I Believe II: Arts & Incarceration will be coming to the Waterfront Gallery for the Arts, 207 E. Missouri Ave., Pierre, SD. This touring art exhibition showcases the creative works of inmates from the South Dakota State Penitentiary and Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield. Funded by a South Dakota Health Department Innovation Grant and National Endowment for the Arts, this groundbreaking Arts & Health program led by Ariadne (Ari) Albright of Creative Care, LLC, and Suzanne Costello of SPDT aims to provide incarcerated men the opportunity for creative expression and tools for self-improvement.
Albright, an Arts in Health educator at the University of South Dakota, collaborated with Costello, who is known for pioneering the Caring for the Caregiver SM program globally. After a 10-day residency, the program ends with an art exhibit and performance within the prisons, focusing on breaking down barriers in prison settings, promoting mental wellness, and fostering connections and empathy within the prison community. The University of South Dakota Department of Innovation and Research has assessed the program’s impact.
This exhibit will be run from January 14 through February 13, 2025, with a RECEPTION on Thursday, January 23, from 4:00pm – 7:00pm. This event is free and open to the public.
A gallery talk at 6:00pm will feature Ariadne Albright who will introduce the 20-minute video of the I Believe performance, shown for the first time in SD, at the Great Plains Arts Institute.
