Prisoners and the Arts

Paper Summary:

This paper investigates the activities of various groups that bring crafts, writing, drama, dance, fine arts, and music to prisons. One of the groups mentioned is "The Prison Creative Arts Project" from the University of Michigan, which holds exhibitions for prisoners' art, which they even sell. Another is the "Geese Theatre Company", a team of specialized theater practitioners, taking drama to prisons and probation services centers. The National Endowment for the Arts' program for juvenile offenders is also brought up. The paper explains how these programs constitute "art-therapy" and how they benefit prisoners, both in prison and once they are released. It also looks at the school arena, recommending programs like these for the prevention of juvenile offenses. The paper includes a glance at the costs of these programs and at the opinions of opponents to the programs.

From the Paper:

"Other people have had that question too, and it seems they have done something about it. They organize different groups, and take the arts crafts, writing, drama, dance, fine arts, and music to the prisons, hoping to make some sort of difference in the prisoners' lives. One of these groups, the Prison Creative Arts Project, from the University of Michigan, does just that. They hold exhibitions for prisoners' art, which they even sell. The prisoners just love this, because it is a chance to "prove" themselves, and to let people actually see who they are."

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