The newsletter for arts organisations working in criminal justice
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In this month's issue...
- National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice news
- Events and training
- Arts and criminal justice news
- Resources & publications
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National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice news
Bringing people together: diversity, arts and criminal justice
Arts organisations working in criminal justice settings are leading the field in creating diverse, innovative art that pushes boundaries, explores complex issues and brings people together from different cultures and backgrounds. We know that minority groups are overrepresented in the Criminal Justice System and underrepresented in the arts. So how can we seek to improve this balance and use arts as a driver for equality? The National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice (NAACJ) are holding an event on 21st March 2016 in London to gather views, evidence and good practice on usings the arts as a driver for equality, which we can then share with our network and the government. The day will be chaired by Baroness Young of Hornsey and there will be a speech from Abid Hussain from the Creative Case for Diversity at the Arts Council England. Click here for more information and to book.
Vote in our annual Steering Group election
Voting is now open to elect our 2016-17 Steering Group. There are five spaces available on the NAACJ's Steering Group and nine candidates standing. Candidates standing for election include Andy Watson from Geese Theatre Company; Aylwyn Walsh, University of Lincoln; Carlotta Allum, Stretch Charity; Catherine Hearne, Helix Arts; Dan Boyden, The Change Collective CIC; Faye McDonell, HMP YOI Swinfen Hall; Josephine Lane, Independent; Katy Haigh, Good Vibrations; Nina Champion, Prisoners' Education Trust; and Sara Lee, Irene Taylor Trust. Please click here for information on how to vote.
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
Our next newsletter will be sent on Thursday 31st March. Please email kate.davey@clinks.org with anything you would like included by Thursday 24th March.
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Events and training
Good Vibrations Gamelan sessions
27th February - 19th March 2016 | Pondhills Community Centre, Nottingham | £6 (£5 concessions)
Good Vibrations are holding a series of Gamelan and drumming sessions in Nottingham where participants will learn to play the instruments of the Indonesian Gamelan Orchestra, made up of hanging gongs, drums and metallaphones. The sound is relaxing and tuneful with rhythmic layers. No musical experience is necessary. For more information or to book, please email info@good-vibrations.org.uk or call 07944 716709.
LOUD! The Koestler exhibition for the North East
Until 12th March 2016 | BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art and The Gallery at Gateshead Central Library
LOUD! is an exhibition of artwork from prisons and secure hospitals in the North East of England. It features an extensive range of artwork including painting, drawing, sculpture and creative writing from entries to the 2015 Koestler Awards. The exhibition has been curated by students from Gateshead Behaviour Support Service, with guidance from artist Paul Merrick. This intensive project allowed the young curators to engage with a range of fine art, meet arts professionals and work as a group to put together a thought-provoking exhibition. With the guidance of curators and artists from the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, The Gallery at Gateshead Central Library and the Koestler Trust, the curators have selected works that explore themes of home, conflict, freedom and escapism. Click here for more information.
Go to Jail - The Cell Project
1st - 12th March 2016 | Library of Birmingham
Rideout's Go to Jail project will be open again for visits in early March, this time in Birmingham. Go to Jail - The Cell Project is Rideout's response to issues of prison overcrowding and conditions in contemporary imprisonment. The cell is an exact replica of those found in newer prisons in England, and houses two prisoners - ex-offender actors - with whom visitors can talk to discover first hand a little of what prison is really like. Click here for more information.
Radical Craft: Alternative Ways of Making
12th March - 12th June 2016 | Pallant House Gallery, Chichester
Outside In's fourth triennial open exhibition will feature work by renowned historical and contemporary artists associated with the field of outsider art alongside work from Outside In artists selected from submissions to an open call out. 'Radical Craft: Alternative Ways of Making' will showcase the creativity of artists who face barriers to the art world for reasons including health, disability, social circumstance or isolation. Themes in the exhibition include radical missions in which artists have a passion for a particular subject or technique; intuitive responses to textiles employed as non-verbal means of engaging with the outside world; autobiographical responses to the natural or urban environment; and folkloric or surreal perceptions of the world. Click here for more information.
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Arts and criminal justice news
Round-up from Prisoners' Education Trust's academic symposium
On Monday 25th January, a wide range of experts in youth justice, including academics, practitioners and policy specialists, attended the Prisoners' Education Trust (PET)'s third academic symposium. Chaired by Rob Allen, a founding member of the Youth Justice Board, this year's theme was 'challenges and solutions to young people and young adults' learning in custody and through the gate,' and speakers included Charlie Taylor, following his review into youth justice; Dr Caroline Lanskey from the University of Cambridge; and a young person who spent time in the youth and adult estate. Click here to read a summary of the day's events.
