Art behind bars: Luxembourg will support culture in prisons
Ye Jinghan, Unsplash
The Luxembourg Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Justice, with the support of the Prison Administration, announced the third cycle of the "Kultur am Prisong" programme, aimed at increasing access to culture in detention centres.
The idea is simple but profound: culture is a right, not a privilege, and should be available even to those who are temporarily deprived of their liberty. In this project, prisoners are given the opportunity to participate in creative initiatives, from theatre and music workshops to literature and visual arts classes.
The organisers emphasise that cultural activities in prisons are a tool to overcome inactivity, social isolation, internal aggression and loss of self-esteem. On the contrary, participation in such projects can be a pathway to self-discovery, education and subsequent reintegration into society.
The programme also reflects a pragmatic approach: improving the atmosphere in institutions, preventing conflict and creating space for meaningful dialogue. Supporting culture in prisons is not just humanism, but a policy of re-socialisation and public benefit.
The new phase invites artists, cultural associations and educators to submit projects capable of working in specific conditions of isolation, creating bridges between the prison system and society.
