Therapeutic art interventions in Australian prisons until now have remained an unexplored terrain. Despite evidence that art therapy can be a tool for social change, there are no recorded studies in Australia which have investigated the therapeutic benefits of art in prison populations with measured outcomes. Notably, prison art therapy research has never been documented within a mixed-methodology framework by an ex-prisoner. The lived experience of the principal researcher has brought into light novel approaches to recording the inmate experience through art. This ground-breaking research intersects the criminal-criminologist paradigm while highlighting the significance of the dire prisoner experience through visual documentation. Over several years and prison-immersed experiential research, this exploratory study has produced rich results from the “inside”. The findings underscore that art, expression, and creative interventions can offer meaningful cathartic experiences in the prison setting. Moreover, therapeutic art programs seemingly offer cascading benefits to the wider prison community, transcending beyond those who engage in art. Finally, Indigenous identity and autonomy are bound to artistic expression. Art can assist prisoners to rebound from a history of exclusion while at the same time reinstating inmate identity and purpose. The research includes data collection and analysis from a public art exhibition, assisting in formulating timely recommendations for research, policy, and practice.
Presenters
In prison Sarah began a B.A. in Vis Arts via correspondence, then was a self-employed-tattoo-artist until policy change. Since Sarah has obtain additional accreditation in Criminology, Neuroscience, Social Science, Counselling and Art Psychotherapy.
She is the first ex-inmate in Australia to receive research approval in Australia through mixed methods to record therapeutic art interventions in Qld prisons.
Sarah Tucker, a visual artist for over 30 years, draws inspiration from various sources, including her experiences as an ex-prisoner, prison art teacher, prison chaplaincy services, and the common theme of art as empowering tool for expression, self-induced healing, and social justice. While in prison, she pursued a B.A. in Visual Arts through correspondence and later worked as a self-employed tattoo artist until a policy change, made this an illegal activity for her. Sarah has since gained additional accreditation in Criminology, Neuroscience, Social Science, Counselling, and Art Psychotherapy. Notably, she is the first ex-inmate in Australia to obtain research approval for mixed methodology, recording therapeutic art interventions in Queensland prisons. Even after 27 years since release, overcoming the stigma of the past record continues to be a lifelong hindrance, and post incarceration remains a ‘living experience’.
Adjunct Associate Professor Johannes M. Luetz (BA/USA, MBA/Germany, Ph.D./Australia) is a social scientist based in Brisbane, Australia. He also holds appointments at The University of the Sunshine Coast (USC Maroochydore) and at Alphacrucis University College (AC Brisbane), where he is Associate Professor and Director of Research Development. He has lived and worked across countries and continents and conducts interdisciplinary humanitarian research at the science-faith science-policy interface. He has consulted for World Vision on research raising awareness of the growing effects of climate change on vulnerable communities in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. His integrative research has led to several authored and edited books, including Beyond Belief—Opportunities for Faith-Engaged Approaches to Climate-Change Adaptation in the Pacific Islands (Springer, 2021), Innovating Christian Education Research—Multidisciplinary Perspectives (Springer, 2021), Reimagining Christian Education—Cultivating Transformative Approaches (Springer, 2018), and Planet Prepare (WVI, 2008).
His Ph.D. research into climate migration has featured in national news and documentaries [Bolivia; Bangladesh; Maldives]. He has spoken at the UNSW Town & Gown annual signature dinner and has been a guest on ABC Radio National The Science Show. His research has attracted grants, prizes, scholarships, awards and distinctions, including best thesis prize (2006), UNSW UIP Award (2009), UNSW ASPIRE Award (2012) and best paper awards (2017, 2018).
