Milestones

2008
2009

Mural Arts Philadelphia launches The Guild, a paid apprenticeship for system-impacted young people.

Centering Directly Impacted People
Mural Arts Philadelphia participants sharing their work. Courtesy of Mural Arts.
2010
2014

Dr. Nicole R. Fleetwood and Sarah Tobias organize Marking Time: Prison Arts and Activism Conference at the Institute for Research on Women, Rutgers University, with accompanying exhibition Prison Obscura and film program. Reginald Dwayne Betts is the keynote speaker. 

Centering Directly Impacted People
Artist and curator of Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration share their work.
2016

Russell Craig and Jesse Krimes co-found Right of Return USA, housed at Soze Agency, which offers $20,000 fellowships to six formerly incarcerated artists. By 2023, more than 35 artists had received the award.

Centering Directly Impacted People
Russel Craig’s self-portrait. Photo courtesy of The Museum of Broken Windows.
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023

Agnes Gund joins artists Jesse Krimes and Russell Craig and the Right of Return board to launch the Center for Art & Advocacy (CA&A). CA&A encompasses the Right of Return fellowship and adds a residency program, exhibition opportunities, and capacity-building support. Created by and for artists directly impacted by the criminal legal system, it stands ready to provide necessary movement infrastructure.  

Centering Directly Impacted People
Tameca Cole, Russel Craig, Jared Owens, Jesse Krimes, Gilberto Rivera, and Mary Baxter. Courtesy of The New York Times.
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