Village resident launches book on bringing art to prisons
A Larchmont Village resident’s experience founding and developing a program to bring the arts to prisons is told in a new book.
Annie Buckley will discuss “Changemakers’ Guide to Prison Arts Programming” at Chevalier’s Books, 133 N. Larchmont Blvd., on Thur., April 30, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
AUTHOR ANNIE BUCKLEY with artist participants in Prison Arts Collective. Photo by Peter Merts
Published by Routledge, the book is a step-by-step guide on developing comprehensive programming behind bars.
Buckley’s program, Prison Arts Collective, has brought the arts to over 10,000 people incarcerated in 17 California state prisons since 2013.
The program, which began with three art classes at the California Institution for Men in Chino, California, is based on the belief that art is a human right that empowers the incarcerated to find their creative voice, cultivate community, and share their knowledge. The book uses narrative, theory, and guidance to explore themes of hope and transformation, grief and loss, and interconnection and mutuality, Buckley said.
“Right as it started, I got a call from the men’s prison in Chino, and they wanted art classes. I was inspired to say “yes” to this opportunity, in part by my mother, who volunteered in juvenile detention centers in L.A. for nearly 20 years,” Buckley told us.
“Since our first class at the men’s prison, everyone involved was super engaged. Bringing something so creative and fluid as art into prisons—some of the most restrictive spaces imaginable —proved to be inspiring and life changing. As an artist and writer, I wanted to share the powerful impact of this work and hopefully inspire others.”
The launch on Larchmont will feature a book signing with the author, a raffle of photography by Peter Merts, and a panel discussion with the author accompanied by PAC colleagues on the challenges of building a program from the ground up, including the perspective of faculty and formerly incarcerated artists.
Buckley was raised in Windsor Square and attended both Third Street School and Immaculate Heart before going on to UC Berkeley and Otis College of Art and Design. She is a professor at San Diego State.
Category: People
