What might be possible for artists and arts in this (grim and hopeful) moment? Arlene Goldbard has written two excellent essays on the history of federally funded arts-work programs and on the possibilities for such programs in this moment.

Congressman George Miller, Chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor announced that he will conduct “a series of hearings this Spring to examine how the arts benefit the nation’s economy and schools—and what can be done to improve support for the arts and music fields.” Please write to thank him and to let him know your thoughts on this subject.

And check out the work of the National Campaign to Hire Artists to Work in Schools and Communities Take time to view the great YouTube interview on the site with actor Bill Irwin about his work as a CETA artist for San Francisco’s Pickle Family Circus.

The group that worked on this blog site is in the process of developing what we need (mission statement, etc) to create an actual Prison Arts Coalition entity. We hope to find funding that will allow in-person gatherings as well as other ways to share the work we’re all doing. We’ll post whatever we come up with on the blog site.

“‘Art Teacher’ didn’t seem the right job description after a few weeks of working behind bars. Some of the men and women had already created strikingly fresh work without benefit of an art program or decent materials.

“Teaching the conventional principals, techniques, and subject matter—in other words, what was taught to me—not only seemed irrelevant, but that such an approach was likely to put a lid on the intense yearning to create what was obvious, and poignant, in most of the people who came to my classes.”