Final steps in HMP Humber & National Justice Museum project

The National Justice Museum works hard to highlight the impact that the justice system has on us, our communities, and our society, by showcasing real world experiences and stories from people who have been affected. 

Since January 2022, we have been working with the National Justice Museum in Nottingham on their exciting partnership project, ‘Ingenuity’, bringing the important work to our learners in prison who wouldn't otherwise be able to contribute. In December, a team from the NJM visited HMP Humber, where work on the project is taking place, to host a workshop and develop ideas for ‘Ingenuity’ going forward.

This ideas workshop, hosted by Michelle Hubbard of the NJM for our Arts and Design learners and the education team, was the second visit from the Museum. The group fed back on their progress in the project, and discussed ways that their final pieces could be displayed at the museum in Spring of this year. HMP Humber are working on a bespoke brief for the National Justice Museum; creating artwork to form an installation in the cell gallery space.

We’re looking to have our learners take part in every possible stage of the project, so that they can properly convey the meaning of their art and take ownership and responsibility for their work. By involving them, they can also gain an appreciation for the final product and its impact.

The benefit of arts and enrichment in the rehabilitation of prisoners

Working in partnership with other organisations has been incredibly important to us in growing our creative enrichment learning provisions. By working with industry specialists and leaders, we can make sure that our learners are getting a well-rounded educational experience which helps to drive home fundamental lessons and aid in rehabilitation.

Throughout the course of this project, we have seen the benefit achieved from engaging our learners in teamwork-based exercises, which will assist them massively in their careers post release.

By offering engaging and challenging activities and opportunities within the arts and culture, we will motivate learners to make a valuable contribution to their surroundings. This will then encourage them to positively influence the communities to which they belong, and to personally develop with the knowledge that they can make a positive change in their lives.

Involving prison learners in the arts

Feedback from the learners has been great so far, with one learner saying, “After today’s session I was feeling motivated and engaged and in a much better mood than I was in and feeling inspired.”

Sarah Hartley, our National Lead for Creative Enrichments also attended on the day.

“Thank you very much for being so hospitable today. The art pieces that the learners have created for the NJM are brilliant – I look forward to seeing the finished work installed in the double cell in the museum.”

We started on this journey with the NJM in January 2022, when our Arts and Design learners received resource packs from the museum team that contained activities to engage with and respond to. Due to the Covid restrictions at the time, our colleagues on site worked hard to make sure that learners could participate from their cells when they had limited access to the arts department.

In March, our educators at HMP Humber had the chance to visit the NJM. They took part in art tutor workshops, had the chance to tour the facilities, and were able to deliver some of the finished work that our brilliant learners have produced so far.

Since the rolling out of our creative enrichment strategy, we’ve been working hard using the arts to get our learners in our classrooms. Read more about the strategy and stay up to date with our latest changes on our socials.