As you may or may not be aware, Arts in Corrections faces elimination in January. This urgent situation has developed from the current state budget crisis with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s response being to layoff staff in education, vocational, substance abuse, and other inmates programs – including the one Artist Facilitator at each prison.
We Need Your Help! -Â Hearing in Sacramento on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8!
We need your help – the Artist Facilitator position is critical to continuing arts programming with any consistency and quality and we want to raise our voices to powers-that-be. On Tuesday, December 8 at 1:30 PM, Room 447 of the Capitol Building, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee will hold a hearing on proposed budget cuts to CDCR Education programs, including Arts in Corrections.
During the public testimony portion of the hearing, we will present information in support of preserving Arts in Corrections. Professor Larry Brewster, whose 1983 research work demonstrated the effectiveness of Arts in Corrections, will join us to speak about that research and his recent study of AIC outcomes as well. Whether or not the Legislature chooses to eliminate Arts in Corrections, we feel like it is crucial that they learn what a transformative, cost effective we have.
If you are able, we would greatly appreciate your presence at the hearing. The physical presence of many supporters of Arts in Corrections in the room will add weight to our testimony.
Thank you,
Laurie Brooks, Executive Director
Jack Bowers, Board of Directors Chair
PLEASE Write Letters in Support of Arts in Corrections!
If you are unable to attend the hearing, please take a moment to contact your own legislator and urge them to preserve Arts in Corrections.
You can find out more about our letter writing campaign on a previous post.
On a Brighter Note
Peter Merts’ Slide Show of San Quentin’s Arts In Corrections program is featured on Photo Philanthropy – a new website that is dedicated to showcasing the work of photographers in social change. Kudos to Peter for his beautiful photography that shows off the beauty of what is happening in the 20×40 box that is the San Quentin Art Studio.
