| The Gang recognizes and promotes the fact that the Arts have the power to effect change in the lives of people and thereby can create change in society. As part of our education work, we propose to bring theater workshops, led by professional actors, into adult correction facilities. The Gang’s experienced team of artists and facilitators work with a diverse range of groups including young people at risk of offending, adult drug users and adult prisoners
Arts programs have proven to stem the tide of violence. Dr. Lawrence Brewster, Sociology Professor at California State University at San Jose, found that prison Arts In Corrections programs reduced incidents of violence within the prison by 75-81% and saved close to double the cost of the program in measurable benefits such as security and medical costs. Later it was proven that the program lowered recidivism rates by 51%.
Theatre has therapeutic aspects built into its process, which leads to discipline, self-examination and working with others of different backgrounds. In addition to nurturing communication skills and creativity, the program builds individual self-respect. For some, this confidence motivates them to overcome difficult backgrounds and set previously unimaginable goals, such as going to college. The process provides an opportunity to work with peers of different races and gang affiliations, thereby bridging their differences. The result raises social consciousness, imparting the sense that they are woven in a social fabric and each one is part of a larger whole.
We incorporate the California State Standards for Arts Education and English Language Writing into our curriculum.
Our projects range from half-day workshops to long-term residential projects within institutions. The project is an example of applied theatre practice: it evolved from the application of theatre and drama to the objectives of the Criminal Justice system. We actively involve this targeted community through education, empowerment, and goal-setting. Through our 3-year evaluation process, we will analyze and document our work in an effort to become a national model program.
We begin with a one-hour "warm-up" and a discussion of the work. Then inmates get dressed and made-up, ready to work on the stock characters. We then work more specifically on the characters and their stories. We also spend some time allowing the prisoners to create improvised stories in character. The workshop will vary depending on the requirements of each establishment.
Listen to the National Public Radio feature on KPCC here
See a comprehensive LA Times article here
Watch a BBC interview with Artistic Director, Tim Robbins, here
Read a featured article in The New York Times here
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