Art, prisons and health symposium

Organised by Ikon in partnership with Agder Kunstakademi and Culture Forward as part of Healing Arts Birmingham (HABrum), this symposium considers the impact of art on health in prisons. In showcasing initiatives from the UK and Norway, it highlights contrasting philosophies of criminal justice and criminal care whilst reflecting on the role of creative practice within the prison and probation systems.

Art at HMP Birmingham
Since 2025, Ikon has been producing an artist residency at HMP Birmingham, a Category B prison with approximately 1000 male prisoners, many of whom are on remand or unsentenced.  Funded by Birmingham City Council Public Health, W.A. Cadbury Charitable Trust and the 29^th May 1961 Charitable Trust, artist Niki Gandy runs weekly art sessions with prisoners whilst conducting her own photographic research, documenting low light levels within the prison’s Victorian architecture and its impact on prisoner health. Gandy’s work is currently included in the exhibition, What Are the Odds: Ikon Creative Health at the Library of Birmingham (until 27 June 2026).

Agder Kunstakademi
Agder Kunstakademi is an art school in Agder Prison, a high security facility housing approximately 300 male prisoners in Froland, Norway. Built in 2020, the prison is designed with a campus style layout within a natural, landscaped environment. Funded by KORO – Public Art Norway, the art school was initiated by a group of artists and curators interested in establishing a forum for material experimentation and free-thinking with the prisoners. Over a period of two years (2021-23), the art school produced a significant body of work, including TV Pain (2022-23), by Agder Kunstakademi student Zubair, which showcased at Ikon Gallery (22 – 28 June 2026).

Project Phoenix and Project Athena
Project Phoenix (for male) and Project Athena (for female) provide personalised long-term support to people leaving prison and returning to North East Lincolnshire (NEL).  They aim to support prison leavers to lead stable, healthy and fulfilling lives in the community, reduce crime and ensure continuity of care. With funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team (PHIRST) at the University of Birmingham and Keele University have evaluated the projects using Photovoice, a creative research method.  The team provided participants with cameras and invited them to take photos to document their lived experience of recovery and returning to the community. Researchers then asked them to talk about their photos and share their stories.

The symposium is supported by the Birmingham City Council Public Health, Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Charitable Trust, KORO – Public Art Norway, Culture Forward, University of Birmingham. It is part of Healing Arts Birmingham, a week-long festival co-led by Birmingham City Council and the Jameel Arts & Health Lab. This initiative is part of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab’s global Healing Arts campaign produced in collaboration with the World Health Organization.