Why Arts in Prison? Arts in Prison provides opportunities for inmates to prove that they are more than the sum of their crimes.
Join us for a Poetry Reading & Reception for our Spring Exhibition by Arts in Prison (AIP). The reading features four current and four former inmates from correctional facilities in both Kansas and Missouri. Penning their thoughts on important cultural topics and current events as well as exploring their pasts through stories and poems is a cathartic experience to inmates who have spent most of their lives behind prison walls. Witness the power of spoken word and support these courageous individuals as they share their stories.
Poetry Reading: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Our Spring exhibition showcases art from the AIP Visual Art Program which facilitates the teaching of art techniques and way to communicate with the outside world. The audience is encourage to share their thoughts on the work via notecards.
About Arts in Prison
Arts in Prison uses the arts to inspire positive change in the incarcerated, to reduce recidivism, and to reconnect ex-offenders with their communities.
Our Core Beliefs
- We believe that it is possible for inmates to change their lives
- We believe that in addition to new skills and attitudes, offenders need an inclusive, non-judgmental atmosphere in order to change
- We believe that involving trained community volunteers delivering arts classes and programs provides effective mentoring that helps offenders shape their behavior patterns
- We believe that powerful experiences through various art forms can help transform the thinking and aspirations of offenders, volunteers and community