Community Partners in Action’s Prison Arts Program will present the Prison Arts Annual Show 2025 at The Art Gallery at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic from December 8, 2025, through February 28, 2026.
Now in its fifth decade, the Annual Show remains one of the most anticipated arts events in Connecticut, showcasing hundreds of works created by artists who are incarcerated throughout the state. Drawings, paintings, sculptures, and mixed media pieces reveal powerful stories of reflection, resilience, and hope, all created within correctional settings through CPA’s nationally recognized program.
“Every piece in this show represents a conversation between the artist and the world outside,” says Jeffrey Greene, Program Manager, CPA Prison Arts Program. “Through art, participants find voice, courage, and connection. I invite everyone to come see these works and experience the humanity and creativity that continue to thrive, even in the most confined spaces.”
The exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience the transformative impact of creative expression and to better understand the human capacity for growth and change.
The opening reception will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 4–7 p.m., and the public is invited to attend. The show is free and open to the public, with gallery hours as follows:
- Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 12–4 p.m.
- Tuesday/Thursday: 12–7 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Join us in celebrating the artists, their extraordinary work, and the 47-year legacy of CPA’s Prison Arts Program, a program that continues to build empathy, inspire creativity, and promote second chances through art.