What is a prison arts program?
Prison arts programming refers to art-based workshops, projects, and courses offered in prisons. Possible art forms include creative writing, poetry, visual art, dance, drama, and music. Yoga, meditation, and horticulture may also be considered prison arts programs. All of these art forms may also be combined into multi-disciplinary art programs.
Who offers these programs?
Prison arts programs are facilitated by a variety of people. This includes:
- individuals, including volunteers, professional artists, teaching artists, students, professors, and people in prison
- groups, organizations, and institutions, including voluntary groups, non-profit organizations, and universities
- prison staff or individuals employed by a prison
- partnerships across these various groups
Where do programs take place?
Art programs take place in prisons across the United States, from low security facilities to high security facilities. On this site, we have identified 43 states with prison arts programs. Please search by region and state to find programs:
- Mid-Atlantic NY, PA, NJ
- Midwest – East North Central WI, MI, IL, IN, OH
- Midwest – West North Central MO, ND, SD, NE, KS, MN, IA
- Mountain States ID, MT, WY, NV, UT, CO, AZ, NM
- New England ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT
- Pacific States AK, WA, OR, CA, HI
- South Atlantic DE, MD, DC, VA, WV, NC, SC, GA, FL
- South Central KT, TN, MS, AL, OK, TX, AR, LA
- US Territories
Some programs are offered on a national level (such as the annual PEN Prison Writing Contest), although they are listed by state based on office location.
The list of prison art programs is in constant development and does not reflect the total number of programs across the US. If you would like to add a program, please contact us.
In addition to prison art programs, what other art takes place in and around the US criminal justice system?
This includes, but is not limited to:
- art produced by people in prison, whether for personal, social, familial, or other purposes
- art produced by people outside prison, including former prisoners and artists exploring issues in criminal justice
- programs outside prison for and by former prisoners, organized by individuals, groups, and organizations
Hello Nicole,
I contacted a friend of mine who had volunteered with a group in Peru at a jail that housed women and their children. I thought they might be a good start. This is what my friends writes:
“I did my work through Cross Cultural Solutions, which is a relatively expensive volunteer inclusive program. I’m not sure what this person is looking for exactly, but the program is based out of Ayacucho, Peru (it’s 7 hours from Lima, in the Andes, wonderful community) and my contact there is Marisol Chancos: mchancos@crossculturalsolutions.org. She’s the coordinator for the program.
We spent a lot of time with the women inside, taught English, and ran an educational program (that we made up) for the kids who were living inside with their mothers. Sometimes, we got to help them with their handcrafts as well. There was a little bit of creativity involved, but it really depended on one’s command of Spanish (or in this case, also Qechua, the indigenous language). It was more about getting to know these women, treating them like people, giving their children a fun, educational experience, and getting to know the very different systems in Peru.”
I hope this is helpful!
Emily for the Prison Arts Coalition
Hello!
Im searching a Prison- Theter- Prject in South America. Does anyone have some informations or connections?
Im thankful for every advice.
Greetings
nicole
RE: Deborah Tabola, How have you been? I am currently writing music and composing. Have you heard anything from Bobby Blackman? I will be on the coast in two weeks. Can I stop by and have a chat with you? Please let me know soon. If anyone should get this message please forward it to Ms. Tabola. Thank you….
Please add Reforming Arts to your list. Reforming Arts is a performing arts organization that provides theatre training to incarcerated adults and historically marginalized communities. Our long term vision is to provide inmates and other traditionally marginalized populations with the skills to transform their lives and create social change in their communities. We accomplish this in the short term by providing training in performing arts that focuses on creative exploration of participant’s life experiences, strengthened by a critical examination of the structures that contributed to them. Our method focuses on creative playwriting and performance intended to increase confidence, self-efficacy, and self-regulation. Reforming Arts provides drama classes in Georgia’s Metro State (women’s) Prison, Metro Transitional Center, and Lee Arrendale State (Women’s) Prison.
Thanks, Jstackhouse! Enjoy!
Hey very nice blog!!….I’m an instant fan, I have bookmarked you and I’ll be checking back on a regular….See ya
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
There’s good info here. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog. Keep up the good work mate!
Thanks for your program information. We’re glad to add it!
So glad it was helpful! Please submit any thoughts you might have. We’d love to hear from you.
Thanks, Bill. Please keep up the good reading!
Thanks for your comment, and our apologies for the late response – we were off in December in January. We’re not sure of any programs in the Maryland area, but hopefully you can use this site as a resource for beginning your program: http://www.prisonarts.info/about.html
Please keep in touch about the process and feel free to use the many resources we have listed on the site. Good luck and let us know if there is anything else we can do!
Good Post. Can you email me back, please. Awaiting your Answer.
I wanted to thank you for this excellent write up. I absolutely enjoyed every little part of it. I have you bookmarked and will be coming back.
Hello,
I am interested in starting an arts organization for over-incarcerated youth. Do you happen to know of any such programs in the Maryland area? Please let me know!
Christina Royster-Hemby
Your site was extremely interesting, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this subject last Thursday.
I don’t know If I said it already but …Hey good stuff…keep up the good work!
I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,)
A definite great read..
-Bill-Bartmann