13.5.200.487 Application
ArtSpring, Inc.

Proposal Information

Item	Response
Application #	13.5.200.487
Program	Specific Cultural Project
Proposal Type	Arts In Education
Funding Category	Arts Partnership
Discipline	N/A
Applicant is requesting REDI waiver	No
Residency Contact Hours	N/A
Proposal Title	Arts for Incarcerated Women
Proposal Synopsis	ArtSpring requests support for ongoing arts programs for female inmates while expanding the number of programs to meet more specific needs for women as they transition out of prison and return to their communities. Our programs develop life skills, discipline and self-esteem – qualities known to transform patterns of destructive behavior. With a faculty of 10 artists teaching a variety of performing, literary and visual arts, we expect to reach over 350 incarcerated adult women during the grant period.

Applicant Information

Item	Response
Corporate Name	ArtSpring, Inc.
DBA Name	N/A
Federal Employer ID	65-0347274
Principal Address	35 NW 1st Street Homestead, FL 33030-5905
County	Miami-Dade
Applicant Email Address	nicolebible@artspring.org
Grant Contact	Nicole Bible, Executive Director
Authorized Official	Nicole K. Bible, Executive Director
Website	www.artspring.org

Mission Statement

ArtSpring believes in the power of art to transform individuals & communities. Our mission is to use educational arts programming to develop self-growth and effective life skills for incarcerated women, men and youth as well as other at-risk populations in underserved communities. Our programs empower participants to redirect their lives, resulting in a safer society.

Proposal Description

ArtSpring respectfully requests support to continue offering our ongoing programming at Homestead and Broward Correctional Institutions while expanding our program offerings at Homestead Correctional to address pre-release and re-entry. In addition, we will continue to support the ARTS program at Lowell Correctional Institution in Ocala that was created, implemented, and taught by women inmates who were trained by ArtSpring staff after being in our programs for a minimum of five years as inmate mentors. We will also begin planning a new program in collaboration with state-run and/or community-based work release / re-entry facilities in the South Florida area.

The goals of ArtSpring’s programs are to offer arts based workshops to a diverse group of people within a community to promote respect, cooperation and cultural understanding. Our curriculum is designed to explore issues of self-esteem and stimulate personal responsibility through the creative process. At the end of each workshop session, our students’ creative work is shared with an audience of their peers, staff and, when possible, invited guests from the “outside” community. These performance opportunities serve to create a bridge of interaction, visibility, engagement and exchange. Ultimately our unique arts-based curriculum, incorporated in all our programs, provides participants with opportunities to learn behavioral and social skills that will aid them in their life transitions while incarcerated and upon release.

In 2012-2013 we propose to continue our current programming commitments in state prisons as well as expand our reach within those settings and towards new populations. We will strengthen our efforts in the community to increase awareness and prison-reform advocacy. We will continue to strengthen community partnerships in order to provide opportunities to assist adult ex-offenders to re-enter society.

ArtSpring proposes the following specific objectives during the 2012-2013 grant period in support of our goals to:
Continue and expand core programming:

• Continue ongoing programming at Homestead and Broward Correctional Institutions

• Increase the number of adult inmates in Florida state prisons that enroll in ArtSpring programs by 20%

• Reach 350 adult inmates in prisons and work release centers in Florida

Increase community awareness and advocacy:

• Produce a minimum of 3 performances inside prisons that are open to community guests

• Increase direct contact of ArtSpring faculty and alumni in the community

• Bring together our program graduates that have been released at events in the community to speak about ArtSpring and its impact on their lives while incarcerated

Strengthen community partnerships:

• Initiate a special seminar within our arts based curriculum for adult female inmates that brings in other organizations to discuss their work in community

• Begin planning to initiate a new re-entry program at work release centers in South Florida

ArtSpring proposes the following activities during the 2012-2013 grant period to achieve our stated objectives:

• Increase the number of adult inmates participating in ArtSpring programs by 20% by offering 4 ongoing weekly programs at Homestead Correctional, 3 programs at Broward Correctional; additionally, we will continue to support the Artistic Recovery through Self-Expression (A.R.T.S.) programs at Lowell Correctional that are taught by female inmates who were trained by ArtSpring and participated in our programs for a minimum of 5 years as mentors for the classes.

