Art - Time Well Spent

Since 1853 the imposing figure of Lewes Prison has stood as a distinctive landmark for all residents and visitors to the town. But its 500-strong population remains largely unknown. Once a year, though, the inhabitants are given the chance to participate in local life via a collaborative art exhibition entitled 'Time Well Spent'. For the fourth time, the prisoners have teamed up with the town's Thebes Gallery to produce the increasingly popular annual show. "It started as a small display in Norman Baker's Office", organiser Dave Harrison tells me, "and then we were offered this space which gave us the chance to develop the scale of the exhibition".

Due to the unusual conditions shared by the artists I am interested to learn, from Harrison, whether themes of confinement and freedom are evident in the work they produce. "No. We don't really see that", he says. "The project is more concerned with encouraging something positive." There must be practical limitations in terms of finding a range of real-life subjects, though? "Yes. But the prison has built up an extensive visual library which the artists can use to provide stimulus for their work." Harrison assures me that you can expect a broad range of subjects and a variety of different media, ‘just like any exhibition’. As to whether there are any budding stars amongst them, I am told, "You'll have to judge for yourselves". ER