Prime Minister's vision for the prison estate
David Cameron spoke in February about his plans to overhaul the 'failure' of the prison system in England and Wales, describing high reoffending rates and violence in jails as 'scandalous.' He also announced a pilot scheme in six (as yet unnamed) prisons that will see governors given autonomy over how they spend their budgets and which education services are used. The sector responded with an overall message that reforms would not work if inmates were 'crammed into filthy institutions with no staff.' Nathan Dick, Head of Policy and Communications at Clinks, has written a blog post about the speech.
Developing the field of arts and health
Over the next few months, the London Arts in Health Forum (LAHF) is planning a series of roundtable discussions to explore specific areas of interest in arts and health to bring together people working in particular aspects of practice. The aim is to share knowledge and learning and to look at the ways LAHF can support those working in specialised spheres within the field of arts, health and wellbeing. Among the proposed areas of discussion are: diversity in arts and health; dance in hospitals; governance and organisational structure; evaluating arts in social care; and arts programmes in children's hospitals. Anyone with a particular interest in any of these should contact damian@lahf.org.uk for more information.
Get involved in Creativity and Wellbeing Week
This June, the fifth Creativity and Wellbeing Week is taking place from 13th - 19th June. The Week is an annual festival of arts and health which brings together artists, clinicians, commissioners and thinkers to explore the myriad ways the arts impact on wellbeing. You can upload any events you have happening during this week to their website to let people know about your work, involve the wider community in what you are doing and to generally celebrate creativity and health. The deadline for events to be included is 11th March. Click here for more information.
Arts Council England investment: 2018 and beyond
The Arts Council England (ACE) are looking at how they will invest in arts and culture from 2018 onwards. They have developed some proposals for their three key strands of investment: strategic funds, Grants for the Arts, and the National Portfolio, and they want to hear your views. They are also hosting a number of briefing events and workshops with their research agency ComRes across the country this month and next, to which they are inviting funded organisations, individuals, and those with an interest in how ACE invest to feedback on the proposals. Click here for more information.
More from arts and criminal justice...
- More than a third of teachers say they have had less time to teach art and design over the past five years. A holistic approach that brings science, technology, engineering and maths together is key, says a Guardian Culture Professionals article.
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Resources & publications
National Prison Radio in numbers
The latest findings from the Prison Radio Association (PRA)'s annual Impact Snapshot shows that 76% of prisoners are National Prison Radio listeners, and they listen for an average of 10.4 hours per week. The annual Impact Snapshot summarises the PRA's work and its role in reducing reoffending, and shows a dramatic rise in the number of requests and messages of support from prisoners' friends and loved-ones for broadcast on National Prison Radio, up from 1,834 in 2014 to 3,159 in 2015. Click here to read more.
Clinks' review of 2015
'Transformed? The voluntary sector in criminal justice' is Clinks' annual review of 2015, which reflects on a year of transformation, in which the voluntary sector has had to work through big reforms made by the last government as well as understand and adapt to the policies of a new government. The annual review is a great place to find out more about Clinks, and how they continue to support the sector to work alongside people in the Criminal Justice System; to transform their lives, to rehabilitate, to resettle, and to learn from the lived experience of people in the system for the benefit of communities, families, and the victims of crime. Click here for more information.
Arts for Health and Wellbeing evaluation framework
Public Health England has published a framework for evaluating arts activities designed to support health and wellbeing. The document aims to 'strengthen understanding of what works in specific contexts and enable realistic assessment and appropriate comparisons to be made between programmes.' It is intended for health commissioners, third sector organisations, trainers, funders, practitioners, managers, arts organisations, researchers, and others with an interest in the development and evaluation of arts for health and wellbeing programmes. Click here for more information.
Charlie Taylor's review of youth custody
Charlie Taylor's interim review of the youth justice system was published in February, outlining his vision for a different approach to detaining young people and focusing on the youth custodial estate. The report finds that 'among the people we have heard from there is a near consensus that the children who remain in the system are those that display the most challenging and ingrained behaviour and have the most complex needs. While the number of young offenders has fallen, the overall reoffending rate has risen, so it is clear that significant challenges remain.' You can download the report here.
New resources from the Cultural Commissioning Programme
The NCVO's Cultural Commissioning Programme has updated its website with a range of new resources for arts and cultural organisations and public service commissioners. Among the resources available are some to help with: understanding the opportunities to commission arts and cultural providers to deliver outcomes; partnering with others; finding who to talk to locally; finding local tenders; measuring impact; sourcing evidence to show the value of arts and cultural provision; understanding the national policy context; inspiring projects and case studies. Click here to visit their website.
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This newsletter is written monthly by Kate Davey.
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Clinks manages the National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice and is the legally accountable body for all official National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice activity. Clinks is a registered charity registration no 1074546 and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales no 3562176