Arts Access Aotearoa has launched Art Inside, a seven-part audio series featuring artists who deliver arts programmes to people in New Zealand prisons and former prisoners whose lives have been transformed through the arts.

Art Inside is by produced by Arts Access Aotearoa’s Sophie Macdonald and presented by Neil Wallace, Arts in Corrections Advisor Kaiārahi a Toi Ara Poutama at Arts Access Aotearoa.

“The arts – painting, music, whakairo, dance, writing, kapa haka, theatre – connect and heal us. They help us understand different perspectives,” Neil says.

“Importantly, they also develop our communication and problem-solving skills, enhance innovative thinking and help us approach challenges with a fresh set of eyes.”

The series will complement the publication of a practical online guide for arts practitioners wanting to deliver arts programmes in prisons across New Zealand. The guide is being developed by Arts Access Aotearoa and funded by Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture and Heritage in partnership with Ara Poutama Aotearoa the Department of Corrections.

The first episode, Connection and self-care with Beth Hill, features a conversation with Beth, an arts tutor at Northland Region Corrections Facility. Beth has more than 10 years’ experience bringing the benefits of the arts to the tāne in the Far North. Listen to the podcast with Beth Hill

A new episode will be released every month until August. Watch out for our chat to Hone Fletcher about the impact of toi Māori in reshaping the lives of the tāne he worked with as a Principal Advisor at Hawke's Bay Regional Prison.

Art Inside will be available on all major streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Apple Podcasts. It is also available on the Arts Access Aotearoa website.