April 29, 2021 - MARIPOSA – The Mariposa County Arts Council recently printed a collection of poems written by Mariposa County Adult Detention Facility inmates during the 2018-2020 Arts in Corrections program and would like to invite past participants to pick up a copy to keep for themselves. Poetry collection copies are available as of April 27, 2021 at the Adult Detention Facility’s front reception desk (5379 CA-49, Mariposa, CA 95338) exclusively for released passed participants. 

Arts in Corrections (AIC) is a program for system engaged individuals at the Mariposa County Adult Detention Facility and a partnership program with the Mariposa County Sheriff Office that offers poetry workshops to every inmate in the facility on an ongoing basis. The program is designed to develop the artistic abilities of incarcerated individuals through sequential, hands-on learning; promote life skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and positive self-expression; and develop long-term, mutually beneficial relationships between arts organizations, teaching artists, and the incarcerated population in Mariposa. Most importantly, it utilizes the arts as an equalizer that can create a level playing field where underrepresented voices can be heard, amplified and engaged.

AIC introduces participants to the field of poetry and the knowledge of poetic devices through a variety of exercises, exposure (reading aloud/listening), and facilitated discussion of published poems; offers a supportive and instructional environment for the creation and workshopping of original poetry created by participants; and produces quarterly poetry readings providing participants an opportunity to share their finished pieces with their community. This program is taught by local poet and author, Laura Phillips. The Arts Council also created chapbooks - small, handbound booklets - of selected poems written by AIC participants and illustrated by local artists. These will be available for sale to the public in May with proceeds directly supporting the program.

Please contact Daisy at phillips@mariposaartscouncil.org or call (209) 966 - 3155 with any questions about this program or regarding poetry collection copies and pick-up. 

The Arts Council is an incorporated not-for-profit organization, created to promote and support all forms of the cultural arts, for all ages, throughout Mariposa County and is supported in part by the County of Mariposa, the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and the California Arts Council, a state agency.

For more information visit the Arts in Corrections web page, and follow the Mariposa Arts Council on Facebook.

Source: Mariposa County Arts Council