Art & Wellness Fellowship

Supportive Arts as a Powerful Tool for Healing, Connection, and Transformation

Our Art & Wellness Fellowship brings the transformative power of the arts and supportive wellness practices into Minnesota correctional facilities. Through a structured, 12-week experience, incarcerated individuals explore creative expression, develop mindfulness skills, strengthen emotional well-being, and build meaningful connections with others.

More than an art program, the fellowship creates a supportive environment where participants can explore their identities, discover new creative abilities, develop healthier ways of navigating emotions, and experience the power of community.

The Art & Wellness Fellowship integrates creative practice with mindfulness and wellness techniques to support the whole person. Over 12 weeks, fellows participate in 30 hours of structured instruction and creative exploration, developing artistic skills while gaining practical tools for everyday life.

Participants explore drawing, perspective, watercolor, and acrylic painting while learning mindfulness practices such as deep breathing, meditation, visualization, and community singing. Together, these experiences encourage emotional awareness, stress management, self-expression, and personal growth.

At its heart, the fellowship is about connection. Through shared artistic experiences and wellness practices, participants build trust, strengthen communication, explore identity and purpose, and experience the power of belonging, vulnerability, and mutual support.

The Impact of Art & Wellness

Creative expression can create opportunities for meaningful change. Through the fellowship, participants develop skills and practices that support emotional wellness, resilience, and healthier relationships.

Fellows have also reported that mindfulness practices help them better understand and manage their thoughts, emotions, and responses, supporting improved decision-making and pro-social behavior.

In Their Own Words

Perhaps the most meaningful measure of the fellowship's impact comes from the people who experience it.

“When I put my whole energy into my art, every negative feeling expires and leaves me with peace.”

— Faribault Art & Wellness Fellow, Cohort 2

“It's given me an awareness that mental health isn't something that just takes care of itself, but must be managed consciously. I'm a bit more positive and connected.”

— Stillwater Art & Wellness Fellow, Cohort 2

“The program influenced my emotional well-being because it showed me how to use my emotions in a different way and it is good to be emotional.”

— Faribault Art & Wellness Fellow, Cohort 2

“I let go of a lot, things that kept me angry and lost. I feel more like myself again.”

— Shakopee Art & Wellness Fellow, Cohort 2

These reflections speak to the power of creating space for individuals to reconnect with themselves, express their experiences, and build new pathways toward well-being.

Sharing Stories Beyond the Walls

Art created through the fellowship can also reach audiences beyond correctional facilities through community exhibitions and public engagement.

By sharing the work of incarcerated artists, AFTI creates opportunities for the public to encounter different perspectives, challenge assumptions, and engage with the humanity and creativity of people impacted by incarceration.

Each work of art offers a window into an individual's experience, imagination, and capacity for growth. Together, these works help shift narratives around incarceration and cultivate greater compassion and community understanding.

Program at a Glance

• Duration: 12 weeks

• Instruction: 2-2.5 hours per weekly session

• Locations: Minnesota correctional facilities

• Creative disciplines: Drawing, two-dimensional design, perspective, watercolor, and acrylic painting

• Wellness practices: Deep breathing, meditation, visualization, and community singing

• Approach: creative exploration, mindfulness, emotional wellness, and community building

Our Belief

At Art from the Inside, we believe that every person has the capacity to create, grow, heal, and contribute to our communities.

Help Us Bring the Power of Art & Wellness Inside

Your support helps make meaningful opportunities for creativity, healing, and connection possible for incarcerated individuals across Minnesota.

Support Art from the Inside | [Learn More About Our Programs]