From Prison Arts to Creative Futures

Discover the Transformational Power of Arts Programs in Prisonsand Beyond

Alma Robinson, a nationally recognized arts leader, first encountered the powerful effect of the arts on people who are incarcerated when she attended a performance of Twelfth Night presented by Marin Shakespeare Company at San Quentin State Prison (now San Quentin Rehabilitation Center). Inspired by men who were transformed through their work with the acting ensemble, she launched a successful journey to utilize new, evidence-based research to restore funding for arts programs in California prisons that was eventually expanded to other states across the country.

This book describes Robinson's journey from expanding prison arts programs to providing opportunities for people seeking sustainable careers after their release. Readers are invited to imagine how arts can lead the way to a more robust system of rehabilitation for our incarcerated populations that will result in less recidivism and greater public safety.