Sewing the seeds of hope for prisoners
Kelmarsh Hall,Harborough Rd, Kelmarsh. Gardener Esther with collection of cushions made by prisoners. For piece on Fine Cell work for arts page. Snowdrops for the upcoming Snowdrops Weekend'.
THE immaculately embroidered, flower-covered cushions and quilts which will grace rooms at Kelmarsh Hall later this month will no doubt fit perfectly into the delicate floral theme of the estate’s Snowdrop Weekend events.
But those visitors who look a bit more closely and ask a few more questions will realise there is something a little different about these pretty works of art . . . they were all stitched by prisoners.
The London-based social enterprise Fine Cell Work has volunteers from across the country – including Northamptonshire – who regularly go into prisons to teach needlework.
Visiting prisons, including nearby HMP Gartree in Market Harborough, volunteers work to help prisoners achieve high standards in needlework so their finished products can be sold.
The prisoners are each paid a small amount for their work (37 per cent of the sale price) and the idea behind the whole scheme is to give them hope, skills, independence and a purpose for the long hours spent in their cells.
The organisation says that each product sold takes about 100 hours to complete.
Events organiser Carrie McArdle said: “We have about 200 volunteers throughout the country and 60 of these go into prisons and teach sewing skills, they teach embroidery and tapestry and we have a head office in London where people will work.”
She continued: “The work completed is to a fantastic standard and we have been commissioned by museums throughout the UK and by organisations like English Heritage; we did one project for Dover Castle.”
The charity’s work will be sold as part of an arts event which is being held during the two snowdrop weekends which are coming up at Kelmarsh Hall on February 11, 12, 18 and 19. And there will be a 25 per cent reduction on all items with a horticultural theme.
The Fine Cell Work charity has a historic link with Kelmarsh as its concept was originally established by Lady Anne Tree, the daughter-in-law of Nancy Lancaster, Kelmarsh Hall’s most famous resident.
Lady Anne was a prison visitor at HMP Holloway, but felt that so much of prisoners’ time was completely wasted. So she started teaching embroidery skills to inmates.
It was only in 1995 that the Home Office finally agreed that the prisoners involved should be allowed to earn a wage for their work.
Carrie said: “The work is very therapeutic. When you are in prison, that is a lot of time and there are long hours spent in cells, but Fine Cell offers prisoners purposeful work.
“When you talk to anyone about embroidery and needlework, quite often they say it becomes addictive, it gives people a chance to think and meditate.”
During the snowdrop weekends the hall will also be open to showcase work from the Edge Arts Collective, a group of artists from across the area who graduated from The University of Northampton in 2010.
These pieces will include illustrations, fine art, sculptures, installations and photographers and the event will mark the group’s second exhibition together.
Illustrator Emma Carpendale, from Northampton, said: “We have been looking at different places we can exhibit outside the normal locations. We were looking for somewhere more creative and interesting as a showcase for our work and Kelmarsh Hall seemed the ideal place.”
Opening times for the weekends will be from 11am to 3pm. Admissions to see the snowdrops and exhibitions will be £3 for adults and free to under-14s.
Carrie McArdle and one of Fine Cell Work’s volunteer needlework teachers will be giving a talk at 11.30am on Saturday, February 11.
There will also be a preview exhibition and selling evening on Friday, February 10 at 6.30pm. There will be complimentary drinks, canapes and live music but, due to limited numbers, attendees must book places by emailing events@kelmarsh.com or calling Northampton 686543.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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