Local Social Enterprise Receives International Recognition

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep 07, 2006 -
Nearly three years ago, a small group of dedicated volunteers in the Fraser Valley came up with an idea that they hoped would be the beginning of an opportunity to create positive change and instill a sense of responsibility among federal inmates.

Inside Art Cooperative sees artists within the Fraser Valley community volunteering their time to teach a selected, screened group of long term inmates the highest levels of artistic creation. Glass work, wood carving and other talents are developed and refined by inmates serving lengthy sentences for a wide range of crimes. Currently, Inside Art members are concentrated at Mountain Institution in Agassiz, but there are plans to expand to other correction facilities.

Recently, the work of Inside Art was featured in the international online magazine Social Enterprise Reporter. The SE Reporter’s August issue focuses on Ex-Offenders and Social Enterprise, and highlights the fact that there is an ever increasing shortage of workers available in the marketplace; and at the same time large numbers of inmates are being released back into communities. With a pool of available workers, many who may need additional assistance to be successful, it is in society’s interest to “get creative” and find ways to match jobs to people.

A number of unique initiatives were highlighted in the special issue, and the Inside Art marketing cooperative was one of them. Stacey Corriveau, Inside Art Program Manager, commented in the magazine’s interview, “(these offenders) went into prison as young boys and are now men with no skills and no means to sustain them when they’re released. Inmates are inherently entrepreneurial; it just hasn’t been focused the right way.”

“Inside Art provides training, mentoring by “outmate” artists, business skills development and marketing assistance. Our goals are to help the inmates become fully functioning members of society when they are released; as well as produce top quality art work for sale while they are incarcerated”, says Corriveau.

“The exposure we received from the Social Enterprise Reporter has boosted our profile and helps us reach more people. The SE Reporter site gets over 2500 unique visitors per month. The site visitors come from around the globe and we really appreciate the coverage.”

To find out more about Inside Art you can visit their website at www.insideart.ca or contact info@insideart.ca