Keynote Speaker: Jane Samuels The British Museum. A Museum of the World for the World: The British Museum in Her Majesty s Prison Pentonville

Transcription

1 Keynote Speaker: Jane Samuels The British Museum A Museum of the World for the World: The British Museum in Her Majesty s Prison Pentonville

2 The original purpose and principle of the British Museum: The constant purpose of the British Museum when Parliament created the Museum in 1753 was perfectly simple. Every citizen was to be able to explore the whole world in one building. The collection was aimed at Universality and open free of charge to all studious and curious persons, native and foreign. Perfectly simple. The whole world could come and look at the world. That remains the purpose. Neil MacGregor, Director, British Museum, The Museum of the Future; 11 Sept 2014.

3 The British Museum: The history o Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum was a collector of objects from around the world. o On his death, Sloane bequeathed his collection to the nation in his will. o Hence it became the founding collection of the British Museum.

4 A few facts o The British Museum was the first national, public and secular museum in the world. o It opened to the public in o The collection comprised of 71,000 objects in In 2014 the collection consists of over 8 million objects.

5 Why a prison? o As a public sector institution of world culture, a museum of the world for the world, the BM has a responsibility to support diversity and extend access to its collections ; o Offenders often have poor educational and socioeconomic opportunities;

6 Why a prison? o The Museum as an agency for social transformation and rehabilitation? o Reciprocity of project partnerships it s a two way process! The Museum enriches its understanding of its collections through the responses and varied interpretations of diverse audiences.

7 Prison projects : o HMP Pentonville (male) (Pilot project) o HMP Pentonville (male) (The Museum, BBC 4) o HMP Holloway (female) o Museum / criminal justice cross-sector seminars, 2011/12 o Koestler mentoring partnership, 2014.

8 Project structure o Building the relationship between Museum and HMP Pentonville (breaking in to the prison); o voluntary prison participants over two weeks; o Based in the chapel; 500 prisoner audience a week; o Support team: artists / curator / project manager / prison educator, chaplain and security staff; o Structure of project (curator s intro / artist exploration / final sharing). o Endgame (exhibition / performance / knowledge exchange / enhanced best practice).

9 o Taking collections to a hard-to-reach audience. o Dismantling barriers to and false perceptions of museums (through curators, artists and objects). o Creative / expressive outlet (talking / sharing); constructive non-competitive teamwork; o Thematic exploration: wellbeing; drug culture; life / death; loss; gun crime; violence; peace / reconciliation; o Benefits to literacy and numeracy; o Enhanced confidence and self-esteem; o Enhanced aspirations for the future (education / sense of future / better parenting). Project objectives

10 Cradle to Grave in the British Museum and Pentonville Prison

11 Cradle to Grave

12 Facts about HMP Pentonville o Over 1200 prisoners in HMP Pentonville in 2007; o One counsellor one day per week for 1200 prisoners; o Many prisoners in their cells - 23 hours a day; o 27% male prison population from ethnic minorities versus overall UK ethnic population of 10%.

13 o They felt trust and respect; o Raised aspirations and hope for the future; o Enhanced confidence; o Engagement in non-competitive collaborative teamwork; o Treated like a human being ; o Enjoyment and pleasure in nontraditional learning; It was fun. o Exposure to the Museum s collections resulting in subsequent visitation to BM. Project outcomes for prisoners

14 John Holden, Demos, evaluator for the Throne of Weapons UK Tour The group s creativity was abundantly clear. Not only were they motivated, they were talented, doing great work with video and the written word, working towards a final product that would be emotionally and visually striking.

15 Prisoner feedback o I m going to go to college. o I gained more of a personal understanding of myself. o I enjoyed every minute. o The group work was beneficial. o I wish I could do things like this all the time. I really enjoyed and leant a lot.

16 Feedback continued o o o o It made me want to take my kids to the [British] Museum. The project was the best thing I ve done in prison. It made me open up like I never have before. I wish I could do things like this all the time. I really enjoyed and leant a lot. It gave me something to look forward to.

17 Pentonville Prison quote: When the men initially volunteered to attend the workshops I was concerned at the mix of personalities and their commitment to attend each day of the project. As the four days progressed, it was clear to see they had engaged thoroughly and enthusiastically with the issues surrounding the Throne of Weapons. Any personal differences or problems were put aside in pursuit of their common goal the video. Each man actively and creatively responded to the throne. Some working alone. Some in collaboration. Their attendance was uniquely high. Their time in the workshops enabled them to act like normal human beings. This project was rewarding to both inmates and teachers. It was a privilege to be part of. Jenny Thomas, teacher, Pentonville Prison, 2006

18 The challenges o o Difficult to evaluate the sustainable, long term impact upon prisoners (often of no fixed abode, transitory lives, homelessness, high probability of falling back into cultures of crime after release); Such projects provide windows of hope into unimaginably harsh existences. The challenge building on the successes through the funding of future partnerships.

19 Closing observations o o o The potential of museums as a force for engagement and social change. Museum objects: a tool to encourage constructive teamwork, discussion and learning. Touch a powerful method of engagement. The question mark over sustainability should not be lodged as a reason not to fund further initiatives. The benefits, whether short-term or long-term are undeniable.

20 Banged Up Banged up behind doors, treated like an animal With all rights denied And feeling misery from inside As from window cells I can see the outside But I can t embrace. Banged up with numerous anxieties Imagining things I used to take for granted All of which I ve lost And I can t embrace.

21 Banged up with tension and surrounded with rudeness And with the madness of the environment I m in Which I can t fight And I can t embrace Banged up with frustrations Thinking of the day on which I ll be released For the day is delayed When I can embrace

22 Banged up with sadness Of the way I m ignored And the way I m told The things I ve got to do And when I ve got to do them. But I learn to remain calm For the time of release Is near to embrace Prisoner Pentonville Prison, October 2006

23 The voice of the prisoner Film Screening: The British Museum in Pentonville Prison