• Begin planning a new program with work release centers by canvassing appropriate state-run and community-based facilities and initiating contact with the administration

• Offer a minimum of 3 prison performances open to the public during the grant period based upon the approval of the Wardens at the institutions.

• Increase direct contact of ArtSpring faculty and alumni in the community by holding 3 lecture/demonstration gatherings in the community in various settings, including but not limited to community centers, retail establishments and private homes

Our program expansion will include additional arts-based classes as well as adding specifically designed seminars within the arts-based curriculum in collaboration with other local agencies. Partner organizations will address issues regarding re-entry including assessing the gender-specific needs of women for successful reentry, assisting in transition planning, and providing strong mentorship and lecture programs from women leaders in our community. Each seminar will be followed by creative exercises to expand on the information gathered from the guest lectures to begin a process that can outline options and possibilities for success once released.

Programs at both South Florida institutions will continue to be offered for two hours weekly for 12-16 weeks with a culminating performance presentation open to the community. Special lectures and seminars will be in addition to the ongoing programs and will be attended by women enrolled in the arts-based programs who qualify for pre-release programming based on their release date. The ongoing ARTS program at Lowell Correctional, often extends beyond the 16 weeks due to scheduling conflicts with the areas where the classes are held. ArtSpring supports this program by sending supplies, certificates and class materials and, when possible, staff from ArtSpring will travel to Ocala to attend the graduation presentations. One week intensives conducted by ArtSpring staff may be held in the summer months at Lowell.

Programming activities covered by this grant will begin after July 1, 2012 and conclude by June 30, 2013.

Culture Builds Florida's Future

1. Strengthening the Economy

   Florida spends roughly $20,000 per year on one inmate incarcerated in our state correctional system. In 2010, Florida spent $2.4 billion on more than one hundred thousand inmates housed in our correctional facilities. 88% will one day be released, resulting in communities that are unprepared to absorb the economic and social burden of returning offenders. As a result, offenders lack the supportive services needed to reintegrate into society and lead productive, law-abiding lives. 33% are projected to return to prison within 3 years.

   Roughly 350 individuals will take part in ArtSpring adult programs during the grant year. Our programs teach discipline, commitment, problem solving, group interaction and responsibility in a safe and trusting environment. The skills that are learned in our workshops enhance self worth and promote positive change resulting in improved behavior and respect for themselves and others. These life skills are especially beneficial for incarcerated women upon their release. Of the 30 women who participated in ArtSpring’s programs for at least one year, and are now released, not one has been convicted of a crime and returned to prison. That is a 0% recidivism rate for those who have been involved in our program. ArtSpring teaches inmates life skills coupled with community interaction and support – an approach that helps ex-offenders re-enter their communities with dignity, respect and hope for a productive, crime-free life. Our proposal strengthens our economy by saving thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money that could be re-invested in education and economic growth.

2. Learning and Wellness

   Our programs for incarcerated women and girls are designed to consider the social as well as shared personal histories of those we serve and assist them in reflecting on emotionally damaging issues through expressive art forms. ArtSpring’s uniquely designed curriculum encourages deep reflection in order to begin to understand the personal and social issues that have haunted many of the women and girls for years and are at the root of their incarceration. Underlying our curriculum design is the belief that creativity is inherent in art-making and art-making is inherently meaningful, therapeutic, and educational. Creating involves an immediate relationship to ‘Self’. The act of creativity involves a willingness to turn the attention or focus inward. This acknowledgment and exploration of self results in greater self-awareness, which is recognized as a contributing factor in emotional, physical and psychological health. By examining past experiences, not in a judgmental way but through creative formats, many participants have shared a new awareness or knowledge of their history. They begin to reconnect to themselves - their bodies, their mothers, their children, and their lost humanity.

