Prison Arts Project

What is the Prison Arts Project?

The William James Association’s major program is the Prison Arts Project (PAP), founded by Eloise Smith in 1977. Her vision was rooted in the belief that everyone deserves meaningful art experiences — “that mysterious life-enhancing process we call the arts, a realm in which patient application and vivid imagination so often produce magic.” The program’s early success led to the creation of Arts-in-Corrections (AIC) within the California Department of Corrections, employing artist facilitators and partnering with kindred organizations like WJA to engage participants in visual, literary, performing, and traditional arts. Artists from local communities offered workshops in drawing, painting, poetry, playwriting, music, theater, and dance. Despite budget cuts in 2003 that ended artist contracts — and further cuts in 2010 eliminating the remaining positions — WJA continued to support artists at San Quentin through private funding, keeping prison arts alive. Since 2013, WJA has been part of a statewide effort to revitalize AIC. By 2017, every California prison had arts programming serving people experiencing incarceration. WJA’s programs help participants prepare for reentry through classes that rebuild family connections, teach social and communication skills, and foster creative expression. WJA is currently offering workshops in over 11 prisons across California, including Centinela State Prison (CEN), California Men's Colony (CMC), California Medical Facility (CMF), High Desert State Prison (HDSP), Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP), Pelican Bay State Prison (PBSP), Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD), California State Prison Solano (SOL), San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC), Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP), and Valley State Prison (VSP).

Our Philosophy

We believe the arts are essential to rehabilitation. Participation builds self-discipline, problem-solving, and focus — skills that extend beyond the studio. Art nurtures creativity, self-expression, and self-respect, serving as a bridge between diverse communities. Art offers a powerful language of empowerment. It fosters empathy, agency, and imagination, helping participants transcend the racial segregation, violence, and oppression of prison. Workshops, led by professional artists, have been shown to lower institutional tensions, reduce recidivism, and improve overall well-being.

“The prison system punishes negative behaviors but offers little to replace them. Arts programs for many of us may be the final salvation of our minds from prison insanity. It’s contact with the best of the human race. It is something that says that we, too, are still valuable.” — Prison Arts Project Participant

The Prison Arts Project creates a sanctuary where people experiencing incarceration are treated with respect, dignity, and an openness to their unique creative voices.

Arts Alumni Advisory Board

WJA proudly supports its Arts Alumni Advisory Board — a dedicated group of formerly incarcerated artists, including several who participated in the Prison Arts Project. This board provides invaluable guidance on program development, ensuring the voices and experiences of alumni remain central to our mission. The board members provide peer leadership, and contribute to program oversight, ensuring initiatives stay responsive to the needs and aspirations of those impacted by incarceration. Their leadership embodies the lasting impact of creative expression and serves as a beacon of hope and possibility for those still navigating incarceration.

Research

Please visit our updated Research page.

Resources

Please visit our updated Resource page.

Get Involved

Help support community transformation through the arts. Join us as an artist, donor, or partner.