Empowerment Avenue

Empowerment Avenue is the vision of Rahsaan “New York” Thomas, an incarcerated journalist and podcast host at San Quentin State Prison. We are a collective that supports and normalizes the inclusion of incarcerated writers and artists in mainstream venues by bridging the gap between them. 

That means capacity building for publications, galleries, museums and other organizations committed to this work, while prioritizing support networks for incarcerated creatives to get their work outside prison walls, be fairly compensated for it, and contribute creatively to the abolition movement and liberation of incarcerated people.

Artwork above: O Smith, "MoAD Poster" 2019
Photography: Kija Lucas and Christine Lashaw

MY ROLE

As Director Visual Arts for Liberation, I work in deep partnership with Rahsaan Thomas, Director Empowerment Avenue and Emily Nonko, Director Writing for Liberation.  Our vision for the Visual Arts track is to support talented and committed artists inside to become professionals by using their visual art talent to reach outside prison walls, finding a steady stream of income for this work, and creating value for inside artists so they can live off their creative practice. 

Currently our efforts have focused on creating pathways and replicable models. We are cultivating inside curators as institutional leaders to develop exhibitions with inside artists. We aim to build an active collector base of buyers from outside, and build partnerships with museums, outside artists, and galleries to implement projects. 

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Build with us at empowermentave@gmail.com.