The Monthly talks to Prison Arts Foundation’s and Writer in Residence, Pamela Brown – Part 3 – From Performance Poetry to working as a creative writing facilitator in the prison system

You gravitate towards performance poetry?

I had my two boys, as I said, so you were always trying to find a bit of space to do things. I was good friends with a Dutch photographer, Jan Voster, he has now passed away, but we put together an exhibition with his landscapes photographs and my poetry.

This is in the late 90’s early 2000’s and the Gasyard Centre in Derry was building their arts programme at that time. Jim Collins, was the Arts Officer, and he saw the exhibition and asked if I would facilitate a poetry workshop. He had a number of school children groups and he asked me to work with them. I credit Jim very much with putting me on the facilitation path.

I also became connected to The Playhouse. Pauline Ross ran the Playhouse and was very innovative and would take chances on novice playwrights. The building was pre-renovation at that time, but you could have your work shown to an audience.

That was a very active time in Derry?

It was, and there were writers’ groups and open mics and theatre and music. And if you were facilitating classes as well you would meet new people, new writers, and I think that helps you develop and grow as a writer.

I also joined a Performance Poetry Group called The Poetry Chicks for about four years. We performed in Glastonbury, Manchester and around Ireland at festivals such as Electric Picnic. It was a challenging time and very much a learning curve as well.

You then move into facilitation seriously?

I first delivered a workshop in Magilligan prison in 2011 and I am still there now. That changed my entire direction.

I went into Magilligan to facilitate a twelve week programme, and I’m still there for a number of reasons. As an artist you are all always looking for work that inspires creativity, but work also needs to offer you certain freedoms to keep writing.

Initially, I was working for The Playhouse, on a project called “Artskills” but that funding ended in 2015. At the same time, the Prison Arts Foundation was looking for a Writer in Residence. I applied for the job and that is what I have been doing ever since.

And it wasn’t without its challenges either. I was supporting my youngest boy through school and juggling childcare needs and trying to keep working. He’s at university now so I’m no longer always running across the prison grounds to my car, and rushing around a parenting schedule.