The newsletter for arts organisations working in criminal justice | October 2013
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In this month's issue...
Arts Alliance news
Arts Alliance Research Launch
7th November 2013, 6 – 8.30pm | Southbank Centre, London | Free
The Arts Alliance will be presenting the findings from our new research carried out by Northumbria University (Charlotte Bilby & Louise Ridley) and Bath Spa University (Laura Caulfield) which explores how various art forms such as music, visual arts and craft processes can contribute towards creating desistance. The research highlights examples of how the arts can support positive changes linked to a personal agency, efficacy and identity, which are influential in the highly individualised journey of desistance from criminal behaviour. The research launch will be followed by this year’s Anne Peaker debate which will look at what’s next for the arts and criminal justice. Click here for more information.
Arts Alliance pilot mentoring scheme
The Arts Alliance mentoring scheme aims to expand opportunities for members to develop professional skills and knowledge in the fields of arts and criminal justice through a one to one mentoring relationship. Expert mentors working in the arts and criminal justice sector will provide a minimum of four meetings or telephone conversations over a six month period to their mentee. The mentors will provide a range of support about using arts within the criminal justice system, such as:
- Professional guidance
- Networking opportunities
- Ideas for direction of travel
- Advice on training and professional development
- Information on relevant events
- Management skills
- Advice on running arts projects/programmes and organisations
If you are interested in the mentoring scheme, click here for more information and an application form.
Exhibiting and Celebrating Enrichment | ESRC Seminar Series
15th November, 10am – 5pm | BALTIC, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear | Free
This session will consider how offender participants’ work is exhibited, performed, published and publicised. It will showcase successful strategies used by organisations in publicising work to the wider public. The impact of feedback on incarcerated artists and performers will be widely debated and the link between media attention and changes in policy making will be discussed. Click here for information on how to book.
From the Evidence Library…
The Evidence Library is an online library housing the key research and evaluation documents on the impact of arts-based projects, programmes and interventions within the Criminal Justice System. This month, have a look at this report on the story of the Prison Reading Groups (PRG) project from its beginnings in 1999 to the present. It makes the case for the importance of reading groups as informal learning in prison, and provides extensive evidence of the benefits of the groups: prison governors, policy makers, librarians, and volunteers. The report was carried out by the University of Roehampton.
Are you an Arts Alliance member? Throughout November get £5 off Clinks Membership
The Arts Alliance is managed by Clinks; the umbrella body for VCSE organisations working in criminal justice. Clinks offer a great range of Member benefits including free access to the GRANTnet funding database, exclusive criminal justice policy briefings and the ability to promote your organisation to almost 10,000 people related to the Sector. To become a member and receive the discount, complete the application process here and respond with the code ARTSALLIANCE13 when you are sent payment information. Prices for membership start at just £25 a year for voluntary organisations with less than 10 members of staff.
Events & training
Arts Alliance members have a range of events happening throughout the autumn, please don’t forget to check out the Arts Alliance events webpage and send us details of your event to share with the membership.
Livestock presents Billy the Kid – His Life in music
1st – 6th November, 9.30pm | Etcetera Theatre, London | £7.50 (£5 concessions)
If you were an offender in 1850s USA you were an outlaw. Billy the Kid was one of the most notorious outlaws, shot by sheriff Pat Garrett before he was 25. Rex Horan (Music in Prisons) and Chris Johnston (Rideout) present this musical comedy show with a raft of original songs, scenes from Billy’s life and of course a stirring moral to take away. At the Etcetera Theatre, Camden Town between 1st – 6th November. On 4th November, there will be a benefit performance for the Irene Taylor Trust (Music in Prisons). Book online via the Etcetera Theatre. You can also view a trailer of the performance here.
StorySLAM Live: Slamming Gates
1st November | Southbank Centre, London | £8
StorySLAM: Live are continuing on their quest to find the literary stars of the future as part of the season of events surrounding the 2013 Koestler Trust UK Exhibition. This event will provide the opportunity to hear winning stories from their project in HMP Holloway: ‘Slamming Gates.’ There is also the chance to enter your 5 minute story on the theme of ‘Freedom of Expression’ on the night – bring it along for a chance to enter on the door. Get 50% off tickets for StorySLAM: Live when you quote SLAM when booking online, by phone or in person. Click here for more information and to book.
Synergy’s production of Cape by Inua Ellams
19th – 23rd November 2013 | Unicorn Theatre, London | £10 - £16
Someone mugged Bruce’s mum and he’s not having it. The shock is still visible in her trembling fingers, rippling out across the calm waters of their lives... Cape questions the boundaries between self-defence and taking the law into our own hands. Commissioned by Synergy with the Unicorn and written by Inua Ellams, Cape is performed by a company of professional and ex-prisoner actors. To book, click here, or call 020 7645 0560.
Criminal Justice: Supporting Ex-Offenders training
21st / 27th November 2013 | Crewe / London | £90 - £125
This is a one day course aimed at frontline staff or experienced professionals who want to update their skills, knowledge and understanding of how to work effectively with clients who repeatedly offend and how to meet the needs of these clients. On completion of the course, participants will understand that offending behaviour should be seen as a specific need that should be met, be able to deal with offending behaviour and recognise triggers, be able to implement organisational policies and to work closely with local Integrated Offender Management (IOM) partnerships. For further details and booking information, click here.
