Posted April 2, 2026
April Theme | #TakeAStand
Music has always been about more than performance. At its core, it’s about belonging: the feeling that you are welcome here, that this space is yours, that your presence matters.
That belief sits at the heart of everything Denver Philharmonic Orchestra does. We are a community orchestra in the truest sense: built by volunteers, sustained by relationships, and shaped by the conviction that live music should be accessible to everyone—not just those who’ve always had a seat at the table.
This April, for Second Chance Month, that conviction takes on new meaning. We’re thinking about the fight for belonging that those returning home after incarceration face, navigating a world that too often closes its doors before they can knock. And we’re asking what music (what we) can offer in that moment.
The answer, as it turns out, is more than you might think.
Why the Arts Are Essential to Second Chances
Reentry after incarceration is one of the most difficult transitions a person can face. From housing, employment, health, and family, the obstacles are real and compounding. But something else often goes unaddressed: the interior life. Isolation. Hopelessness. The erosion of identity and agency.
This is where the arts intervene. Not as a luxury, but as infrastructure.
Arts engagement has been documented as a proven component of successful reentry. Music programs and cultural access reduce isolation, build social and emotional skills, and connect people to supportive networks. These aren’t soft outcomes. They’re the building blocks of lasting change.
Participants in Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) return to prison at a rate of less than 3% within three years of release, compared to the national recidivism rate of over 60%
(Rehabilitation Through the Arts)
Arts-in-corrections participants in California showed parole violation rates 15% lower at six months and up to 30% lower after two years compared to non-participants
(Americans for the Arts)
Arts program participants show 75% fewer disciplinary infractions while incarcerated, improving safety and climate for the entire facility
(Americans for the Arts)
A review of 25 research studies found statistically significant improvements in self-confidence, self-esteem, task completion, social competence, and emotional stability, alongside reduced hopelessness and anger, among arts program participants
(Littman & Sliva, Journal of Correctional Education, 2020)
Arts participation is linked to 50%+ increases in engagement with other rehabilitative services (including job training and education), suggesting a multiplier effect on overall reentry success
(Americans for the Arts)
What does this mean in practice? By creating dignified spaces for reflection, learning, and belonging, arts partnerships don’t replace housing, employment, or health services, but they do make those services stick. When someone feels seen, capable, and connected, second chances become more durable.
The data points to something DPO believes deeply: culture is not a reward for stability. It is part of what creates it.
Our Community Partnerships
DPO partners with organizations doing frontline reentry work across Colorado. These collaborations shape how we show up and what we offer:
- Remerg — DPO provides free concert tickets to individuals reentering society after incarceration, creating welcoming spaces for reflection, joy, and community connection through live music
- Colorado Radio for Justice — DPO concert recordings air on their 24/7 station, reaching formerly incarcerated listeners and working to expand access to orchestral music within Colorado’s prison system
- Breakthrough — DPO donates tickets to support Breakthrough’s mission of compassion and opportunity for people rebuilding their lives, using music as a space for healing and reintegration
Take a Stand with Us
- Support our partners — Follow Remerg (FB | Insta), Colorado Radio for Justice (FB | Insta), and Breakthrough (FB | Insta) on social media, share their work, and consider donating to organizations providing housing, job training, and reentry services.
- Attend and invite — Come to a DPO concert and bring someone who might not otherwise attend. Presence matters.
- Advocate — Encourage local leaders to fund reentry programs that include arts and cultural access as part of holistic support.
- Share your own experience using #TakeAStand and tag @denverphilorch across socials. Feel free to download one of our Take a Stand badges and share your story loud & proud!
Sources:
Americans for the Arts. “Arts + Prisons & Rehabilitation.” Americans for the Arts, n.d., ww2.americansforthearts.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/ARTS%20+%20PRISONS%20&%20REHABILITATION.pdf
Littman, Danielle Maude, and Shannon M. Sliva. “Prison Arts Program Outcomes: A Scoping Review.” Journal of Correctional Education, vol. 71, no. 3, Dec. 2020, pp. 54–82.
Rehabilitation Through the Arts. “Our Impact: 29 Years of Changing Lives.” Rehabilitation Through the Arts, rta-arts.org/about-us