Teaching the Arts Behind Bars
Description:... America's two million incarcerated men, women, and youth live in a hidden, isolated world filled with depression, anxiety, hostility, and violence. But the nation's soaring prison population has not been forgotten by a dedicated network of visual artists, writers, poets, dancers, musicians, and actors who teach the arts in correctional settings. This anthology compiles the narratives of several accomplished arts-in-corrections teachers who share their personal experiences, philosophies, and bittersweet anecdotes, as well as practical advice, survival skills, and program evaluation guidelines. Among the issues discussed are the challenges, rewards, ethical complexities, and emotional toll of working with inmates in adult and juvenile prisons, jails, and rehabilitation centers. An invaluable tool for artists, program administrators, and corrections professionals, Teaching the Arts behind Bars is also a testament to the power of creative expression in promoting communication, positive social interaction, inner healing, and self-esteem.
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