Over the past decade, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation has strengthened its work in the fields of participatory arts and cultural democracy, supporting dozens of initiatives that demonstrate the relevance of artistic practices in people’s lives and in the communities in which they take place. In the specific case of people who are incarcerated, experience has confirmed the contribution of these practices to personal development, the strengthening of relational skills, and the construction of more sustainable pathways to social reintegration.

With the aim of creating a space for reflection and dialogue on the impact of artistic practices in contexts of deprivation of liberty, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation organised, in partnership with Acesso Cultura, the conference Artistic Practices in Prison Contexts, held on 6 and 7 October 2025. The conference brought together artists, project participants, prison system professionals, and partner organisations, who shared perspectives and experiences from those working daily at the intersection of art, justice, and social inclusion.

This booklet, the fourth in the Art and Community series, brings together and systematises the main reflections arising from the conference, seeking to contribute to the integration of artistic practices into education, training, and reintegration programmes within the prison system.