Art Changes Lives

Art Changes Lives. It can prevent despair, build self-esteem, and change attitudes for the better. Art inspires hope in all of us and creates a connection regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or age. The goal of the Therapeutic Art Program at the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office is to provide an alternative for destructive behavior, and channel positive energy in search of a better education, stronger family life and in turn, a better community.

Art can also play a major role in rehabilitation. When inmates take part in activities that give back the community, it may help them to reconstruct their lives. Inmates may use art to deal with anger or pain. Art offers a constructive outlet to deal with frustration or confusion in a correctional setting. For inmates, it is a way of creating something of value, and provide them with a feeling of self worth and accomplishment.

How is the art program Therapeutic?

The art program is therapeutic because it helps inmates communicate in a positive manner, deal with anxiety and stress, and allows personal growth.

What Inmates Learn:

In the BCSO Therapeutic Art Program, inmates learn the fundamentals of art, and use a variety of mediums (pencil, charcoal, watercolor) to create an array of drawings and paintings that include still life’s, landscapes and portraits.

Inmate Behavior

During the course of the program, inmate behavior often changes. Inmates who normally shouted to get attention would later approach the instructor with a calm and passive manner. Other inmates who possessed difficult personalities were easier to work with once they felt like they were learning something. When the inmates began to see that they were learning new skills, they seemed to have a new sense of hope. Within about 3 weeks, each group of inmates showed high levels of confidence, and positive attitudes. Over time, all inmates felt a sense of pride when they had the ability to do well and teach someone else something positive.

Recidivism

Studies have proven that art has the potential to reduce recidivism in jails and help inmates gain some control over their lives. Art can help inmates with social skills and problem solving skills. It is an activity that is productive and non-violent for people who are incarcerated. 

Intervention

Therapeutic Art is a low cost intervention that has measurable results. It helps improve educational performance, and provides the inmates with an outlet to express themselves in a positive manner. The BCSO Therapeutic Art Program teaches valuable skills such as creativity, teamwork, patience, discipline, and the opportunity to discover ones talents and abilities.