The Georgia beekeeping prison project began in 2014 with the help of the UGA Honeybee Lab and G.B.A, The Georgia Beekeeping Association, The Prison Project was created in an effort to introduce another certification program into correctional facilities across Georgia, and to teach inmates a vocational skill that can used as a trade when released, if released.

 

The beekeeping program includes the certification of journeyman, and master beekeepers. There are currently seven male and female prisons in Georgia that have adopted this program, ranging from minimum to maximum security prisons. The GDC, Georgia Department of Corrections has one of the largest prison systems in the U.S. and is responsible for supervising nearly 52,000 state prisoners. It is the largest law enforcement agency in the state with approximately 10,500 employees.

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My involvement began when I started my MFA at UGA. It was there that I began volunteering with the prison project. I then began my own art project that enabled inmates to create artowrk based off their experiences beekeeping and in a prison system. Using the "hive-mind" behavior of the western honeybee we are able to emulate that behavior and work as a community for a common goal.

This project takes place in the state of Georgia, and will continue. 

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Special Thank you to:

Ideas for Creative Exploration

Wilson Center Graduate Research

Social Ecology Studio