New exhibition showcases art by care experienced people in prison
Looking at Life, 14 - 23 October 2026 The Horsfall, 42nd Street, The Space, 87-91 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester M4 5AG
Free entry
A new exhibition of artwork by care experienced people serving prison sentences will go on show for the first time in the UK at The Horsfall in Manchester.
Looking at Life will open on 14 October 2026. The exhibition brings together visual art, collage and creative writing produced over the last three years by young men in HMP / YOI Deerbolt, which is a prison in County Durham.
The work has all been made as part of a project called Creative Aid which is delivered in partnership by two charities, Blue Cabin and Nepacs. Professional artists have worked with a different cohort of care experienced people in HMP / YOI Deerbolt every year since 2023, exploring a wide range of artforms. All the Creative Aid participants are aged between 18 and 25 and are care experienced.
Jenny Young, director of Blue Cabin, explains more: “This is the first time that these artworks have been displayed in a physical venue, beyond the prison walls. Every piece has been made by a young, care experienced artist in HMP / YOI Deerbolt and we hope that the exhibition will open up conversations about belonging and rehabilitation, and how society supports care experienced young people.”
Looking at Life is curated by the artists working in partnership with Blue Cabin associate artist, Nic Golightly, who said: “It has been a privilege to curate this exhibition of works by the Creative Aid care experienced artists. Having collaborated with them directly, we hope that the audience can see that their creativity has not only resulted in the work on display, but also informed many of the curatorial decisions within the space. We look forward to welcoming people to 42nd Street and hearing their reflections.”
(Artwork from Looking at Life - a new exhibition of artwork by care experienced people serving prison sentences)
Gail Kirkby, Nepacs care leavers project coordinator, said: “Many young people in custody have experienced significant adversity during childhood and have not had the support of a stable, caring family to help them navigate these challenges. While children in care and care leavers make up less than 1% of the general population, they are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, with over 25% of the adult prison population having previously been in care.
“We are proud that the artwork created by young men involved in the Creative Aid project at HMP / YOI Deerbolt is now going on tour. The project not only raises awareness of their experiences but also demonstrates the transformative impact of creativity in helping individuals build confidence, strengthen relationships, and develop a more positive outlook that helps them stay away from crime.”
Rod Kippen, 42nd Street Creative and Social Action lead, said: "Those with care experience can often feel unheard and misunderstood both within the care system and by society as a whole."
"Despite the best efforts of many dedicated professionals, there sadly remains much that needs to improve for care-experienced young people. Too often, they continue to face the same challenges: a lack of consistency, insufficient support as they transition into adulthood, and services that respond in broad, generalised ways rather than recognising individual needs and circumstances."
"It is therefore vital that care-experienced young people have access to a range of creative opportunities and mediums, to gain a more individual method of response to their needs. Creativity can provide a way to share stories, process experiences, and imagine new ideas and futures. There is a rich history of care-experienced artists, and we must ensure that, alongside all children and young people, they have access to the creative materials, opportunities, and support they need to thrive."
The exhibition will tour to venues across the North of England, going on show at Darlington Library in spring 2027, Site Gallery in Sheffield in summer 2027, and Sunderland Library later in 2027. At each venue, public workshops will be delivered in partnership with Thoughtful, an award-winning charity improving learning and lives through philosophical enquiry.
More artwork made during Creative Aid can be seen in a series of virtual exhibitions on Blue Cabin’s website, and it is also contained in three limited edition artists’ books. A selection of the artwork and creative writing has also been featured at the United Nations in New York, as part of the official launch of the Global Charter for Children’s Care Reform during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80).
The Creative Aid touring exhibition is supported by a project grant from Arts Council England. The Creative Aid project is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes a share of this to projects to support people and communities to prosper and thrive. During the pandemic, in 2020 alone, The National Lottery Community Fund distributed almost £1 billion to charities and community organisations across the UK.
The public events with Thoughtful are supported by funding from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Funding the wraparound package of support for care experienced young men, delivered by Nepacs specialists located within the prison, is the Swire Charitable Trust.
An impact assessment of year three of Creative Aid found that the project has been shown to result in:
- New skills and pathways, supporting access to education and employment
- Making of pro-social choices that reduce reliance on harmful coping strategies
- Increased confidence, self-worth, and motivation to engage in education and employment - protective factors against reoffending
Looking at Life is on show at The Horsfall in Manchester from 14 - 23 October 2026. Admission is free.
More about the organisation delivering and funders supporting this work:
About Blue Cabin
Blue Cabin develops and strengthens relationships between care experienced individuals and the people in their lives through creative activities. It is a charity based in the North East of England, which focuses all its work on care experienced people, and has creativity at the heart of all its work. www.wearebluecabin.com.
About Nepacs
Nepacs is a north of England charity, founded over 143 years ago, which aims to improve the wellbeing of individuals and families who have been negatively impacted by contact with the criminal justice or care systems. Find out more at www.nepacs.co.uk Nepacs services within criminal justice include: a north east helpline, prison visitors' centres and tea bars, play sessions for prisoners' children and youth projects, integrated family support, services for care leavers and support within the region’s Crown Courts. The charity also provides support to children and young people living in care.
Creative Aid funders
Creative Aid is supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK. National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes a share of this to projects to support people and communities to prosper and thrive. During the pandemic, in 2020 alone, The National Lottery Community Fund distributed almost £1 billion to charities and community organisations across the UK.
The Creative Aid touring exhibition is supported by a project grant from Arts Council England.
The public events with Thoughtful are supported by funding from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation.
Funding the wraparound package of support for care experienced young men, delivered by Nepacs specialists located within the prison, is the Swire Charitable Trust.
