PRISONERS at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre have been busy painting and drawing as part of an art exhibition in Cairns.

The paintings, drawings and ceramics will be on display at TAFE’s Banggu Minjaany Gallery until August 22 to showcase eight students’ art studies at the Mareeba prison.

Looking In Looking Out is a collection of work created during the Certificate III in Indigenous Visual Arts.

is a collection of work created during the Certificate III in Indigenous Visual Arts.

TAFE Visual Arts teacher Shelley Monkland said the exhibition provided a great opportunity for the prisoners and was a component of a course that reflected real world practices of professional artists.

Prisoners study visual art four days a week as part of the QCS, Adult Education Vocational Education and Training program.

"For most of them, this is their first time practising art and they have produced some really great stuff," Ms Monkland said.

"This exhibition will involve more than 60 pieces created by eight students so it really is something to see."

Prison education officer Rowan Partridge said the program was a joint initiative of Queensland Corrective Services and the Department of Education, Training and the Arts.

"Together with programs that address offending behaviour, visual arts can be an important part of a prisoner’s rehabilitation," Mr Partridge said.

"It provides non-indigenous students with a greater understanding of indigenous art practices and indigenous students with a greater understanding of mainstream practices."

 

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