The Moving Arts Collective has been working in Partnership with HMP La Moye to bring the UK based Charity Finding Rhythms to Jersey to deliver a six day collaborative music making workshop with prisoners from HMP La Moye in March 2024. Participants worked with professional musicians Thabo Mkwananzi and Fred Harper from Finding Rhythms and Esther Rose Parkes from The Moving Arts Collective to create an album of original music.

This exciting new album ‘H.M.P (His Music Productions)’ was celebrated and launched at a Listening Party at HMP La Moye in May 2024 which marked a significant milestone in bringing creative musical opportunities to prisoners, showcasing the transformative power of artistic expression. The album's 13 tracks span diverse genres such as drill, rap, drum and bass, disco, rock, and acoustic, showcasing the creative talents of the participants and serving as a legacy for their experience.

The album has now been published and is available online on Bandcamp here and on Spotify here.

Feedback from prisoners was overwhelmingly positive, with participants expressing a newfound sense of confidence, hope for the future, and enhanced collaboration skills. One participant shared that this had been “the best week of my life.”

Finding Rhythms has built a reputation as intervention specialists in the field of musical creativity. They have worked with over 36 UK prisons in the last 12 years, which has resulted in the creation of over 800 songs and 100 albums of original music and over 350 learners achieving qualifications. By prioritising the interest of the learner and treating them as artists and creators in their own right, Finding Rhythms ensures that a unique type of trust is built, empowering participants to demonstrate a level of commitment that they may not have achieved previously in their lives.

Find out more about Finding Rhythms projects with prisons here.

This Project is funded by the Government of Jersey - Community Compass with support in kind from ArtHouse Jersey.