The Truth About was a visual arts project which began initially with a recognition of the statistics of overcrowding and mental health issues in Britain's prisons, and involved a range of artists delivering work for display in an exhibition context. 

We had two exhibitions in March 2012 showing work that was created as a result of artists working in HMP Peterborough.

Drawing Out:

Over the course of a week in November 2011, Deborah Aguirre Jones facilitated a process that involved a group of nine men in Peterborough prison holding conversations with local artists through drawing and sculpture. They got to know each other and developed friendships without meeting face to face. 
For each day of this exhibition, a different pair of conversations was displayed. In addition, during the week, Deborah continued a dialogue through drawing and conversations with visitors to the exhibition.
 

The Mending Shop

 

The second project grew out of work Jonnet Middleton undertook with women in HMP Peterborough. The workshop in the prison explored ideas relating to 'mending' and resulted in the women designing a 'mending shop' - a place where people brings things to be fixed. 
Members of the public were encouraged to bring things in to be mended. The space was geared more towards textiles but offers of advice and help were given in respect of other items. Visitors left pieces to be mended by Jonnet and her team in the shop.

In addition to Drawing Out and The Mending Shop, a third project, A Little Sentence, was run with young offenders in HMYOI Glen Parva in August 2011. The artists arthur+martha worked with participants to create designs for tattoo posters.

Links to individual exhibition sites:

www.drawingout.org.uk
www.themendingshop.com
A Little Sentence