Washing, Dancing, Singing: Women Living and Working in Prison

A collection of historic photographs of women living and working in prisons. These poignant photographs captivated us from the moment they were carefully unwrapped in the museum store. As the tissue paper fell we noticed solidarity, togetherness and moments of joy within the bleak sadness of the context. The photographs were taken in several UK prisons and cover a period of 140 years. V21 Artspace facilitated the production of a 3D Virtual Exhibition Tour, enabling accessibility and sharing with a wider audience. “We’d really like to share this exhibition and these photographs with women living in prison today so that we can include their perspective and their voice so that we can amplify their opinion. So if people can’t come to the room and experience the exhibition the room can go to them.” - Andrea Hadley-Johnson (Exhibition Curator).