Current Projects

Currently the company is engaged in several projects:

The Argument Room

A Rideout project in association with Peoples Palace Projects and supported by the Queen Mary University of London.

The Argument Room is a live, interactive debating forum involving two people, branching out from this to reach an unlimited number via the web. Its primary concerns are the arts and social justice.

It has a focus on some important questions, such as:
‘Does the artist have any responsibility to the public? If so, what is it?’
‘Does contemporary art practice make any contribution to social justice or is that just a pleasing illusion?’
‘If it does, what are those positive effects and are they scaleable?’

Discussions prompted by these questions take place on a monthly basis with a different guest each month. The discussion is streamed live, and the audience is able to send responses and questions in real time which feed in to the discussion. We have recently held Argument Room sessions with Chris Goode, Juliet Lyon, Bea Campbell, David Wilson and Baroness Lola Young. Visit www.theargumentroom.net for more information and to sign up. Guests for 2012 to be announced shortly.

The Truth About

The Truth About is a visual arts project which began initially with a recognition of the statistics of overcrowding and mental health issues in Britain's prisons, and involves a range of artists delivering work for display in an exhibition context.

Deborah Aguirre Jones and Jonnet Middleton have recently been working at HMP Peterborough, with both men and women, to develop a series of art works. Deborah's involved a number of artists in the local community who engaged with the prisoners through a creative dialogue. While Jonnet held a series of workshops on the theme of 'mending' with the female prisoners. Rideout will shortly be taking over a gallery in Leicester to show the work.

Talent 4..

The company is currently in the third year of developing Talent 4.., funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. In this programme, participants get to understand a little more about their natural talents and abilities. Over the three days we use a range of company-devised games, exercises, films and puzzles to draw out information about what the participants are naturally good at. This isn't about knowledge learned in school, it's about knowledge that's innate or learned outside an educational context. At the conclusion of the three days we give them feedback, which enables them to make more informed decisions about further education or jobs in the future.

Rideout is additionally developing the pack of games, films and puzzles as a stand-alone purchase, which comes with a manual, which will be available from late 2012.

The programme is currently being run in HMPYOI Brinsford, HMPYOI Drake Hall and HMP Sudbury.

GOTOJAIL - The Cell Project

The project aims to contribute to an increased public understanding about the role of prison, and has a clear crime prevention remit. There is a debate currently raging about whether prison works, who should be sent there and for how long. The Cell Project involves the construction of a replica cell in a shopping centre. Shoppers can call by to experience first hand something of what it's like to be banged up. On certain times of day, the cell is additionally inhabited by a prisoner, in fact a former prisoner 'in role'. This dimension enhances what is often referred to in museum contexts as 'the visitor experience'. Additionally we run alongside a digital interface for visitors to record their impressions and views. This interface is also available online.

The Cell Project has already been staged in Wolverhampton's Mander Centre in late 2010, in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent in Summer 2011 and at the South Bank Royal Festival Hall in autumn 2012.

It is currently live in the foyer of the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre - 17 - 30 October, 2 - 7pm.

Please drop us a line to admin@rideout.org.uk if you would be interested in hosting a version of the Cell Project.

Additional information is also be available by visiting (www.gotojail.info)