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Drawing Across Boundaries: Exploring Creative Art Education In A Prison Setting


Veronica Cordova de la Rosa, Independent Researcher

 

 

Research aims: This study explores the transformative potential of creative arts education through a drawing course for male prisoners aged eighteen and over in a UK prison. Using exercises inspired by "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards, the aim is to explore how these activities promote self-expression, emotional regulation and skill development in incarcerated individuals.


Methodology: Based on qualitative methods, this study explores the impact of creative arts education in the prison context, incorporating insights from Drawing from Observation (DFO) therapeutic theories to enrich the theoretical underpinnings. It emphasises the importance of clarifying how arts practises in prisons contribute to emotional wellbeing and wider social benefits, going beyond mere instrumentalisation. Detailed direct observations and feedback gained during the interactive sessions provide nuanced insights into participants' experiences and strengthen the credibility and analysis of the study. The study adapts to logistical challenges by utilising reflection diaries and weekly assessments to monitor participant attendance amidst transfers, releases and court proceedings, ensuring comprehensive data collection despite the unpredictable dynamics of prison.


Contributions: By documenting and analysing participants' experiences and artworks in a prison setting, this study contributes to the literature on art-based interventions in prisons. It emphasises the importance of drawing as a tool for enhancing self-awareness, emotional resilience and skill acquisition among inmates. The study not only demonstrates specific drawing exercises that deeply engage participants, but also reflects on the transformative potential of the creative process. It offers valuable insights for educators, practitioners and policy makers interested in utilising the arts for rehabilitation and reintegration. Unique to this study is the dual purpose of documenting artworks and experiences of prisoners, amplifying the voices of marginalised groups beyond the prison context, and promoting inclusion and understanding across academic and societal boundaries. By challenging traditional prison boundaries, the study emphasises the transformative impact of creative arts education in promoting holistic wellbeing.

 

Keywords: creative arts education, prison environment, drawing exercises, rehabilitation of prisoners, transformative learning


Biography
Veronica Cordova de la Rosa is an art lecturer at Belmarsh Prison in collaboration with Milton Keynes College, where she offers creative arts education programmes for incarcerated people. As a visual artist originally from Mexico, Veronica’s practise is deeply rooted in community engagement and social justice. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic in England, Veronica has dedicated her work to supporting vulnerable communities through arts-based interventions. With her commitment to decolonising the curriculum, Veronica seeks to challenge traditional pedagogical approaches and promote inclusive learning environments that place the wellbeing of all participants at the centre. Recently, Veronica published an article exploring the frustrations of migrant workers in the UK. The accompanying description includes her personal account of the domestication and exploitation of migrant workers in an overvalued retail industry, where a certain standard of beauty glosses over the diversity of women's existence. Veronica's work is a fusion of artistic expression and advocacy for social change, aiming to empower people through the transformative power of the arts.