   For example, in March 2011, our theatre faculty presented the Greek tragedy Elektra performed by female inmates at Homestead Correctional Institution. While studying the script, the women began writing their own monologues based on issues that were raised in the play. Many wrote about their relationship to their families and feelings of being isolated, abandoned and filled with rage. Many wrote about revenge and the regret that came from their bad choices. The play was not only beautifully performed for a large number of community guests, but also provided a wonderful opportunity for the women to reflect on past actions, forgive themselves and those that have harmed them and move forward with a new sense of self and purpose.

3. Building Leadership

   Since 1994, ArtSpring has offered the longest ongoing arts in corrections programming in Florida at no cost to the Florida Department of Corrections. Their support for our programming has been consistent throughout the years, even through changing administrations and challenging attitudes regarding punishment versus rehabilitation. The ability of ArtSpring staff to maintain ongoing programming at a variety of correctional institutions throughout Florida for so many years speaks to our level of professionalism with the Department; willingness to listen to needs and priorities, maintain respect and resolve to work towards resolution, and prove our dedication to a partnership.

   As ongoing arts programming providers to inmates for 17 years, we have proven our commitment to weekly classes, built trust within our class environment and have offered one of the very few opportunities for inmates to participate in a program with a positive environment supporting personal change and group involvement. Most importantly, the leaders and advisory committee in our organization are those who have been involved in our programs and are now released. One is the president of our board of directors, one teaches for us at PAR Village, a resident substance abuse center in St. Petersburg, one has her own non-profit dedicated to advocacy work for women in Florida prisons, one is interning with a Florida Representative in District 55 to address prison reform issues, and many others work with us in an advisory capacity to assist in addressing the needs of the inmates we serve who are still incarcerated.

4. Design and Development

   No answer provided.

Proposal Estimates

Estimated Number of	Response	Instructions to the Applicant
school based youth benefiting	0	Enter the number of individuals under the age of 18 that are expected to be participating in organized school based cultural events. This figure should reflect a portion of the total individuals benefiting.
non-school based youth benefiting	0	Enter the number of individuals under the age of 18 that are expected to be participating in non-school based cultural events. This figure should reflect a portion of the total individuals benefiting.
elders benefiting	75	Enter the number of individuals over the age of 65 that are expected to benefit from the proposal activities. This figure should reflect a portion of the total individuals benefiting.
artists participating	10	Enter the estimated number of professional artists that will be directly involved in providing artistic services specifically identified with the proposal. Include living artists whose work is represented in an exhibition regardless of whether the work was provided by the artist or by an institution. This figure should reflect a portion of the total individuals benefiting.
individuals benefiting	980	Give the total number of individuals that are expected to be involved in proposal activities as artists, non-artists, participants, or audience members. This number should include the values listed for youth, elders and artists.
proposal events	43	How many different events will be produced or presented within the grant period as a part of this proposal? Be sure to list different events, not performances. For example, a musical performed 10 times is only one event, but a musical performed 10 times and workshop done once are two events.
opportunities for public participation	43	Each event will have one or more opportunities for public participation. For example a musical performed 10 times is one event with 10 opportunities for public participation.

Project/Program Location

• Broward
• Marion
• Miami-Dade
• Palm Beach

Proposal Impact

The Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) reports that it costs $19,469 a year or $53.34 a day to feed, clothe, house, educate and provide medical services for an inmate at any state facility.” This is close to $10,000 less than the national average. While Florida taxpayers may initially be pleased to hear such a statistic, the reality translates to Florida inmates receiving fewer programs and in most cases substandard care, thereby decreasing their potential for success upon release and resulting in their return to prison within a 5 year period 67% of the time. ArtSpring has emerged as a leader in programming for women in prison, offering programs at no cost to FDOC, and thereby saving taxpayer’s monies and resulting in a 0% recidivism rate for women who have participated in our programs for over one year prior to their release.

