Prison Arts Collective

Prison Arts Collective recently lost its Instagram page due to a hacking incident. Follow our new account and retweet to help spread the word! #PACisBACK

This beautiful oil pastel drawing titled “Ocean” was created by Sonia, a PAC participant at California Institution for Women. #ArtExclusive

PAC Alumnus Mark Taylor will be holding a talk at the University of California, Irvine campus this Thursday, May 25. See last post for more details. We hope you see you there!

Join us on the University of California, Irvine campus next week for a special talk with PAC Alumni Mark Taylor and Program Founder and Executive Director Annie Buckley. We are so excited to have this talk commemorate the 10 Year Anniversary for PAC. We hope to see you there!

The participants at California Institution for Women (CIW) have created beautiful work this semester. Pictured above is an incredible piece painted by Lorraine, paired with a quote from another student in the class. #WeArePac❤️

CALIFORNIA LOCOS donated a limited collection skateboards to PAC participants at CIW, to be painted and auctioned. These designed skateboards will be auctioned on californialocos.com on March 28th through April 2nd. 100% of proceeds will benefit PAC!

Poet Louise Wakaai'gan and Author and poet Luis J. Rodriquez discuss how to create poetry organically drawing from life, memory, and identity, and how to find your voice in a society that de-voices the perspectives of marginalized people. Listen on KSPC 88.7 FM tomorrow at 9 pst.

PLEASE JOIN PEN AMERICA in calling on the Texas Classification Committee to grant Waker’s request for safe keeping status—to protect his life and to demonstrate your support for the freedom to write and free expression. SIGN THE PETITION: pen.org/take-action/op…

Congratulations @PAC_CSU on their recent @NEAarts research grant. This funding will support research that looks at the impact of the arts on wellness for individuals and communities who are incarcerated in CA state prisions!🎨@PSFA_SDSU newscenter.sdsu.edu/sdsu_newscente…

PAC believes that art is a human right. #WeArePAC Photo courtesy of Prison Arts Collective, by Peter Merts.

Director of Prison and Justice Writing at PEN America and Multidisciplinary Creator, Caits Meissner, and Writer and Radio Producer, Spoon Jackson, introduce the book PEN America: The Sentences That Create Us. Tune in on KSPC 88.7 FM this Friday at 9 am or Saturday 1pm to listen!

PAC is excited to announce a collaborative season of Outside:Inside Radio with PEN America! Each episode highlights authors in "The Sentences that Create Us: Crafting a Writer’s Life in Prison", edited by Caits Meissner, Dir. of PEN America’s Prison and Justice Writing Program.

Join PAC for an Art Workshop inspired by the works of Mickalene Thomas hosted by Yvette Deas this Wednesday, February 1, in the PAC room at 1:30! Anyone in the SDSU community is welcome. Feel free to come late or leave early. See you there!

PAC has been approved by the NEA to receive a Research Grants in the Arts award! This funding will support research that looks at the impact of the arts on wellness for individuals and communities who are incarcerated.

“Hidden Forest” was painted by Aguilera at California Institution for Women (CIW), 2022. Thank you, California Arts Council, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the National Endowment for the Arts for your endless support of our program! #ArtExclusive

“What does art mean to you during this time of increased isolation?”  One of our wonderful PAC participants shares how their relationship with art has benefited them while incarcerated during these last few Covid-19 impacted years.

PAC believes in providing opportunities for training, mentorship, and leadership to all participants and team members, including individuals who are incarcerated and formerly incarcerated. #WeArePAC  Photo courtesy of Prison Arts Collective, by Peter Merts.

“Feelings” is a watercolor painting created by Havens at California Institution for Women (CIW), 2022. Thank you, California Arts Council, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and the National Endowment for the Arts for your support! #ArtsInCorrections #CDCR

Check out this awesome sketch sent to us by participant Pat titled “Amaze” on the back of his postcard to us. Thank you so much for sharing Pat! We are so lucky to be in contact with such talented students during times of distant learning.

Wishing you a happy holiday season from our PAC team! A big thank you to all of our supporters for their continuous support of our program, we are so endlessly grateful! #HappyHolidays