How can I get involved in PCAP?

*There are many ways to get involved: facilitating PCAP arts workshops in prisons or at community sites, enrolling in PCAP U-M courses, volunteering for art selection trips or the installation of the Annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons, providing feedback on writing submitted for the literary journal, joining the PCAP student organization and/or Executive Committee, attending the annual Art Auction and other PCAP events. Complete the volunteer interest form to get started [link to form] For more information, see the Ways to Get Involved or contact pcapinfo@umich.edu.

Can I still volunteer after I graduate?

Yes!  Your participation in all aspects of PCAP is welcome. After graduation, you will receive an invite to join the PCAP Associates email list and receive information about ongoing PCAP events.  You can also continue to participate in PCAP Membership. Keep in mind, however, that the majority of PCAP activities are in-person.

What are the University of Michigan courses linked with PCAP?

PCAP offers a wide variety of courses, including printmaking, photography, theatre, writing and editing, visual art, curation, and music. Course offerings vary between the fall and winter semesters. You can see the current course offerings on our website. 

I’m in grad school.  Can I intern with PCAP?  

We would love to have you involved with PCAP as a graduate student. In order to make sure that PCAP can fulfill all your program’s internship requirements, please contact PCAP (pcapinfo@umich.edu) directly to schedule a time to discuss this opportunity. 

How can members of the community get involved in PCAP?

Community members who are not affiliated with U-M are welcome to get involved with PCAP as volunteers! See “How can I get involved” at the top of this page for more information.To participate in these and other activities, fill out the volunteer interest form.  For more information, contact pcapinfo@umich.edu.

I have a loved one inside prison. How can they get involved in your program?

We would love to be connected with your loved one incarcerated in Michigan. 

• You can add them to our mailing list here, and they will receive our tri-annual newsletter. 

• We hold creative arts workshops in state and federal correctional facilities near Ann Arbor. People who are incarcerated can sign up for these programs through their Special Activities Directors. Keep in mind that these programs only occur during the fall and winter semesters.

• We conduct our visual art selection trips annually at every Michigan Department of Corrections facility, starting in October. 

• We accept creative writing submissions to the Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing on a rolling basis. See PCAP’s newsletter [link to latest newsletter] for submission information. 

What opportunities are available to formerly incarcerated folks through PCAP?

PCAP welcomes anyone who has a creative mind and was formerly incarcerated into our Linkage Community. Linkage is a group of artists and creators across the state who were formerly incarcerated. As part of the community, you have access to professional development and artistic workshops, a creative peer-support network, and opportunities to exhibit and perform. The group meets, usually virtually, every few weeks to chat about creative practices and Linkage Community programming, and to have some laughs. 

Linkage members envision a creative landscape that:

• Embraces the hard work and talents of multidimensional artists,

• Acknowledges that artists’ complex identities and stories are worthy of taking up space

• Does not limit, nor define, artists by a former experience of incarceration.

If that feels like a good fit, please fill out this form so we can get to know you better. 

My loved one is an artist inside, soon to come home.  How can they connect with PCAP?  

PCAP would love to continue to support your creator’s artistic practice and development by welcoming them into our Linkage Community. If your loved one is interested in joining Linkage, all they need to do is fill out this form so we can get to know them better. This can even be done BEFORE they come home!

(We can also send them a paper version. Just let us know where to mail it to by emailing us at pcaplinkage@umich.edu)

Can PCAP speak to my class / group / church / organization?

PCAP staff and faculty can come to your classes and talk about different aspects of the program.  PCAP Executive Committee members can meet with your student club or organization.  If you are interested in having someone from PCAP speak to a University or community group, please contact pcapinfo@umich.edu.  

We also run curator-guided tours for groups of 5 or more during the Annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons. Contact pcapexhibits@umich.edu if you are interested in scheduling one for the next Annual Exhibit in March.

Does PCAP run arts workshops and schedule other activities during the summer months?

During the summer PCAP has monthly coffee hours on Wednesday mornings, as well as occasional Linkage and community activities.  Workshops in prison do not run during the summer.  For our summer event schedule, see PCAP Events.

How can I donate to PCAP?

We greatly appreciate your support of the artists and arts programming. Gifts of any amount can be made online, or contact us to discuss a gift-in-kind. Thank you for your generosity.

How can I become a facilitator of a PCAP arts workshop inside a prison or community facility?

