Ann Arbor Times

After more than 20 years of fostering creativity and opportunity for formerly incarcerated artists, the Linkage Community will become an independent initiative on August 1. Originally founded in the early 2000s as part of the University of Michigan’s Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP), Linkage is transitioning into a statewide network to support artists who have experienced incarceration.

Linkage has members across various Michigan communities, including Detroit, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Flint. It has established itself as a leading peer-based creative reentry network in the state. Johnny Van Patten, a visual artist from Lansing and founding member of Linkage, stated: “Linkage provides me with a platform to give a voice to those who are unable to speak because of incarceration.”

The organization will now operate independently under a fiscal sponsor while maintaining collaboration with PCAP. Nora Kritinsky, director of PCAP, remarked: “This transition is a testament to the creativity, vision and leadership of Linkage members themselves. We’re honored to have supported their growth and excited to continue working together in new ways.”

In 2022, Linkage was rebranded into a co-led statewide network with enhanced infrastructure and visibility for artists with lived experience of incarceration. Sarah Unrath, executive director of Linkage, noted that membership has grown from 22 in 2021 to over 125 today. More than 1,800 incarcerated individuals stay informed through PCAP’s newsletter.

Linkage offers programming focused on emotional wellness, artistic growth, peer navigation and economic mobility. Members work across over 22 creative disciplines including muralism, photography and poetry.

Casey Ward, a creative writer and entrepreneur who is also a member of Linkage said: “At its core it’s a network of people with lived experience of incarceration who believe in dignity, in each other and in the power of creativity.”