Writers in Prison Scheme

This scheme enables teachers to invite published writers into their units. The writer can perform a reading of his/her work, hold a workshop / series of workshops or engage in drama work.
 

The Writers in Prison Scheme is co-funded by the IPS and the Arts Council. The Arts Council insists that  visiting writers fulfill certain criteria before s/he can be invited in.
(a) The writer must be a practicing writer, living in Ireland.
(b) They must have their work published / broadcast by a recognised publisher or broadcaster.

At present the coordinator of the scheme is setting up a Writers' in Prison panel.  Before a writer can be invited in they must be on this panel.

If you want to invite a writer in to your unit:
Check the writer’s willingness/availability to visit. Invite him/her to apply to the Writers in Prison panel (the coordinator can give you the details).  The coordinator will relay these details to the Arts Council and, once they approve, the visit(s) can go ahead.

Listowel Writers Week

Listowel Writers Week takes place at the end of May / start of June each year. Among the many competitions there is one for writing in prisons in Ireland. The writing can be in English or Irish.  Teachers are encouraged to get as many students as possible to enter.

The present co-ordinator of this scheme is:
Payment claim forms should be returned to:

Download the following (MS Word)

• Procedure for Inviting Writers into Education Units
• Writers in Prison Panel Application Form
• Application form (for teachers)
• Claim Form for Writers
• Evaluation Report (Writer)
• Evaluation Form for a Single and a Series of Visits (Teacher)
• Student Evaluation Form
• Selection Criteria