The Artistic Rehabilitative Therapeutic (ART) Initiative partners with students at UCSC in order to address inadequate mental health recognition in the Santa Cruz jail system by offering therapeutic art classes to inmates as an adjustment and community building mechanism while in jail. Founded in 2013 through the SVC grant program, the company has had a positive impact on the inmates it supports, with participants reporting more positive attitudes and decreased likelihood to relapse into crime once released from jail.
A regular day with ART Initiative gives UCSC students the opportunity to lead and facilitate weekly art classes, using materials provided through the program’s grant and donation funds. Each student volunteer arrives with a lesson plan, such as having artists create superheroes in order to better understand their strengths, which aims to help inmates to express their emotions in a safe and positive way. Though art therapy is the primary purpose of these exercises, other skills, such as motor ability and creativity, also strengthen as a result of these classes. Student volunteers also greatly benefit from leading classes, learning through hands-on experience and collaborating with others to construct a healthy environment.
Not only is unique art produced, but the connection between UCSC students and inmates is invaluable. Participants reported that the art instructors were the first people they encountered in jail who showed them respect, and continue working with the volunteers after release in a community space run by ART Initiative. The students also leave the program with a deeper understanding of the artists and break down the stereotypes often associated with inmates.
ART Initiative gives students several opportunities to get involved with this project. In order to volunteer in classes, you must fill out an application on their website at http://artinitiative.wixsite.com/artinitiative/recruitment and email it to ArtInitiativeSC@gmail.com. Other ways to contribute to the program include donating money to their GoFundMe for art supplies to keep the organization running.
