CHENNAI: To mark one year of the Art in Prisons initiative, the Sumanasa Foundation held an art showcase at Puzhal Central Jail, featuring performances and artwork created by inmates. Developed in collaboration with Project 39A, Art in Prisons highlights the importance of creativity and aims to make art accessible to everyone. The project provides a safe space for inmates to express their artistic talents and learn skills like visual arts, pottery, music, and theatre, which could help them after their release. The showcase organised earlier this month included plays, musical performances, and arts and crafts exhibits by the inmates at Puzhal Central Jail.

“A prison shouldn't be seen as separate from society. Art, a part of our society, should be accessible to inmates. I don't view this project as a rehabilitation programme, but if the inmates feel enriched or transformed, that's a result of the project. Our philosophy is simple: everyone should be able to express themselves through art. I strongly believe that every prison should have an 'Art Block' for visual arts, music, theatre, and dance,” says TM Krishna, one of the trustees of the Sumanasa Foundation.

Theatre practitioner Swaminathan, one of the facilitators of the initiative, shares that the entire programme was a learning experience for both the inmates and the art facilitators. “It was amazing to see the transformation of a group that was so disconnected a year ago into a team of ten actors now supporting each other, enjoying their time together, and working hard on a production. A few people from the theatre community visited the prison and taught various aspects of theatre,” points out Swaminathan.