About Us

The Prodigal Arts Journey & Vision

Mentoring offenders and ex-offenders to find not only a new creativity, but a new life

Prodigal Arts is a registered charity that helps people in prison and post-release 'unlock' their creative potential.

Based in Bristol, and working across the region, we seek to nurture and develop artists' creative abilities through meaningful art related activity and workshops.

We work with the artists to help build a sense of self-worth, achievement and confidence, and thereby to help reduce the likelihood of re-offending.

Through art and encouraging positive behavioural changes we aim to help transform individuals, giving them the opportunity to make positive contributions to society.

The Prodigal Art Shop sells artwork created in the art mentoring sessions and their own time as part of their ongoing rehabilitation.

Purposeful activity includes education, work and other activities to aid rehabilitation whilst in prison

History

Prodigal Arts started in 2014 and evolved as a result of funding being withdrawn for art provision at a local South West prison where an Offenders' Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) art course had been being delivered by our founder. Aware of quite how much creative nurture, meaning and freedom art provides for inmates, out of this the work of Prodigal Arts was launched, with a move to setting up as a registered charity in September 2015 (Charity Commission number: 1169287).

The charity remains indebted to the initial philanthropic support that helped establish our working model and pilot the project in our first prison. We are excited to see the charity is now developing, as we provide training and mentoring to help prisoners and ex-offenders develop creatively. We aim to bring transformation through art, making a positive contribution in society.

We believe art can play a positive role in helping people within prison and when they leave – leading to more fulfilled lives and reducing the likelihood of reoffending.

Prodigal Arts benefits artists inside prison and upon release….

“It gives them something to strive for.” Colin

Our Work >

Our Prodigal Artists

Our gallery below displays a range of high-quality artwork created by our artists and available for sale. If you would like to commission work of a similar style or enquire about print editions please contact us.

5% of the net sale value (allowing for framing, printing and packaging) is donated to Victim Support.
40% from each sale goes back to the artist, specifically earmarked for their resettlement. This money is kept as a ‘nest egg’, for access only upon release from custody. All artwork produced by our artists is created in their own voluntary time.
When artists are released their share of sales increases to 60% with the charity retaining the balance to support running costs. For prints and cards 30% of sales goes to the artist (increased to 50% when released and working in the community).
Our work is entirely funded through donations, grants and the money received from art sales.