon those who are in need of care.
I think that right now I am asking myself what I can do as a human being and as an artist. How can I disrupt this system? How can I improve it? What should I do? and what can I do?
These are all short, but difficult questions to answer. My hope is that through working within this context and developing my praxis, I will be able to gain a better and more considered idea of my role as an artist in a prison context and what I can and should do for those who are currently a part of this system of criminal justice.
