Inmate Art

The Captured Art Inmate Art Program at The Escambia County Jail 

   The Captured Art Inmate Art program began in October 2007 with a volunteer teacher two hours per week and donated supplies. It remains, solely funded through donations of monies and materials as well as sales of the art works produced by the men and women in the program. 

   Participants have been given an arts aptitude test and must have exemplary behavior to be part of the Captured Art program. There is always a waiting list to get in. Seven or fewer men or women at a time are able to participate because of space limitations. They are now allowed to paint or draw from 9am – 10 pm if they choose and many of them do. 

   In addition to building self esteem and developing new and potentially marketable skills, according to the participants themselves, it has served as a point of positive pride and a renewed connection with family members who had all but given up on them. It has also had a positive and calming effect in the entire men’s and women’s dorm where the programs are located. Others who are interested can watch the men and women as they paint and draw and remember that their own behavior must be good to have a chance to take one of the few coveted slots. 

    Works from the program are for sale at modest prices. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be reinvested to benefit the continuation of the program. 

For more information or to purchase art, contact Sharon Gossett at 436.9823 Monday thru Thursday from 7:00 am until 5:00 pm.