Ikon will engage an Artist in Residence at HMP Grendon - a category B, all male, psychotherapeutic prison - and HMP Spring Hill - a category D, all male, open prison, which share the same site and governance. The Artist in Residence will be supported by Ikon to develop an ambitious body of work based on their specific interests and media - e.g. painting, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, photography and/or film - in response to the carceral setting and in dialogue with its communities. Ikon will work to exhibit and publish the results of the residency - with agreement from HMPPS and the Ministry of Justice - utilising our national and international arts and justice networks. Reporting to Ikon's Producer of Art in Prisons and Health, the Artist in Residence will be supported by the Producer, Programme Evaluator and an Art Orderly. The team will work together on a programme of workshops, exhibitions and events in dialogue with education, security and governance staff at the prisons. The Art Orderly, recruited from the HMP Grendon community, will assist with the day-to-day running of the studio. A Programme Evaluator will oversee project evaluation including a Most Significant Change (MSC) study. This new opportunity, based at HMP Grendon and Spring Hill is for an Artist with significant experience in teaching/technical facilitation, and a strong portfolio of artwork, to contribute towards an expanding programme of prison arts residencies. A complete job description can accessed and downloaded on Ikon's jobs page. The aims of the residency are as follows: We are seeking a dynamic, talented and highly motivated Artist to lead on the visual arts programme at HMP Grendon and HMP Spring Hill. The successful candidate will have experience in teaching/technical facilitation of workshops alongside their own artistic practice. Over three years, the Artist will deliver practical workshops, with support from a Producer, Programme Evaluator and Art Orderly, on two set days per week, utilising an art studio at each prison site. The Artist in Residence will activate the HMP Grendon studio for twenty-five weeks and run two, five-week projects with prisoners at HMP Spring Hill. All job responsibilities are listed in the downloadable job description via Ikon Gallery Jobs Page. Please send the following to [email protected] by Wednesday 30 September 2026, midday (BST) with the subject line ‘Artist in Residence Application’. - Cover Letter (max. 2 pages long)Job Summary
Job Description
Job Requirements
- Provide space for an alternative model of art education across two prisons
- Develop a significant body of work to be exhibited in prison and in public spaces
- Develop the prisoners' artistic practices
- Expand Ikon's work in prisons, involving cross-sectoral working across art, charity and criminal justice settings Job Responsibilities
Useful Links
How to Apply
- CV
- A digital copy of your portfolio of work
- Please also complete Ikon’s digital Equal Opportunities Monitoring form