Women, once imprisoned, are less violent than men, respond to incarceration differently, and are more responsive to prison-based rehabilitation programs such as those offered by ArtSpring. Women who have been incarcerated also face a myriad of personal challenges upon release, in addition to the challenges they impose upon their communities. The most effective way to break this cycle is to begin preparing for successful re-integration while women are in prison. Statistics show that most women serving time in prison today have a history of sexual abuse, emotional abuse, addiction and juvenile offenses. Our programs are a means to help female prisoners express and deal with these very emotionally damaging issues through therapeutic, expressive art forms. Our programs provide participants an opportunity to emerge from a culture of violence through awareness and education and allow the potential to create a new way of thinking and becoming.

In order to positively influence successful re-entry, our goal is to expand our ongoing programming to include more community involvement through seminars that address issues regarding re-entry. One of our greatest challenges is the tremendous need for such programming. Currently very little is offered to women in prison to address the realities of the challenges of returning home to disrupted families, not having adequate job skills, facing new technology and financial concerns, all on top of carrying the emotional and psychological trauma they have suffered while incarcerated. Another challenge is the general attitude from most of society that those who have been in prison are bad and should be punished, even after they have served their time and completed their sentences. If women are to be successfully re-integrated into society and be re-unified with their families, there must be a support system for them in the community. Transition programs offered by FDOC often are understaffed and ineffective. In fact, very few inmates report receiving any form of pre-release planning. Research indicates that the most effective approach to re-entry for women is to allow community-based programs to enter institutional settings. ArtSpring seeks to address these challenges by implementing seminars and lectures from community members and organizations within our arts-based curriculum that will assist women who are eligible for release to have access to resources and information that can assist them when they return home.

We believe that the recent leadership change at FDOC, as well as the decision to privatize prisons in the southern region of Florida, will create additional opportunities for increased programming with ArtSpring as a community-based service provider, specifically to address pre-release and re-entry. The opportunity to work in partnership with the incoming administration to produce change in system policies and procedures would allow ArtSpring to achieve profound results for women in prison and our community by increasing their skills for self-sufficiency, reducing recidivism, proving the value of arts-based educational programming, and continuing to invite community inside the institutions to allow a bridge of interaction, visibility, engagement and exchange between isolated communities.

Operating Budget

	Operating Expenses	Completed Fiscal Year ending 12/31/10
1.	Personnel: Administrative	48,057
2.	Personnel: Programmatic	65,618
3.	Personnel: Technical/Production
4.	Outside Fees and Services: Programmatic	55,758
5.	Outside Fees and Services: Other	850
6.	Space Rental, Rent or Mortgage	6,625
7.	Travel	6,370
8.	Marketing	946
9.	Remaining Operating Expenses	16,488
A.	Total Cash Expenses	$200,712
B.	In-kind Contributions	$25,997
C.	Total Operating Expenses	$226,709
	Operating Income	Completed Fiscal Year ending 12/31/10
10.	Revenue: Admissions
11.	Revenue: Contracted Services
12.	Revenue: Other	900
13.	Private Support: Corporate	79,094
14.	Private Support: Foundation	128,500
15.	Private Support: Other	13,735
16.	Government Support: Federal
17.	Government Support: State/Regional
18.	Government Support: Local/County	11,750
19.	Applicant Cash
D.	Total Cash Income	$233,979
B.	In-kind Contributions	$25,997
E.	Total Operating Income	$259,976

Additional Operating Budget Information

$36,115 of grant funds received during the organization's fiscal year ending December 31, 2010 were for grant periods that carry into our fiscal year 2011; therefore, while revenues shown in the operating budget are greater than total expenses within the year, those additional funds are/were used for 2011 expenses.

