We Roar is an extraordinary exhibition of artwork and poetry created by 40 men and women incarcerated in 21 UK & US prisons. Throughout 2024 it toured to nine prisons in the UK, with an opening event in each to celebrate participants, inspire peers and connect with staff and visitors. Its significance as an exhibition by and for people facing extreme barriers to cultural engagement is huge. As two tour comment cards said:

It’s amazingly profound being able to look into the artwork of other prisoners who all share the same experiences and problems.

Thank you deeply for arranging this potentially life changing empowerment.

We Roar is the second international collaboration I’ve created with Novus (UK prison education provider) and PCAP (Prison Creative Arts Project, University of Michigan). The strength of the first, We Bear, enabled me to secure Arts Council England funding to expand the idea with mentoring for participants and a prison tour. The exhibition additionally toured to Michigan for the USA’s largest juried art fair, reaching almost 500,000 visitors.

Exhibitors include highly skilled experienced individuals and people writing poetry or painting for the very first time. Some have never exhibited at all before and none have previously exhibited internationally. Visitor comments have been gathered throughout and shared so participants receive regular updates and feedback, ensuring the exhibition’s power to tackle incarceration invisibility is maintained.

The UK prison exhibitions were held in a great variety of places, reflecting the diversity of the prison estate and range of participants’ settings across categories B-D. These included education blocks and visit halls, even a gym and a former ballroom (carefully designed exhibition stands with wipeable prints made this flexibility possible).

Exhibiting in visits halls has enabled visiting family and friends (as well as staff and education groups) to be key audiences. UK We Roar visitor numbers are so far at almost 20,000. In HMP Deerbolt the We Roar celebration event was combined with a family visit, with children’s art activities directly inspired by exhibits. At HMP Hewell and HMP Buckley Hall the event included musical performances, further showcasing talents and highlighting humanity. As one HMPPS staff member said:

“I think it’s made some staff think a bit differently about the prison community in that prisoners are not just seen as a number but people with creativity and talents. Staff don’t get to see what goes on in some of the classes in education very often.”

At HMP Askham Grange, the exhibition event was used practically for incarcerated women working towards catering and hospitality qualifications. Experience serving canapes to the Mayor and High Sheriff of York, amongst many other guests, is likely to be a great CV and interview detail! All sites used in-house catering, giving opportunity and budget support.

Where possible, exhibitors spoke at events, sharing touching experiences about the power of creativity and benefits of participating. A number spoke about mental health challenges and the importance of having a project to focus on and the support of people who believe in you.

To this point, at a short opening speech I gave at every site, I read a quote from a US exhibitor, Charles G Brookes. His words say so much about why I created We Roar and why it means so much to share regular feedback from visitors:

“There were a lot of things I tried in life. I played football, and no one showed up to my games. I was on the Academic Games team, and no one made one tournament. I’ve been writing my whole life and not many people knew, let alone support, what I do.

“Being recognised, being chosen to participate in We Roar is EVERYTHING to me. It tells me that what I am doing is finally being counted as a substantial endeavor. Which tells me I am living right, doing right. And I am very, very proud of this accomplishment. Now it’s easier to see that my life is destined for more than just a prison yard.”

100% of participants demonstrated wellbeing improvements through the project and 100% said they benefitted from taking part, with reasons including:

• building new and extending existing relationships

• growing in confidence and motivation

• developing creative skills and ambition

The prison tour and US exhibition are going to be followed in November by a public exhibition at The Manchester College and an exhibition with the Captive Arts international symposium at Warwick Arts Centre.

There’s also a quality publication and a website with impact report to reach even greater audiences: www.fayeclaridge.co.uk/weroar It’d be great if you could have a look and take a moment to share your thoughts with exhibitors through the feedback option too.