Centrum Sztuki Osadzonych – doświadczenia osób uczestniczących

This text presents the Center for Prison Arts (CPA), an innovative project developed between 2022 and 2023 by the Kobietostan Association at the Krzywaniec Prison. The aim of the project was to create the first institution in Poland, located within a prison, dedicated to sharing experiences and developing methods of rehabilitation through art, co-created by incarcerated individuals. The activities of the Center for Prison Arts are presented in the context of other artistic initiatives started in 2017, initially led by Agnieszka Bresler and later by Bresler, Iwona Konecka, and their collaborators. These initiatives included female and male theatre groups, a women’s choir, and a music band, and are discussed from the perspective of the incarcerated participants involved. The study is based on qualitative research using micro-interviews, and it explores the impact of creative activities on the participants. Key areas of focus in examining the artistic process included: motivation, group dynamics within the broader prison community, identity, and the influence of participation on individual life in prison – especially in terms of self-esteem and a sense of agency. The research findings helped verify the initial assumptions of the project and provided insights into how Konecka and Bresler’s original working method was received. The study also highlights the method’s potential for broader application within the Polish prison system.