As Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation, it will be my great pleasure to open the annual Artists with Conviction exhibition tonight.
This year the exhibition is being held at The Waterside Pavilion on the Hobart waterfront and is open from 10:00am until 4:00pm each day until Tuesday 14 November 2023.
Now in its thirteenth year - and open to all prisoners within the Tasmania Prison Service, offenders on Community Based Orders, and Corrections Tasmania staff - the theme of this year's exhibition is 'A New Tomorrow'.
The theme was proposed by a prisoner and represents reunification and restoration, the overcoming of personal barriers and the creation of goals.
The exhibition is an important outlet for expression and empowers prisoners and offenders by providing opportunities for self-understanding and reflection, for exploring thoughts and emotions, and alleviating symptoms of stress and distress.
The experience of creating and exhibiting work can be educational, therapeutic and personal for participants, and helps to rebuild their confidence and improve their communication skills - skills that are vital for successful rehabilitation and reintegration back into the community.
In addition to the visual works on display, Libraries Tasmania also invited written submissions as another way for participants to express their interpretation of 'A New Tomorrow'.
These have been collated in a booklet that has been printed by 26TEN as part of their support of Artists with Conviction.
I would like to recognise the achievements not only of people in custody, Community Corrections clients and staff artists who have work included in the exhibition, but also the contributions of Corrections staff, Libraries Tasmania staff, sponsors and volunteers.
It is this diverse group of people who have made this event possible.
