Friday Night Debate: Creativity in prison

Should people flourish inside? In this second Friday night debate, Graeme Brooks will be joined by Russ Litten, Josephine Metcalf and Adam Calverley to think specifically about what creative writing can offer prisoners as well as those recently released. Russ is a local novelist who has spent many years as a Writer-in-Residence in local prisons and has recently with Jo – an academic interested in prison culture – published a book of creative writings by (ex) prisoners in Hull. Adam is a criminologist with specific interests in desistance (stopping re-offending).

Though creative writing workshops have been recognized as having therapeutic and practical benefits for at-risk groups such as (ex) prisoners, more conservative viewpoints suggest that we should not offer inherently “bad” people such opportunities. At this event we will explore these two opposing viewpoints and hear first-hand from two people recently released from local prisons, to understand the role that creativity has played for them both inside and outside. They will read their contributions from the recently published Hope Walks By Me; Justice & Liberty in the Lands of the Free, a collection that showcases writing from prisoners and those trying to re-establish themselves in local communities upon release.

Debate evenings are intended as interactive talks with the public, so feel free to come along with questions and ideas to put forward.