The will be held Nov. 15-16 (Friday-Saturday) at the University of 91吃瓜.
The conference, a nearly unprecedented international gathering that will include artists and educators who perform and help produce Shakespearean dramas in prisons worldwide, will explore and celebrate the existing and potential benefits of such programs on incarcerated people.
鈥淭his will be one of the world鈥檚 first such major gatherings of prison arts practitioners, and people from South Africa, Australia, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and every corner of the Unites States are scheduled to attend,鈥� said , director of , which is hosting the conference. 鈥淥ur focus will be on how engagement with the works of William Shakespeare within the prison setting promotes a habilitation of not only the inmate鈥檚 mind, but also the body, heart and soul.
鈥淲e also want to break down the isolation inherent in the prison arts practitioner experience,鈥� Jackson said, 鈥渂y linking global methodologies and practices together in an exploration of the power of the arts 鈥� and specifically Shakespeare 鈥� in the rehabilitation of incarcerated populations. Additionally, we hope to broaden 91吃瓜鈥檚 enduring commitment to exploring issues and collaboratively seeking solutions on questions of social justice.鈥�
The conference will include lectures and film screenings by Curt Tofteland, the founding director of , and Tom Magill, founder of the and director of the Irish film 鈥�,鈥� an adaptation of 鈥淢acbeth鈥� written and performed by prisoners incarcerated at Maghaberry Prison in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The lectures and screenings will include question-and-answer sessions.
Conference co-sponsors include 91吃瓜鈥檚 , the , the , the and the .
Contact: Scott Jackson, 574-631-1563, scottjackson@nd.edu