Author: American Correctional Association

Publication Year: 1977

Media Type: Report

Summary:

Abstract:

The American Correctional Association's Project Culture is the first federally-funded program designed specifically to:

• serve adult offenders in long-term state correctional facilities with quality activities;
• reduce tension levels and behavioral infractions in the institutions; and
• generate a greater community awareness of offenders and the correctional system through the participation of artists, guests and audiences.

These creative activities operating in 54 state institutions reflect the forward thinking of correctional administrators, superintendents, wardens, educational personnel and officers who contributed moral support, program space and funds. The dedication of professional artists and project directors have afforded the opportunity for inmates, many for the first time, to open themselves to the creative spirit and to reap the innumerable benefits from that experience.

Project Culture has addressed itself to the existing needs of the institution, the inmate and the community. From a national perspective, programming fulfills current requirements of both the judicial and correctional communities while contributing to the humanization of the institutional environment. At the project and individual site level, it responds to the individual's needs for a release of pent-up energies and directs these energies in a positive manner affording the individual an opportunity for creative self-expression and personal development.

This booklet is an effort to review the historical evolution of prison arts programming with Project Culture as the culmination of the experiences of many organizations and individuals. The ACA's Project Culture is described in terms of its evolution and how it developed certain objectives and goals to reflect the lessons learned from its predecessors.

This booklet also summarizes the significant impact of Culture programming on the inmate, the institution and the community. Four chapters highlight contractors supported during the past year. The successes, activities, problems and a myriad of other issues related to program implementation are described in the words of the project directors who were intimately involved in project operations. Following these case studies and concluding the booklet is a section on how to develop creative programs in corrections. Included in this section are procedures for planning and implementing as well as securing funding, types of activities, how to relate to both arts and correctional administrators and staff, and other useful guidelines.

CONTENTS
Introduction.

Part 1.

Chapter 1. The role of creative activities. 
                Purpose and scope of current art and leisure programs. 
                Art as recreation. 
                Art as therapy. 
                Art as rehabilitation.

Chapter 2. Project culture. 
                The Culture experience. 
                The review process. 
                Monitoring and dissemination. 
                Results and benefits.

Part 2. Case studies: 

Artists in Prisons, Inc. New Jersey correctional institution for women. 
Illinois Valley Community College. 
Oklahoma Arts and Humanities Council.

Part 3. How to develop a prison arts program. 
           The essentials. 
           Proposal writing: solicited and unsolicited.
           Getting started. 
           Program administration.
           Reporting.
           Evaluation.
           Looking ahead. 
           Conclusion.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Community Development