Cross-cultural Benefits of Art in Prison

Visual arts and crafts are mediums that transcend cultural and language barriers, fostering the desirable qualities of tolerance and social inclusivity through participation. Participation in art can help people from of differing views and backgrounds to understand each other better. Art knocks down the walls of prejudice and lowers the barriers of separation, not just between the traditional religious divisions, but also between the growing number of foreign nationals in prison and the indigenous prison population. The influx of non-English speaking prisoners – Chinese, Africans, and Eastern Europeans – makes the work crucial in helping to calm the ethnic and racial tensions that typically emerge in the society of captives. “Cross-community” in the context of a prison is “cross-communities”. Prisoners are able to appreciate the value of the creative work undertaken by other prisoners and understand their similarities rather than their differences. This is vital in creating engagement, not only with the process, but also between prisoners of different backgrounds. In turn, this also aids rehabilitation by breaking down prejudice and enabling prisoners to interact in a more positive manner upon release. The cycle of ignorance, fear and attack which can lead to re-offending is lessened by engaging in multi-cultural and cross-community activity within the prison, which is facilitated by artists with a great deal of experience in easing tensions and creating safe spaces in that environment.

When PCSN ran an Art & Writing Competition in conjunction with the National Lottery and the Dept. of Correctional Services in 2015, this is what happened….

Prison Care & Support Network conducted a number of writing and art workshops in several prisons within 200K of Cape Town. The following is pictorial evidence of the outstanding talents within the prison system.

Sout van Afrika

Deur: Cathy Alcock
Reg. No. 212951519

In die gloeiende vlakte,
Uit die verte stuur die skroeiende wind
ʼn geraamagtige, tuimelende bossie na geen rigting.
Gevegte bars uit die Moeder se gedagtes.
Ringertjies wat vasklou aan haar romp se soom
Snot neus, kaalvoet, asvaal lippe,
Gereepte hempie en gesigte wat lyk soos ʼn onvoltooide blokraaisel.
Sonbessies se stemme weerklink
in die trommel van hul gehoorbuis.

Haastiger tot by haar eensame woning
gekreun van die hout splinteragtige deur,
sy en seuntjie verwelkom die bedompige vertrek
Haar voete begelei haar direk na die ert emmer op die koel vloer,
Skep, skep
Drink, drink
Altwee gelyk om hul hewige dors te les.

Die son is besig om te gaan slaap
Uit die maag van die drie been pot
gooi sy die gort sop met ʼn onbekende beёntjie
Wat aanskou word met hongerige soekende ogies.

Ai, Ai net genoeg vir seuntjie
Snik, snik draai sy om en lek die oorskiet met haar wys vinger
Kwellend wonder sy
Wanneer haar eggenoot die hol vertrekkie weer eendag sal binnetree.

Allerhoogste!
Sy val nederig op haar knieё
Nou hou sy weer aan sy soom
Weёn en alleen
Kyk sy na bo
Hierdie keer vol gemoed
Dankie Eerste en Laaste.

Haar trane ongehoorsaam rollend
af op haar wange en vind
ongenooid die ingang van mond
Tegemoet met lippe en tong
Proe, proe, sluk, sluk
ons is die sout van Afrika.

#AP