Shortlisted for JTI A&B Community Award, 2009
The opportunity
Think Johnny Cash. Think Folsom Prison. Now imagine the literary equivalent of that momentous partnership and you have Hay in the Parc. Hay in the Parc, came about through an Arts & Business investment partnership, bringing one of the world’s biggest literary events into G4S managed Parc Prison in Bridgend, South Wales. The Festival aims to make its events as accessible to as many people as possible. The Parc Prison regards literature and education as crucial to the wellbeing and future of its prisoners. The coming together of the two was an opportunity to strengthen the profile of the prisoners within the local community and enable the Festival to reach wider audiences.
The impact
By transferring to the prison, the Festival was able to offer a diverse programme of events to 1,200 inmates and over 600 staff. The project helped Parc offenders improve their literary skills and overall confidence, which the prison hopes will contribute to a positive integration back into the community. Hay in the Parc also gave prisoners an opportunity to participate in additional literary projects including the Quick Read series, In-side Out, portraying real life stories from behind bars. Publication sales will help support the Hay Festival and fund future creative community projects.
"We’re proud to have been associated with a project that has real transformative potential – bringing the ‘high’ culture of the Hay Festival to Parc Prison was a chance to change lives as well as attitudes." Sara Webber, Marketing & Communications Manager, G4S