Beyond The Stone Walls Advisory Collective is a unique platform composed of people with lived experience of the criminal justice system (CJS), university students, researchers and CJS practitioners. Our purpose is to create meaningful change in the criminal justice system and foster long lasting community connections.

In Beyond the Stone Walls Advisory Collective (BSWAC), important conversations take place regarding the criminal justice system and its impact on individuals, families, and the wider community. The group discusses potential changes and improvements to the system, and the conversations are particularly impactful due to the lived experiences of members who have been through the system.

BSWAC wanted to share some of these experiences of incarceration and reintegration with the wider community, who may not have had the opportunity to hear these stories before. Unassigned Gallery and BSWAC both believe that art can be a powerful way to communicate, so we started planning an exhibition called “From Dark to Light”. The exhibition aims to encourage viewers to consider different perspectives and to see criminal justice issues as complex rather than black and white.

The exhibition explores the themes of hope, connection, and growth, showing how people can find hope and light even in darker moments and how community connection can lead to change. To prepare for the exhibition, Unassigned Gallery and BSWAC engaged with artists to learn new skills, including clay sculpture, mandala drawing, painting, and photography. Many members of the group had little prior experience with art but came together to learn and challenge themselves. Regular art workshops provided an opportunity for members to connect with each other and share ideas.

The project has been entirely run by volunteers, and we are grateful for the community's support through donations of art supplies and other forms of support.

Due to the success of the exhibition, Unassigned Gallery and BSWAC have decided to continue providing free art classes at the gallery for people with lived experience in the CJS. We will also continue working together to host exhibitions each year, with the aim of making sure the stories and experiences of those with lived experience in the CJS are heard, and to create an accessible and safe environment for these stories to be shared.

If you would like to support our project you can:

• Donate through our support button below

• Donate art supplies directly to the gallery to be used in our free workshops

You can learn more about BSWAC through their website.