HerStory
Past Exhibitions
HerStory, follows HerSelf and HerSay past exhibitions curated to celebrate York International Women’s Week, by the Prison Partnership Project and its community initiative On the Out, which delivers weekly relational trauma informed arts provision to vulnerable women in prison and to women and girls in the community.
HerSelf
HerSelf (YIWW ‘2025) was inspired by, and in response to, the film, ‘Herself’ directed by Phyllida Lloyd, from a screenplay by Clare Dunne and Malcolm Campbell (2021). The exhibition, which was invited to be seen at the Lowery as part of the Arts Council's annual conference of best practice; showcased the powerful creative work developed by women from the HMP New Hall multi arts in prison project - comprising visual artworks: mix-media journalling, which explores the significant impact of imprisonment on a woman’s identity; sewn red flags, which seeks to raise awareness and promote conversations around 'red flags' in intimate partner relationships, giving voice to those who have experience of coercive control and domestic abuse; quilt making depicting women’s ideas of safe homes... yet not all homes are safe, and the quilt reminds the viewer of this; extracts from the women’s creative writing and performance work, listened to and brought to life.
HerSay
HerSay (YIWW ‘2024) brought together visual art and spoken word pieces made by women and girls across the Prison Partnership Projects – alongside York St JohnUniversity School of the Arts staff, students and volunteers, to create work that responded to ‘Women’s Voices’ to explore perspectives and perceptions of women in and around the criminal justice system, beyond media, myth and social stigma.
These exhibitions provide an opportunity for people to witness the value of the arts for individual and societal change and to listen, view, reflect and share insights, and be part of a collective discussion and action in seeking better outcomes for women and girls in and at risk of the criminal justice system.
