Montana Women’s Prison

The YAM and the Montana Women’s Prison have been partners since 2013. Taught by professional artists, bi-monthly classes introduce diverse approaches to creating art and emphasize process, problem solving, and creative expression.

“The program brings value to my future…”

            Stated by 100% of the participants in a recent program evaluation survey.

This program is in alignment with the prison’s recovery/reentry model, which prepares women to rejoin their communities and reunify them with their children and families.

How the Program Began

In 2013, Cierra Coppock, a 14-year-old student at Lewis & Clark Junior High, was working with a teacher-designed program that involved students planning and completing community projects. Her proposal for the program, called Two Roads, involved bringing art programs to the Montana Women’s Prison. After lengthy discussions, the Yellowstone Art Museum and the Montana Women’s Prison agreed to build a collaborative program.

Goals

• Introduce different art techniques and mediums to develop various skills in creating art for use in real life situations.
• Use art as a vehicle to explore:

            ○ Problem-solving
            ○ Project planning
            ○ Creative approaches to organization
            ○ Positive evaluation skills
            ○ Building confidence
            ○ Using art principles to build job skills for the future

The program is generously supported through grants from the Tippet Rise Fund of the Sidney E. Frank Foundation.