We arrived in Sofia on a sunny May afternoon and to an even warmer welcome from our gracious host Valentina Petrova. Valentina presented each participant with a specially made logo encrusted conference bag designed by art students from |Lovech Prison .This contained all the information we would need for the duration, and for me a special bag with a hammer inside. I had momentarily forgotten that this had been a special pre- request, for the workshop in glass that was scheduled over the next few days.

It was clear from the start that this was going to be an enlightening , busy gathering with every moment timetabled with events, workshops, prison visits and discussion .Our only concern being what lunchtime to forfeit in order to benefit from the luxury therapeutic treatments the spa on location had to offer!

Representatives from twenty one nations were present all actively intermingling with the activities presented by the PAN (prison arts network), the Will to Dream team, and the Special training Grundtvig and Socrates Programme's . In all eighty representatives including those from the EPEA , directors of European prisons , teachers, actors , artists, ex-offenders and other exponents of best practice in prison education exchanged ideas, inspired and encouraged each other over the course of this event .

Michael Diamond , from Northern Ireland, a self confessed ex- career criminal , not only shared his brilliant musical singing and song writing talent with the group , but in an awe inspiring live interview with Mike Maloney, explained that teachers in prisons DO make a difference. He said that prisoners remember every encounter they have and any encouragement, however small can do a huge amount of good in raising self esteem and helping damaged people get out of their rut. Michael said he felt that being in prison was punishment enough and that at any point especially through the Art's , a real difference could be made.

It was wonderful to meet again face to face people who had been just email correspondants , especially for me Legs and Linda with whom I had been communicating with regard to the mobile art exhibition. We had a lot of tentative plans made at an earlier steering group meeting but nothing can replace the direct, factual ‘lets get this sorted' result that comes about from a personal interaction . We have improved on many ideas regarding the art database, the travelling exhibition , advertising , collation and other logistics problems that emerged at this first stage. We are confident now that between us we can set up a true representation of prison art which will travel with the Pan project and hopefully extend beyond the life of this project.

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