RESEARCH COMPONENT OF THE “COLOURS OF REALITY” PROJECT

Anita Jandrić Nišević, PhD Melinda Šefčić, PhD

The Colours of Reality project is the fifth project of painting murals in penal institutions in the Republic of Croatia. The first such project was implemented in 2018 at the Women’s Penitentiary in Požega under the name Exemplary Penitentiary. This was followed by Revitalization of Prison Space With Art (painting the Zagreb Prison in 2019) and Horizon of Freedom (painting the murals in the Penitentiary in Glina and Prison Hospital in 2020). The Freedom of Creation project was implemented in 2021 and included the largest number of penal institutions to date (prisons in Rijeka and Bjelovar, Penitentiary and Correctional Institution in Turopolje and the Probation Office Zagreb I). The analysis of the perception of the prison environment by employees and inmates before and after the implementation of the artistic interventions in these penal institutions provided insight into the importance and necessity of such projects in the Croatian prison system. Both the inmates and prison staff largely agreed that the artistic interventions positively affected the atmosphere, reduced stress, and increased the feeling of comfort, which resulted in the creation of a better working environment and reduced¬ burnout of the staff. It also encouraged positive attitudes towards life for the inmates and helped them better adapt to prison life. Since the majority of both inmates and staff supported the continuation of the initiative to paint murals in other penal institutions as well, the Colours of Reality project continued the tradition of painting the murals on the walls of penal institutions, and so the prisons in Osijek and Karlovac and the Penitentiary in Lepoglava were included in the project. In addition, this project offered something new compared to the previous ones as it also includ- ed workshops for the inmates in the Correctional Institution in Turopolje and the Prison in Karlovac, who expressed interest in such activities in the previous project.

Research Goal

The main goal of the research component of the Colours of Reality project was to gain insight into the perception of the prison environment by inmates and prison staff of the Prison in Osijek, the Prison in Karlovac and the Penitentiary in Lepoglava, with the aim of improving the general living conditions in the said premises, both for the inmates and prison staff. The perception of the prison environment was examined before and after performing the artistic interventions (painting the murals). Additionally, a workshop was held in the Prison in Karlovac and the Correctional Institution in Turopolje in order to provide constructive leisure activities for the inmates as well as to develop their artistic potential.

Respondent Sample

The sample of respondents consisted of a total of 48 inmates from the Prison in Osijek, the Prison in Karlovac and the Penitentiary in Lepoglava, as well as 12 inmates from the Correctional Institution in Turopolje who participated in the workshops. The sample also included 50 staff members from the Prison in Osijek, the Prison in Karlovac and the Penitentiary in Lepoglava. A more detailed analysis of the sample will be presented in the following sections of the report.

Method of Data Collection

Data on the perception of the prison environment before performing artistic interventions were collected during August 2022 (the Prison in Karlovac), September 2022 (the Prison in Osijek) and January 2023 (the Penitentiary in Lepoglava). The data relating to the perception of the prison environment after performing artistic interventions were collected during September 2022 (the Prison in Karlovac), October 2022 (the Prison in Osijek) and February 2023 (the Penitentiary in Lepoglava). The prison staff involved in the project participated in the data collection through a survey questionnaire. The principles of voluntariness and anonymity were respected during their participation in the research, and the participants were informed that the data would be used solely for scientific purposes and for the purpose of improving the conditions of imprisonment.