Jane Golden on Mural Arts Philadelphia and the Transformative Power of Art

In this episode of Voices of the System, host Laurie Jubelirer sits down with Jane Golden, founder and executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia, to explore how art is changing lives both inside and outside of prison walls.Jane shares the story behind Mural Arts Philadelphia, from its roots in the city’s Anti-Graffiti Network to becoming the largest public art program of its kind in the country, and how its mission has grown to center healing, connection, and opportunity through creativity. At the heart of the conversation is the organization’s restorative justice program, where incarcerated individuals collaborate on murals, develop skills, and rediscover a sense of purpose.Through deeply moving stories, Jane highlights how art becomes a “glue” inside prisons, bringing people together, fostering pride, and reconnecting individuals to the outside world. She discusses the real impact of this work, including dramatically lower recidivism rates, and shares firsthand accounts of participants who have gone on to build meaningful careers and lives after incarceration.More than just a conversation about art, this episode is about transformation, second chances, and the power of being part of something bigger than yourself. Jane makes a compelling case for why creativity should be at the center of how we approach criminal justice reform, and how reimagining systems through art can lead to real, lasting change.