JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Through its Department of Correctional Services, South Africa has been breaking traditional stereotypes about prison through its inmates’ art gallery, where offenders get an opportunity to engage in creative activities, acquire skills, make money, and get ready for life after prison.
Leeuwkop Correctional Centre in Johannesburg capture prisoners painting colourful images and creating sculptures, such as a copy of a football trophy and a rhino.
“It feels good to spend your time doing such a creative activity,” said one of the inmates, called Freddy Mongkoai. “Because through it I am getting a chance to be alone and think about myself and my future.”
From 2023 onwards, the Department has created nine prisons’ arts and crafts galleries across the nation. Malefo OJ, an education and training manager, stated that offenders can train, express themselves, and even sell the art pieces they create, even when they have no experience in the arts at all.
Unathi Mahlati, who is a senior program officer at Just Detention International-South Africa, highlighted the healing effect of the project. “They told us that they have reframed their negative self-concepts into positive ones … they feel less stressed, and they would like to return to society and correct themselves,” stated Mahlati.
The galleries work in tandem with other vocational and education programs to provide inmates with skills.
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