Today, February 15, the workshops begin with 18 inmates from the Antoni Asunción Penitentiary Center within the project financed by the Social Welfare and Integration Unit of the Vàlencia City Council: “Futures in freedom. Integra-art space.”
This project aims to generate a space for artistic creation, of a social and inclusive nature, that favors processes of resilience and personal empowerment for people deprived of liberty. The intention is to favor processes where they believe, reflect and interrelate in a freer way; Furthermore, it is intended that can develop social and professional skills that will be very useful to them once they are outside the penitentiary center.
Last year, thanks to this space, a documentary was produced where the inmates themselves narrated their own story and recorded and produced it. The audiovisual product obtained “You choose” is now available on our YouTube channel, we leave you here the link.
The documentary premiered in June of last year within the XIII Humans Fest accompanied by a debate open to the public at the MuVIM “Prison and the right to culture”. Furthermore, and with the intention of transferring the social forums that took place outside the prison inside, “You choose” was presented accompanied by another short film and a short debate with the inmates; More than 100 people attended.
This year a broader view has been incorporated and the aim is to also work with activities for the creative exploration of emotions and self-knowledge. In this way, and with the help of Paula Sánchez, La Cosecha, and the support of the management team of the Picassent Penitentiary Center, the aim is not only to obtain an audiovisual product produced entirely by people deprived of liberty but to enhance the creative process itself.
Through subjective expression exercises, the aim is to give space to one's own story, addressing processes of the inmates' personal stories. The workshop is focused on the development of intrapersonal skills and competencies, such as emotional expression and management or relationships and values associated with community life.
Thanks to these workshops you want reduce the degree of stigma linked to the prison population, from the recognition of his artistic work and the approach to his history.
