A crafts market selling unique wood carvings from prison inmates was hailed a success by residents and tourists alike.Scores of people visited the stall in Dockyard on Friday to purchase cedar key holders, letter openers, jewellery boxes, photo frames and the like.Just as impressive as the art work itself was the narrative that each item seemed to tell, according to one local.“Each piece has a story. The artist is trying to convey something in his craft and that says a lot,” the man said.The Westgate Craft Market was a one-day event to promote the inmates’ art work, which also included greeting cards, crocheted hats and jewellery.Dwanita Grant, the vocation coordinator for Department of Corrections, said the stall was an opportunity for inmates to make money to help support themselves and their families.A portion of the funds would also be donated to the department to support ongoing initiatives and programmes, she said.Inmates at the Island’s correctional facilities spend at least two hours a day, three times a week, taking part in a range of vocational programmes graphics projects, wood sculpture, carpentry, cooking or plumbing. The programmes not only give inmates a chance to boost their skills and future employability, they are also therapeutic and recreational, said Ms Grant.Aspiring chef and inmate Melvin Simons, who resides at one of the transitional houses, said the classes gave prisoners a mental break from the challenges of daily life.“Some just do it to get away from the other inmates and some just do it for peace of mind. For some people it grows into a passion and they love doing it.”He was one of several inmates able to volunteer at the stall. They joined department staff to man the booth throughout the day and talk with prospective buyers. Commissioner of Corrections Eddie Lamb, who birthed the idea for the market, said the venture benefited both the inmates and the visitors.“Displaying to the public the handmade crafts of our inmates has long been one of our aims and we are delighted that this has now come to fruition.“A venture of this kind is beneficial to all ... The inmates are given the opportunity to showcase their God-given talents.“Most items they have made are absolutely beautiful while others are sublime. This also offers them the opportunity to be good ambassadors for Bermuda by way of their unique creations, like Cedar moongates.”He said the market also gave the public “a chance to see that inmates are capable of doing something productive and that, despite being incarcerated, they can still positively contribute to the community”.“Likewise, tourists will be able to purchase authentic Bermudian crafts to take home with them, and hopefully thereafter, advocate for Bermuda as a travel destination,” he added.One resident at the stall also applauded the effort. He said: “Not only is it artistic and creative, I am just glad to see that the public gets to see the kind of craftsmanship that exists and that the human beings themselves that did it are using these skills and energy to produce this.“This is just a stepping stone to what I believe is bigger and better things for these inmates.”Tourist Thoman Scibek, from New Jersey, who bought a large authentic map of the Island carved from cedar, hailed the scheme as a “fantastic idea”.Mr Scibek said: “Some people make mistakes in their lives but for you guys [in Bermuda] to do something like this is really outrageous, especially to help their families, I think it’s really nice.“We don’t see that in the United States.”According to Corrections staff, most of the items were selling well, in particular the cedar shaving bags and the plaques and jewellery boxes.Ms Grant said depending on the overall success of the day the department may try to bring the event back. “It’s a one-day market but we are looking to see if this is feasible in the future. If so we will talk to Wedco to find out if they will allow us to come back at other times.”To find out about the inmates’ commissioned art works or to donate/ volunteer with the programme call the Department of Corrections on 295-4975.