Reflections | The Koestler Exhibition for the North East
Until 1st December 2013 | BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead | Free
Reflections is the first showcase of artwork entered into the Koestler Awards from prisons, secure hospitals, secure children’s homes and probation services in the North East of England and is curated by students of the Behaviour Support Service, Gateshead. Click here for more information on the exhibition. There will be an accompanying seminar supported by the Arts Alliance on 15th November, 10am – 5pm. ‘Exhibiting and Celebrating Enrichment’ will consider how participants’ work is exhibited, performed, published and publicised. It will showcase successful strategies used by organisations in publicising work to the wider public. The impact of feedback on incarcerated artists and performers will be widely debated and the link between media attention and changes in policy making will be discussed.
GROUNDation: A Safe Ground Poetry Evening
4th December 2013 | Lambeth
On Wednesday 4th December 2013 at the LOST Theatre in Lambeth, Safe Ground is holding its first ever poetry evening. The night will feature the voices of men in prison and the local community, as well as that of Dean Atta and other established performers. There will also be music and short film screenings on the night too. Submissions are welcome until the deadline: Friday 8th November. Submissions can be a poem to be read out on the night, or even a performance. For more information, write to Martina Enwood: info@safeground.org.uk.
Arts & criminal justice news
Arts & criminal justice news
Update on Transforming Rehabilitation agenda
After their initial briefing on the opening of the Transforming Rehabilitation competition, Clinks are creating a blog series on ‘TR So Far’, which will give some more detail on what they think about the current information that’s out there. The first post in the series looks at the known unknowns, and the second at whether the reforms will promote desistance and how this might be measured.
Funding appeal for young ex-offender film project
Creating Role Models in Media Enterprise (C.R.I.M.E) is fundraising for a film project training young ex-offenders in acting and film-production a well as team-work and time management. The film, ‘Some Things’ is about a young girl who becomes caught up in a world of domestic violence, child abuse and bullying. “What happens when you feel betrayed by the very person who’s supposed to protect you? What do you do? Who do you turn to? Inspired by true events this film is about when hope, courage, determination and faith just aren’t enough.” Visit the Kickstarter fundraising page to donate.
Poetry and literature funding initiative
The Clore Poetry and Literature Awards is a £1 million initiative aimed at funding poetry and literature schemes for children and young people across the UK from 2011 - 2015. The overall objective of the Programme is to provide young people under the age of 19 years with the opportunity to experience poetry, literature, and creative writing both inside and outside of school, in compelling and exciting forms. It provides grants ranging from £1,000 to £10,000. The deadline for round six is 7 March 2014 (5pm). Click here for more information.
Investing in Children website launched
The Social Research Unit’s Investing in Children website was launched on 18th September 2013 at an event at Portcullis House co-sponsored by the Early Intervention Foundation and attended by senior policy makers, service commissioners and funders. Investing in Children provides free and independent advice on competing investment options in children’s services including youth justice. Users can search over 100 interventions to find those that match their criteria and then compare the costs or cost-benefit for different interventions. The interventions listed focus on the health, educational attainment, emotional well-being, behaviour and relationships of children and young people aged 0 – 22 years.
Arts Council England’s £24million Small Capital Grants – Round 2
Arts Council England’s Small Capital Grants scheme is designed to benefit arts initiatives taking place in England, helping to make these projects more sustainable and resilient. The scheme forms part of a range of measures intended to help create a more sustainable, resilient and innovative arts sector. The scheme has a total of £24million available for distribution. Under round 2, which is now open for applications, individual organisations can apply for a capital grant of between £100,000 and £499,999. Eligible projects are those that require a range of capital expenditure, and organisations that deliver arts activities that can engage people or help artists to carry out their work will be targeted. Deadline: 10am, 19 December 2013. Click here for more information.
More in arts and Criminal Justice
- National Prison Radio and HMP Wandsworth’s Radio Wanno have both picked up honours at the 2013 ICVA Clarion Awards. The Awards recognise achievement in communications around Corporate Social Responsibility, diversity, sustainability, community development, health issues, education and social welfare.
- ‘Can the arts and cultural sector meet the challenges of delivering public sector contracts?’ – Toby Lowe, Chief Executive of Helix Arts, tackles this question. Click here to read his response.
- The Skills Funding Agency is seeking to procure prime contractors to be accountable and responsible for the delivery of a new enhanced National Careers Service in 12 geographical areas of England. Click here for more information.
Learning in prisons is crucial, says new NIACE research
Two reports produced by NIACE – as part of ongoing work commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) – highlight how learning is key to responding positively to the issues and circumstances faced by male and female offenders in prison. They give clear examples of how prisons, providers and employers are working together, often in difficult circumstances, to support learning for work and to reduce re-offending. Click here to read the full reports.
Why the voluntary sector matters if we are to reduce reoffending
Earlier this year, the Centre for Social Justice set up a Criminal Justice Programme to find public policy solutions to entrenched criminal justice problems. They have now announced the publication of the resulting paper: The New Probation Landscape – Why the voluntary sector matters if we are going to reduce reoffending. The paper sets out the make-up of the voluntary sector, who will need to play a significant role in the new probation landscape if the reforms to probation are to be as successful as possible at reducing reoffending. Click here to read the full report.
The Case for Cultural Learning
This document outlines why the Cultural Learning Alliance believes that the arts and heritage have the power to transform young people’s lives. The report argues that the knowledge, skills and experience made possible by the performing and visual arts, museums, libraries, archives, and heritage organisations are essential to young people’s development. This cultural learning takes place formally in schools and colleges, and informally in the wider world where the arts and heritage offer children and young people opportunities to express themselves and their ideas and values. Click here to read the full report.
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