In prisons around the world, music is increasingly used as a rehabilitative tool. Carnegie Hall recently launched a program that would send musicians into facilities like Sing Sing and Riker's Island. Other programs including the nonprofit Rehabilitation through the Arts and the Scottish Arts Council are getting inmates to learn, write and perform pieces first-hand.
Today, we look at the effectiveness of arts in rehabilitation. Joining us is Emeline Michel, a Haitian musician who has performed at Rikers Island; and Katherine Vockins, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Rehabilitation Through The Arts.
Today, we look at the effectiveness of arts in rehabilitation. Joining us is Emeline Michel, a Haitian musician who has performed at Rikers Island; and Katherine Vockins, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Rehabilitation Through The Arts.
Comments [9]
As one of the investigators working on the Purchase College, SUNY study evaluating RTA I just want to say that our preliminary finding is that inmates who participated in RTA subsequently spent more time enrolled in voluntary educational programs (post-secondary) than inmates in a well-matched comparison group. Our study utilized a design that rules out the competing explanation of our findings--that the RTA participants were a self-selected "cream of the crop" group. Although seems obvious that more education will lead to lower rates of recidivism, we didn't actually measure the rate of recidivism.
what is life without freedom of expression? arts are should be everyone's right, not a privilege. they are essential to rehabilitation, healing,and as an option. when art can happen in prison it offers prisoners an opportunity to feel their humanity in a place that has completely de-humanized them.
I have worked with a lot of prisoners. Half of the printers had learned their trade in prison. They still were intimidating and bullying men in spite of having good union jobs once they got out. Not everyone changes in good ways; the men I knew were brutal before they went in and proud of their brutality. They felt confirmed in their rightness to use violence. They despised those of us who read and enjoyed the arts. They were very bad people. I don't know if they were a minority of former prisoners, but I am very hesitant when I hear these stories.
I am a practicing visual artist, active in the cultural community. I have a master's degree in art therapy. After earning the degree I found that I could not get paid for being an art therapy. I then earned a counseling degree and licensure to practice. The arts will always be the first to be cuts until they look at collecting data and proving that their interventions are based on evidence.
C. Jimenez
Similarly, I and a fellow professor at St. John's U. in Jamaica, NY are engaged in developing arts partnership with Mainchance Drop-in Center in NYC, where homeless clients and students work side by side on creative projects. The idea is that creative work is healing, restorative and, in such partnerships, takes place on common ground, with no sense of hierarchy.
I was just in Thailand, the northern city of Chiang Mai, where a women's prison trains those about to be released in giving Thai massage. Visitors can receive massages from the inmates in a modest spa setting and the money they earn is saved for the prisoners' release to help them build a new life. I thought this was incredibly progressive and received a very good massage. I'm so happy to learn about RTA and I will look into volunteer opportunities with them.
I saw the production of "West Side Story" at Sing Sing and I was speechless. You knew that these prisoners, when on the stage, felt like people, not just inmates. My eyes filled with tears when they sang "Somewhere." Means something very different from inside the walls of a maximum security prison. Hats off to the RTI.
This reminds me of an inspiring This American Life episode, where a prison puts on Hamlet, with transformative and moving results
Emeline, are at WVKR are so happy that you and your mom are okay. Saw you at Joe's Pub on my birthday. Great show. Long live Haiti!
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