Released on = July 19, 2006, 12:50 pm

Press Release Author = Wendy McClelland - Inside Art

Industry = Law

Press Release Summary = With the public clamoring for stiffer sentences and current
punishment based options being unsuccessful when it comes to rehabilitation and
reintegration of inmates into society a new solution is needed. An innovative
cooperative has created an opportunity for artists behind bars to market their work
to the "outside world", generate revenue that pays for their own materials, and with
the long term goal of inmates paying taxes - both inside and outside (should they be
released). The Inside Art Cooperative in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia,
Canada offers a completely new approach.

Press Release Body = In Canada today, over 36,000 adults are incarcerated in federal
and provincial institutions (117 per 100,000 population)**, and in the United
States, the numbers are much higher with over 2,100,000 inmates in custody (488 per
100,000 population)*.

The reality is that most of these individuals will eventually receive parole, or
upon serving their full sentence will be returned to the community with no
supervision.

Instead of simply opening the prison door and saying "you're on your own" to inmates
who are released, an innovative Canadian cooperative has taken a very different
approach. InsideArt Cooperative works with both inmates who are released and those
who remain behind bars.

InsideArt Cooperative (www.insideart.ca) is a trail-blazing arts marketing
cooperative, located in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. It is based within
the federal prison system and is owned by its artist members. It is managed by
Community Futures South Fraser with major funding support from Cooperative
Development Initiative and other supporters including, ArtsNow, and Vancity Credit
Union. Local marketing expert Wendy McClelland is the Project Coordinator, working
through Community Futures. "This cooperative is one of the most innovative projects
I've ever been involved with. Helping inmates become self sustaining, contributing
members of society while creating beautiful pieces of artwork is a unique
opportunity to make positive social change," she recently said in an interview.

InsideArt Cooperative's vision is of federal inmates who learn the values of
responsibility and self-sufficiency, and live by means other than crime and prison;
who help society's tax burden by paying personal taxes, and weaning themselves from
inmate pay. The goal is to encourage people, who upon their release, have less
dependence on social agencies for money, food, and shelter; and who contribute
meaningfully to their community as productive members of society. This program,
with the goal of tax paying inmates, is the first of its kind in Canada.

As a cooperative, InsideArt.ca represents the true essence of democratic decision
making: one member equals one vote. Exposure and active engagement in shared
decision making provides inmates the opportunity to learn skills in negotiation,
communication, accepting compromise and working for the good of something "bigger"
than one individual. This approach, while contradicting prison social systems, helps
prepare inmates for the reality of life outside of an institution.

InsideArt Cooperative markets high quality art, made mostly by federal inmates,
while fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency, and encouraging
the personal and professional growth of its members.

Inside Art Cooperative encourages artists within the Fraser Valley to volunteer
their time to work with a group of talented artists who happen to be long term
inmates. Glass work, wood carving and other talents that the inmates already
possessed have been refined with the help of artists who are not incarcerated (known
as "outmates").

As the first "outmate", local glass artist Sid Gould contributes his art expertise,
business knowledge, and enthusiasm to this unique venture. Sid is the artist owner
of Sandstorm Creative Glass Works Studio - the largest multi-purpose glass studio in
Western Canada. In 2004, Sandstorm received the Abbotsford Business Excellence Award
for Social Responsibility in recognition of Sid's tireless contribution to the
community.

Both the artists behind bars, and the "outmates" beyond them give back to the
community by donating their art to non-profit organizations including Ronald
McDonald House, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Big Brothers / Big Sisters and
the Breast Cancer Foundation. The donated items include elaborate carved chests,
furniture, and paintings, enabling these community charitable organizations to help
raise much needed funding.

While this social enterprise is still in its infancy, it holds the promise of a
positive beginning that may provide a model for other prison systems to follow.

* U.S. Department of Justice
** Correctional Service Canada



Web Site = http://www.InsideArt.ca

Contact Details = Wendy McClelland
wendy.mcclelland@southfraser.com
Community Futures - South Fraser
100-32383 South Fraser Way,
Abbotsford, B.C.
V2T 1W7
604-864-5770