Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery has announced a new artist residency in partnership with HMP Spring Hill, Buckinghamshire.

Funded by the Rothschild Foundation, and part of Ikon’s Art in Prisons programme, the gallery will establish an art studio within the grounds of the prison.

The facility will enable a professional artist and group of prisoners to explore creative practice through weekly workshops in an art school-inspired setting.

With a focus on the development of artistic expression and technical skills – in painting, printmaking, photography, sculpture and textiles – the project complements the prison’s education scheme in supporting health, wellbeing and transition into the workplace.

Working with the Rothschild Foundation and Spring Hill, Ikon will invite Buckinghamshire partners to provide creative briefs for the residency. The work produced will form the basis of season exhibitions and events, curated and hosted by the resident artist and prisoners.

HMP Spring Hill is a men’s open prison in Buckinghamshire. It is jointly managed with HMP Grendon, a Category B, therapeutic prison, where Ikon has produced an artist residency since 2014.