On behalf of all the men and women in our program, staff and Board we would like to thank you for your incredible support in what has been an extraordinary year.

In 2020, your support has allowed us to be active with 600+ participants in and out of Victorian prisons, sell 885 artworks, license artists’ artworks 97 times and hold two online exhibitions including the 11th annual Confined exhibition.

Confined 11 was exhibited with a difference this year, with COVID-19 restrictions pushing us to take the event online for the very first time. The Torch team were up for the challenge, coordinating an online launch, virtual exhibition and mosaic of artworks in just under six weeks. Our amazing supporters were also up for the challenge, making Confined 11 our most successful art exhibition to date and raising a staggering $170K for the men and women in our program.

2020 also saw The Torch grow from 10 to 15 staff members, including Gunditjmara Keerraaywoorrong man Chris Austin and Ngarrindjeri woman Felicity Chafer-Smith, who have both come through the program as artists and we couldn’t be more excited that they are now part of the team.

The Torch will be taking a short break over the holidays from Thursday 24th Dec to Tuesday 5th Jan. If you missed the window for Christmas delivery, there is still time to purchase a gift voucher for a friend or loved one to be spent on any of our wonderful artworks, with 100% of the sale price going directly to the artist.

Other ways to support our organisation over the holiday period include tax-deductible donations to help run our in-prison and in-community programs, and of course the sale of artworks in our online shop, where we have just added 30+ works this week, with more to follow next week.

Thank you again. We wish you and your families a safe and happy holiday period!

Image: Stacey, Taungurong/Boon Wurrung people, ‘Bunjil Dreaming‘ (detail) 2020