California’s Arts in Corrections began as a pilot project in 1977 at the California Medical Facility in Vacaville. The success of this initial program led to the formation of Arts-in-Corrections.
For over two decades, AIC’s artist-facilitators — state employees who were practicing artists themselves — put together art programs at all California’s state prisons. During much of the 1980s and ‘90s, California’s Arts in Corrections was the largest prison arts program in the world.
The AIC program at California State Prison, Sacramento — New Folsom — is featured in “At Night I Fly.” In January 2010, the program was eliminated due to the state’s financial crisis.
Some art classes remain in a few California prisons, and there are other prison arts programs in other states and all over the world. Some of these programs are governmental, some are through colleges and universities, others are the creation of a committed individual.
For more information about prison arts practice and programs, please check out the following links :
http://judithtannenbaum.com/prison-arts/
http://www.williamjamesassociation.org/prison_arts.html
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/07/01/18512524.php
http://theprisonartscoalition.wordpress.com/
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/creating-behind-the-razor-wire/3361270
http://realnessnetwork.blogspot.com/
For over two decades, AIC’s artist-facilitators — state employees who were practicing artists themselves — put together art programs at all California’s state prisons. During much of the 1980s and ‘90s, California’s Arts in Corrections was the largest prison arts program in the world.
The AIC program at California State Prison, Sacramento — New Folsom — is featured in “At Night I Fly.” In January 2010, the program was eliminated due to the state’s financial crisis.
Some art classes remain in a few California prisons, and there are other prison arts programs in other states and all over the world. Some of these programs are governmental, some are through colleges and universities, others are the creation of a committed individual.
For more information about prison arts practice and programs, please check out the following links :
http://judithtannenbaum.com/prison-arts/
http://www.williamjamesassociation.org/prison_arts.html
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/07/01/18512524.php
http://theprisonartscoalition.wordpress.com/
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/creating-behind-the-razor-wire/3361270
http://realnessnetwork.blogspot.com/
