In the Stacks: Songs from Inside

The American Prison Writing Archive (APWA) is the largest body of prison witness ever amassed, including nearly 4,000 nonfiction essays and poetry by incarcerated people from across the United States. Its mission is to replace misrepresentation of prisons and imprisoned people with first-person witness by those living in legalized confinement. Housed at the Sheridan Libraries, the archive is directed by Vesla Weaver, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Sociology in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences; and Doran Larson, Program Executive. Thanks to the APWA staff, including Hannah Young and Maura Cheney, for helping bring this project to life.

In the Stacks offers an informal, dynamic way for audiences to engage with music and performance art. Throughout the year, this concert series activates Baltimore’s iconic George Peabody Library—a glorious space with five tiers of cast-iron balconies that soar up to a latticed spotlight—with art, music, dance, film, drama, and more. In the Stacks aims to:

• Make the arts accessible - All performances are free and open to the public, with an optional donation at the door. Taking breaks between pieces, we share insights into the history and meaning behind the music so everyone can connect and engage.
• Offer diverse programming - While the great classical composers—Mozart, Beethoven, Bach—were indeed great, we also seek out amazing music and art by living artists and artists from underrepresented communities.
• Collaborate with the community - Our performances bring together local musicians, artists, and other creative people for unique projects and collaborations crossing all artistic media.