Case Study: Empowering First Nations Artists — The Digital Evolution of Confined 16

The Torch was proud to present Confined 16, partnering with Pladia Empower to create a more accessible visitor experience. Through a Progressive Web App (PWA), visitors could hear artists with lived experience of incarceration share their stories and purchase works directly from their devices, with The Torch ensuring 100% of proceeds went to the artists.

This case study explores how The Torch enhanced cultural connection, streamlined artwork sales, and delivered meaningful impact for First Nations artists.

Background

Since 2011, The Torch has been redefining how art can create pathways for change. Through its Statewide Indigenous Arts In Prisons and Community Program, The Torch supports First Nations artists to reconnect with culture, share their stories, and earn income through the sale of their work.

Each year, the program culminates in Confined, a powerful exhibition showcasing artworks by First Nations artists currently or formerly incarcerated in Victoria. The event is more than a display of talent. It is a space for truth-telling, cultural expression, and public connection.

Confined 16 (23 May – 22 June 2025) was the largest exhibition to date, featuring 452 works by 390 artists across Victoria.

The Challenge

Each artwork carries deep personal and cultural meaning, but past exhibitions relied heavily on printed materials and wall text to share these stories, limiting emotional connection and reach.

Artwork sales also depended on visitors flipping through printed booklets and tracking down desk staff to make a purchase. This created friction for both buyers and The Torch’s team.

The Solution

The Torch partnered with Pladia to create a new kind of visitor experience that honoured the voices of the artists, reduced friction in the exhibition environment, and made it easier for people to support the artists directly.

Pladia Empower added a mobile-first digital layer to Confined 16, accessible via QR codes throughout the exhibition. The guide was designed to support the visitor experience from first glance to final purchase.

Audio storytelling
Visitors could hear artists tell their stories in their own words, adding depth, context, and emotional weight to the artworks on display. With Audio Access+ no headphones were required.

Streamlined artwork sales
Each artwork featured a direct link to purchase, reducing reliance on printed materials and enabling fast, mobile-friendly transactions. With 100%of the artwork price going directly to artists, this feature had real-world impact.

The Outcome

Confined 16 marked the sixteenth annual exhibition, bringing together 452 artworks by First Nations artists with lived experience of incarceration. The exhibition’s scale and reach translated into measurable impact for both artists and audiences.

Key outcomes: 

• 390 First Nations artists were featured in the exhibition
• 288 of the 452 artworks presented in the exhibition were sold (64% of exhibited works)
• $198,000 of income was generated for First Nations artists
• 39 women artists were exhibition and 84% of their works were sold
• 40 first-time artists were exhibited and 63% of their works were sold
• 20 First Nations artists were employed as part of the exhibition to deliver programs, exhibition installation/de-installation and as gallery attendants
• 5,600 visitors engaged with the exhibition in the gallery
• 4,866 page views to the Confined 16 landing page on The Torch’s website
• 61% of visitors chose phone-to-ear playback, with the remainder engaging through headphones
• Attendees engaged with more than 50 unique audio vignettes

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