Her students have less than five years left of probation and Teal said the books are a helpful form of encouragement for the men hoping to earn college credit to continue their education and start a different path.

“When I first taught this class, there were no art books in their library,” said Teal, who has been involved with the program since 2001. “I asked for books from the arts community and the most generous support we have received by far has been from the Asheville Art Museum, UNC-Asheville and several artists in the area.”

UNC-A Director for Extension and Distance Education Elaine Fox said the program has been in place for 10 years with support from federal grants to further the prisoners’ educational development.

“We feel like putting more art books in these libraries will supplement the resources and reading material that already exists,” Fox said. “It’s truly a wonderful thing to encourage the tremendous human resources that are untapped right now.”

Asheville Art Museum Curator Frank Thomson said the Museum is dedicated to providing access to the arts for the entire community and is glad it could assist both the school and the students in this way.

Image credit:

Painter and educator Monika Teal and Asheville Art Museum Curator Frank Thomson load up a stack of art-related books donated by the Asheville Art Museum to be used at the Avery-Mitchell Correctional Facility as part of UNC-Asheville’s Distance Education Program.