In 2019 Rua Red will partner with the Irish Prison Service to bring the first exhibition of work by people who have been incarcerated within Ireland to a contemporary art space. The work will be selected and curated by Irish artist Brian Maguire from the 13 Irish prisons and post-release programmes and projects. Work within the exhibition has been created in classes taught by teachers and in workshops with visiting artists as part of the artists in prisons scheme. Here experienced professional visual artists and writers work closely with prisoners in the creation of new work. 

Maguire has a wealth of experience in working within the prison system which spans over 20 years. The exhibition marks the 30th anniversary of the Artists and Writers in Prisons Scheme in Ireland. The process and the context in which the work is produced and selected is integral to the project. Brian Maguire as curator and selector will provide this key information through talks and through the medium of video.

Alongside the exhibition, Rua Red will have an extensive education programme that will create new ways for people to engage with the work through talks, workshops and a panel event. An anthology of prisoners writing will be published in print alongside the exhibition. There will also be a catalogue that will accompany the work.

Following the exhibition launch in Rua Red the exhibition will tour to the Hunt Museum in Limerick.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.