CREATIVITY INSIDE: BUILDING SKILLS, CONFIDENCE AND CONNECTION IN WOMEN’S PRISONS

What role can creativity play in a prison environment?

For participants in Create’s Free Inside programme, it can provide an opportunity to learn something new, work alongside others and discover different ways of expressing themselves.

Free Inside is Create’s multi-artform programme in women’s prisons. Led by professional Create artists, projects introduce participants to different artforms while providing a supportive environment in which they can develop skills, confidence and connections with others.

Recent projects in two women’s prisons demonstrate what this can look like in practice.

Wellbeing inside women’s prisons

The context in which this work takes place matters.

According to the Prison Reform Trust, in 2023, women made up 27% of all self-harm incidents despite making up only 4% of the prison population.

Research by the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance suggests that engaging in arts and creativity within criminal justice settings can support improved wellbeing, encourage learning and help people develop new skills and more positive identities.

For Sarah* and Joanna*, creativity offered something else too: an opportunity to focus on what they could learn, make and share with others.

seeing things differently through photography

In July 2026, Sarah took part in a four-day Free Inside photography project, led by Create photographer Tracey.

Nine years into a 17-year sentence, Sarah began the workshops with little knowledge of photography. Over four days, she gained new skills and was challenged creatively.

“I didn’t know any of the key terms before, such as composition, light and shade. Now I see photography in a new light.”

“It’s helped to push my imagination, and I feel more confident with photography now. It’s important to be creative to unlock more of yourself.”

It’s helped to push my imagination, and I feel more confident with photography now. It’s important to be creative to unlock more of yourself.

Sarah, Free Inside participant

Developing technical skills was only one part of her experience. The workshops also paired Sarah with somebody she would not normally have worked alongside:

“I was able to partner up with someone I wouldn’t usually work with and discovered we had a lot more in common than I thought. This allowed us to develop a new friendship.”

That experience reflects an important feature of participatory arts. Creating something alongside another person can provide a shared focus around which relationships can develop:

“These projects are important for prisoners as it allows us to build on our skills, such as teamwork. I had the best time.”

STEPPING OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Three months earlier, at a different prison, Joanna took part in a four-day printmaking project led by Create artist Lucy.

Joanna is 17 years into a life sentence and had previously taken part in another Create project:

“I knew it would be interesting to do another Create project. I like to learn new skills and break down barriers and Create has allowed me to do that.”

During the workshops, participants experimented with mono printing and worked together on a group piece using sun prints. At first, Joanna was apprehensive about the unfamiliar process, but throughout the project she was able to express herself:

“I was scared to get messy at first, but I found it so fun, it makes you feel free and it’s amazing what your mind can do. My artwork [was inspired by] connection: trying to form connections with my loved ones and my children.”

As the project progressed, working alongside other participants and the Create team also became increasingly important:

“The more I work with the group, the more confident I am and the more I feel happy to share my ideas. [Create projects] give you a confidence boost, and you work with and trust strangers. The Create team make me feel at ease.”

Creating alongside others

Sarah and Joanna explored very different artforms, in different prisons and at different stages of long sentences. But their reflections share striking themes.

Both talk about learning new skills. Both describe growing in confidence. And both highlight what happened when creativity gave them a chance to work alongside people they might not otherwise have connected with.

Joanna describes the value simply:

[Projects like these] open your mind and expand opportunities by [helping you] step outside your comfort zone. They give people an understanding of working side by side, overcoming bad experiences and coming together.

Joanna, Free Inside participant

In an environment where opportunities for autonomy, new experiences and positive connection can be limited, making something from scratch can offer something valuable: a chance to learn, experiment and see what you’re capable of.

*Names changed to protect anonymity.