Workshops in creative writing, visual art, and theatre in local Michigan prisons and community facilities run for 13 weeks during the fall and winter semesters.  You can participate by enrolling in PCAP courses or by volunteering in the PCAP Membership. A brief training held in early September and early January is required.  

Can I facilitate a PCAP workshop if I have a previous conviction?

You can participate in workshops held in community centers and reentry programs, but usually not in a Michigan state or federal prison. If you have questions about how previous criminal legal system contact will impact your participation in PCAP, contact pcapinfo@umich.edu. 

Can I volunteer with PCAP and still write to or visit an incarcerated person?

If you are in contact with someone incarcerated in a Michigan Department of Corrections facility, you can participate in some PCAP activities, like the Annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons and the literary journal.  You cannot, however, facilitate a workshop in a state prison if you are corresponding with, or visiting someone incarcerated by the MDOC. 

How do I get to and from the prison when facilitating a workshop?

Facilitators are encouraged to carpool with others in their workshop. U-M affiliates have access to CEAL-Ride vehicles once they are certified. 

What are PCAP Membership meetings? How can I attend them?

PCAP holds in-person Membership meetings for volunteers in the PCAP student organization every other Wednesday, from 6:00-7:30 pm, in the Residential College, from September to April.  Meetings support on-going arts workshops in prison and other PCAP activities, with occasional guest presentations on topics related to incarceration and social justice. Attendance is required of people facilitating workshops not run through courses. For information contact pcapexeco@umich.edu.

What does the PCAP Executive Committee do? How can I join?

The PCAP Executive Committee (PCAP EXEC) is made up of undergraduates, graduate students, and community volunteers who lead PCAP Membership activities and meetings. Exec supports workshop facilitators and helps troubleshoot issues that may arise over the course of a workshop. Anyone is welcome to join. Meetings take place twice a month, every other Wednesday, 6:00-7:30 in the Residential College, alternating with PCAP Membership meetings.  For information, contact pcapexeco@umich.edu.

How do incarcerated writers submit work to the Review?

The Review accepts submissions of poetry, fiction, plays, short essays and other genres of creative writing year-round. We are not able to publish pieces longer than 10 typed pages.  Incarcerated writers can send submissions with a note that include preferred author name for publication, Michigan Department of Corrections or Federal Bureau of Prisons ID number, and current address. 

Submissions should be sent to:

Attn: Phil Christman

Prison Creative Arts Project

1801 East Quad

701 E. University

Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1245

Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis during the fall and winter semesters. All writers receive a letter with constructive feedback from the editorial team, whether or not their piece is published. Response letters are usually sent within eight weeks of receipt. 

Can formerly incarcerated writers submit to the Review?

Artists that have come home are not able to submit writing to the Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing. However, through the Linkage Community, members have many opportunities to publish and perform their written work. To join the Linkage Community, please fill out this form so we can get to know you better and connect with you! 

How do I buy the Review?

The Review can be purchased by mail using this order form [link to form] or at the Annual Exhibition.

When, when, and where is the exhibition?

The Annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons is the largest curated exhibition of art by incarcerated artists in the world. It is held every year in the spring towards the end of March and runs for two weeks. It is installed in the largest gallery on the U-M Ann Arbor campus, located in the Duderstadt Center. 

How do incarcerated artists submit work to the show?

Once a year, beginning in October, PCAP curators, U-M students, and volunteers travel to every Michigan Department of Corrections facility. These dates are coordinated through the Special Activities Directors at each facility. If an artist is interested in submitting work, they will need to request a call-out from the Special Activities Director when the PCAP visit is announced, and fill out a submission form. They can ask the Special Activities Director for a copy of the submission form, or write to PCAP to receive one in the mail.

How can I see or buy the artwork exhibited by PCAP?

Artwork can be seen in-person or online in our virtual database. Purchases of art are only conducted during one of PCAP’s exhibitions or at the annual Art Auction. During the Annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons, we offer select dates when phone sales appointments are available in addition to in-person sales. Dates for phone sales are posted on the website when they become available.

Can visual artists who are formerly incarcerated submit work to the PCAP art exhibition?

Artists that have come home are not able to submit artwork into the Annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons. However, through the Linkage Community, members have many opportunities to exhibit their work. To join the Linkage Community, please fill out this form so we can get to know you better and connect with you! 

I’m interested in using an art piece for a project. What are my next steps?

We are excited to collaborate with anyone interested in showcasing the talents of the artists we work with. Please contact our licensing department at pcaplicensing@umich.edu to discuss the scope of your project and artist compensation.