Proposal Budget: Summary

	Proposal Expenses	A. Request	B. Cash Expenses	C. In-kind	Total
1.	Personnel: Administrative	2,741	2,740	0	$5,481
2.	Personnel: Programmatic	13,480	26,444	0	$39,924
3.	Personnel: Technical/Production	0	0	0	$0
4.	Outside Fees and Services: Programmatic	8,300	11,900	0	$20,200
5.	Outside Fees and Services: Other	0	0	0	$0
6.	Space Rental	0	2,400	0	$2,400
7.	Travel	0	2,794	0	$2,794
8.	Marketing	0	250	0	$250
9.	Remaining Proposal Expenses	479	3,122	0	$3,601
D.	Total Proposal Expenses	25,000	49,650	0	$74,650
	Proposal Income	A. Request	B. Cash Income	C. In-Kind	Total
10.	Revenue: Admissions		0		$0
11.	Revenue: Contracted Services		0		$0
12.	Revenue: Other		0		$0
13.	Private Support: Corporate		18,650		18,650
14.	Private Support: Foundation		20,000		20,000
15.	Private Support: Other		6,000		6,000
16.	Government Support: Federal		0		$0
17.	Government Support: Regional		0		$0
18.	Government Support: Local/County		5,000		5,000
19.	Applicant Cash		0		$0
E.	Total Proposal Income	25,000	49,650	0	$74,650

Proposal Budget: Detail

	Proposal Expenses	A. Request	B. Cash Expenses	C. In-Kind	Total
1.	Personnel: Administrative	2,741	2,740	0	$5,481
1.1. Executive Director		1,544	1,543	0	3,087
1.2. Administrative Assistant		1,197	1,197	0	2,394
2.	Personnel: Programmatic	13,480	26,444	0	$39,924
2.1. Artistic Director		10,119	20,682	0	30,801
2.2. Executive Director		3,361	5,762	0	9,123
3.	Personnel: Technical/Production	0	0	0	$0
4.	Outside Fees and Services: Programmatic	8,300	11,900	0	$20,200
4.1. Artist Facilitator Fees		8,000	6,800	0	14,800
4.2. Evaluation		0	3,000	0	3,000
4.3. Videographer		300	600	0	900
4.4. Guest Speaker Honorariums		0	1,500	0	1,500
5.	Outside Fees and Services: Other	0	0	0	$0
6.	Space Rental	0	2,400	0	$2,400
6.1. Office / studio space		0	2,400	0	2,400
7.	Travel	0	2,794	0	$2,794
7.1. Lodging		0	875	0	875
7.2. Auto expenses (mileage & rental)		0	1,919	0	1,919
8.	Marketing	0	250	0	$250
8.1. Web hosting / email services		0	250	0	250
9.	Remaining Proposal Expenses	479	3,122	0	$3,601
9.1. Postage and supplies		229	832	0	1,061
9.2. Printing		250	750	0	1,000
9.3. Utilities		0	1,540	0	1,540
D.	Total Proposal Expenses	25,000	49,650	0	$74,650

	Proposal Income	A. Request	B. Cash Income	C. In-Kind	Total
10.	Revenue: Admissions		0		$0
11.	Revenue: Contracted Services		0		$0
12.	Revenue: Other		0		$0
13.	Private Support: Corporate		18,650		$18,650
13-1 Seminole Tribe of Florida			18,650		18,650
14.	Private Support: Foundation		20,000		$20,000
14-1 Kalliopeia Foundation			15,000		15,000
14-2 The Miami Foundation			5,000		5,000
15.	Private Support: Other		6,000		$6,000
15-1 Women's Fund of Miami-Dade			6,000		6,000
16.	Government Support: Federal		0		$0
17.	Government Support: Regional		0		$0
18.	Government Support: Local/County		5,000		$5,000
18-1 Miami-Dade Dept of Cultural Affairs			5,000		5,000
19.	Applicant Cash		0		$0
E.	Total Proposal Income	25,000	49,650	0	$74,650

Additional Proposal Budget Information

No answer provided.

