Blog
Follow Arts Capacity team members as they chronicle our work developing and implementing our program activity. These posts begin with our very first program and follows that idea through the formation of our nonprofit.
The Freedoms We Ignore and Forget
In concert halls, a familiar scenario unfolds with remarkable consistency: some of the audience will approach a classical concert with trepidation. They often mention …
Holly Mulcahy
The Laughing Goat
The tuning began and a small part of the audience erupted into laughter. Eight residents of Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison were …
Holly Mulcahy
One Thousand Words for a Picture
Below is a review/essay about the opera Arts Capacity collaborated on with the prisoners of Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison. The opera …
Holly Mulcahy
A letter from Board President Alan Bonderud
“When the music started, the prison walls disappeared.” In a recent issue of the “Walker Talker”, the in-house Walker State Prison newspaper, one author …
Alan Bonderud, Arts Capacity Board President
Sharing Creativity Creates Empathy
Earlier this week was the 9th trip into Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison to present a recital. These recitals are interactive in …
Holly Mulcahy
Yes, And. The Early Days Of A New Nonprofit
After a few performances in the prisons over the last two years, it became clear we were bringing an entirely new and important conversation …
Holly Mulcahy
Perspectives of Love and Hope
It’s easy for me to write about my perspective during my performances in the prison. I share my point of view and snippets from …
Holly Mulcahy
Sharing Love and Hope Through Music
The first time I performed in prison we discovered prisoners put great value in sharing their opinions. They knew their thoughts would be shared …
Holly Mulcahy
What Prisoners Taught Me About Music Appreciation, Part 2
If you were serving a long-term prison sentence right now, what words or images do you think would come to mind? After this most …
Holly Mulcahy
What Prisoners Taught Me About Music Appreciation
Returning to Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison this past week once again left me with more than I brought in. Joining me …
Holly Mulcahy
Allowing Voices To Be Heard
It’s been nearly a month since performing a recital in Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison. The experience was no doubt memorable, but …
Holly Mulcahy
Allowing Voices To Be Heard
It’s been nearly a month since performing a recital in Walker State Faith and Character Based Prison. The experience was no doubt memorable, but after finally …
Holly Mulcahy
“Tonight I didn’t feel like an inmate”
It is next to impossible to sum up the feelings, the emotional impact, and the shared experiences at the recent violin recital in prison. …
Holly Mulcahy
Medium Security, Maximum Benefit
For about two years I’ve been curious about bringing music into a prison. It started with the questions: Does music heal? Does music change …
Holly Mulcahy