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Space in Prison for the Arts and Creative Expression (SPACE) was founded in 1992 by a group of women from Brown University interested in working in the Women's Division of the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institution (ACI). Since that time, the program has offered theater, creative writing, and visual arts workshops to inmates of the medium and minimum security facilities. Men's SPACE was added in 2003, offering creative writing, rhymes, screenwriting, and theater workshops to inmates at the men's Medium I and Medium II facilities, also at the ACI.

SPACE works to provide a supportive environment inside the prison where inmates can explore their creative talents and personal voice. In teams of two or three, Brown students design and lead weekly workshops, emphasizing participation, performance, play, collaboration, reflection, skill-building and creative expression within a safe and constructive space. Together workshop participants explore poetry, essays, plays and other creative genres, and experiment with dance, music, drawing, theater games, and improvisation. space produces a semiannual journal of work by the inmates; the journal is available at the Sarah Doyle Women's Center and the Swearer Center for Public Service.

In addition to their work within the prison, SPACE volunteers meet once a week to discuss their work and to participate in on-going trainings regarding issues affecting incarcerated women and men. SPACE recruits for volunteers each spring, and, if need warrants, in the late fall. For more infomation, please contact Kathleen Bernard (Women's SPACE) or Adam Roberts (Men's SPACE).

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