Artist in Residence
Artist in Residence at HMP Send. A high security prison in Surrey
Supported by Watts Gallery Artist Village Trust as part of their Art for All Community learning programme and by The Michael Varah Memorial Fund
Since 2015, Sophie Artemis has been working with groups of women, often lifers, over a series of weekly workshops. The average reading age in prison is 11 years old or below and many of the women have experienced trauma, homelessness and addiction. The Michael Varah Memorial Fund believes in the importance of the creative arts in rehabilitation and ‘survivability’ through prison; second chances; and building the artists’ belief that they can achieve, both here and ultimately through the gates. The social impact of this programme is immense: women gain a sense of purpose, wellbeing and calm through attending the sessions. They share their work with other prisoners on their wing, encouraging pride in their work and ideas. This programme transforms lives.
Community Engagement and volunteering: Inspired by the artists’ work at ‘Our Time’ 2021, the President of Haslemere Rotary Club, commissioned the group to paint a white fibre glass ‘Haslemere Hen’, which the group named ‘Egg Timer’- a piece of voluntary team work and community engagement by the women which was finished in May 2022 and which was auctioned this summer to raise funds for the project. In 2021, individual members of the group also created Christmas card designs for the Bishops of Dorking and Guildford; the Office of Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner; for the then High Sheriff of Surrey and for the Surrey WI - a personal Christmas card and birthday card for the branch President, the Countess of Wessex
As part of the residency and to support prisoner's social enterprise, 'Our Time' was first held at HMP Send in June 2017. ‘Our Time’ was the first prisoner curated exhibition to be held inside a prison and open, by invitation only, to members of the public who met the women artists in this group. 'Our Time' #5 by invitation only, opened on Tuesday 28th June - Wednesday 29th June 2022.
The women’s work has been selected for exhibition for New Beginnings Arts Awards at the Lightbox, Woking- Showcasing the diverse range of artistic talent displayed by women in contact with the Criminal Justice System across the county, the exhibition consists of work submitted to the Women’s Support Centre, Woking, which is open to all women in Surrey prisons or those in contact with the Criminal Justice System. Participation and achievement in the arts motivates, inspires and helps women to develop the skills needed to lead a more positive life 26 October – 27 November 2022
The group are also represented and have been awarded prizes in the Koestler Trust exhibition Koestler at the Southbank Centre in London, most recently curated by curated by Ai Weiwei. 27 October – 18 December 22
The women work to private commission so if you want to support this project and the women, you can buy postcards, notecards and calendars by visiting The Michael Varah Memorial Fund