Fiscal Condition and Sustainability

ArtSpring is co-directed by the same two individuals who were founding members of ArtSpring in 1992. They have devoted themselves to building an organization that blends the strengths of a community arts-based curriculum with the administrative and fiscal capacity of a sustainable charity. Nicole Bible holds Bachelor degrees in Accounting and Dance, a Master of Science in Taxation and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management. She is a Certified Public Accountant and has served as Executive Director since 2004 in addition to teaching the Inside Out program since 1995. Leslie Neal holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance and resigned her tenured position as an Associate Professor at Florida International University after teaching there for 20 years. Founder and Artistic Director of ArtSpring, she developed the curriculum for the Inside Out program and currently serves as Project Director for Arts in Corrections at the University of Florida Center for the Arts in Healthcare Research and Education (CAHRE).

ArtSpring is committed to ongoing programming to provide consistency and long-term impact in our community. We have maintained consistent programming at Homestead Correctional since it was converted to a female facility in 2000, in addition to maintaining ongoing programs at Broward Correctional since our program was first offered there in 1994. We believe in the power of art to transform individuals and communities and have seen firsthand how long-term, committed programming can have a significant effect on incarcerated individuals, who are, to most of our society, forgotten and invisible. We are therefore committed to these underserved populations and plan to continue these ongoing programs beyond the grant award period. ArtSpring has several committed donors and continually seeks alternate means of funding to support organizational and programming priorities.

Evaluation Plan

Because of our unique ongoing programming (as opposed to a residency with a set beginning and end), there are no models to follow for outcomes; thus there is a constant need to keep evaluating and reflecting on the impact of our programming and how to continually make it more effective. In addition to monitoring weekly attendance records and requiring facilitators to document observations and analyses in weekly written reports, interviews will be conducted with participants and staff, questionnaires will be distributed, and the development of the participants’ work as presented in a graduation performance will be documented by video and photos (when permitted by the correctional administration) at the end of each program, all of which will serve as additional assessment material. Ultimately, though, the greatest measurement is seeing the personal growth and achievements made by our graduates: the sense of self and pride that can only come from achieving a personal accomplishment. In addition our programming success is also determined by the 0% recidivism in our program "alumnae" who are now released.

Applicant Accessibility

Question	Response
Does the applicant have policies and procedures (including a complaint process) that address non-discrimination on the basis of disability?	Yes
Does the applicant have a staff person that is responsible for compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Florida Statutes 553?	Yes (Nicole Bible)
Has the applicant completed the Section 504 Self Evaluation Workbook from the National Endowment for the Arts (linked) in the last 5 years?	No

Accessibility

Within the facilities where they are offered, our programs are open to participants of any age, background and experience, as well as those with physical or health-related challenges. Inmates self-select involvement in our programs and must be approved by the security staff prior to program participation, but we encourage all ages, races and ethnic backgrounds, as well as individuals with disabilities to participate. One of the main objectives of our programming is to promote respect, cooperation and cultural understanding among a diverse group of people within the communities we serve. ArtSpring invests in promoting diversity in every aspect of the organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation or physical ability, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. Artists of all races, cultures and ethnic backgrounds are sought to join our faculty since many of the themes underlying ArtSpring's programs are multicultural.

Because the presentations occur within the correctional setting, we are subject to the rules, restrictions, limitations and concerns of the Department of Corrections. However, we have accommodated both inmate participants and community guests in wheelchairs and on crutches in the past, and our artist facilitators are sensitive to any student with special needs who may enroll, and they adapt their curriculum accordingly. Fellow participants are encouraging and helpful, and we have found these circumstances actually create wonderful opportunities to model patience, compassion and empathy.

1. Executive Director Letter
2. The Miami Herald 4/16/11 Newspaper Article
3. EnCORE Theatre Program 4/10/11 Presentation Program
4. Select Responses from recent EnCORE Audience Questionnaires
5. Select Response from recent Participant Evaluation
6. Raices 12/18/10 Presentation Program
7. University of Tampa News 11/16/10 Online Article
8. Thank you letter from participant to Fender for guitar donation to ArtSpring
9. The Miami Herald 11/02/10 Online Article
10. Inside Out 9/26/10 Community Presentation Program
11. Inside Out 3/14/10 Community Presentation Program
12. ArtSpring Board List
13. ArtSpring Information Brochure