Creative Skills Behind Bars
South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services is challenging traditional perceptions of prison by opening inmate art galleries to the public, giving offenders the opportunity to develop creative skills, sell their work and prepare for life after release.
Footage shows inmates at Leeuwkop Correctional Centre in Johannesburg painting canvases, mixing colours and shaping sculptures, including a replica football trophy and a rhinoceros.”I enjoy spending my time doing this creative work because it helps me. It gives me time to be by myself, reflect, and work on improving myself and my future,” inmate Freddy Mongkoai said.
Building Hope Through Art
Education and Training Manager Malefo OJ said opening the galleries to the public allows offenders to earn money from their work while preparing to return to society.“The other thing is to promote the creativity and the skills for them to be able to tell stories through training, through drawing, through showing their emotions when drawing the pictures.
Some of the offenders don’t even have a background in drawing. We take them through the training so that they can be able to tell their stories,” he added.OJ added that art can encourage positive behaviour inside correctional centres, keeping offenders busy and giving them an outlet for frustration.
A Path To Change
“I told myself, I want to change my life when I go outside to do better, to the community. If I am stressed, I start to do some calabash and vases,” another inmate said.Unathi Mahlati, senior programme officer at Just Detention International South Africa, said participants often feel more hopeful after taking part in art projects.
“They tell us that they have re-framed their negative self concepts to positive. They tell us that they feel less stressed, and they want to go back to the community and make amends and be positive contributors to society,” Mahlati said.
Preparing For Life After Prison
Officials say the galleries strengthen rehabilitation by giving offenders practical skills and a constructive outlet while serving their sentences.South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services has opened nine prison arts and crafts galleries since 2023.
The galleries sit alongside education and vocational training programmes designed to help offenders reintegrate into their communities and reduce the risk of returning to crime.
Article by Viory
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