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
Storify of our Annual Meeting
On Thursday 3rd March, the National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice (NAACJ) held its annual meeting at the National Theatre, with a keynote speech from the Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy, Ed Vaizey; a Governor’s perspective from Alli Black (HMP Kirkham); and an inspiring performance by Clean Break graduates. The Minister’s talk was extremely positive, and he outlined how he is planning to include the arts in criminal justice in his upcoming new cultural strategy. He also mentioned the possible creation of a dedicated funding stream for arts and criminal justice projects, and is keen on creating an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) focusing on the arts in criminal justice with the opportunity for the NAACJ to feed into the current APPG on arts and health. Read the full story by clicking here.
Download our Annual Review for the year 2015-16
Every year we produce an Annual Review which rounds up our work and the work of our members. This year, our membership has increased by 14% to 791, and we have reached 90 evaluations on our Evidence Library. We have set up a new Arts Practice Development Group in collaboration with the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), and have held events at high profile arts venues like the National Theatre and the Southbank Centre. Click here to download the review.
From the Evidence Library...
A new report on our Evidence Library evaluates the use of Good Vibrations percussion courses to improve motivation to change and treatment readiness with convicted sexual offenders embarking on treatment programmes. The study used a mixed method approach to explore prisoners' experiences of a week-long Indonesian percussion music course, introduced in a UK sex offender prison to enhance motivation and readiness for change pre-treatment. Study one examined psychometric changes for experimental and control groups pre- and post-musical course and psychological treatment. Results indication some significant changes in attitudes and motivation and self-efficacy. Study two used interviews to explore experiences of participation by prisoners. Click here to read the report.
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
Our next newsletter will be sent on Thursday 28th April. Please email kate.davey@clinks.org with anything you would like included by Thursday 21st April.
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Events and training
British Association for Music Therapy conference
8th - 10th April 2016 | University of Strathclyde, Glasgow | £85 - £260
The British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT) conference this year seeks to explore how music therapists might develop practices, articulate music therapy visions, values and professional currencies, and better engage with the demands, needs and expectations of service users, commissioners, funders, and the health professions at large. The conference will welcome presentations and workshops from all areas of music therapy practice: local, regional, national and international. Click here for more information.
Women and the Criminal Justice System - past, present and future
15th April 2016 | Royal Statistical Society, London | Free
The Sociology Department at the University of Essex are holding a one day conference to discuss women as victims and as perpetrators of crime. Throughout the day, academic researchers and professional practitioners will describe and analyse the journeys women take as they engage with the Criminal Justice System - from the point of being at risk of being a victim or offender, through experiences of trial, diversion and being inside and outside of prison - using a range of statistical and qualitative evidence. The conference brings together the latest academic and policy analysis to key issues concerning women and the Criminal Justice System, aiming to inform practice, stimulate academic-professional partnerships and provide an opportunity for networking. Click here for more information.
Youtopia at Bethlem Museum of the Mind
Until 25th June 2016 | Bethlem Museum of the Mind, Beckenham
Bethlem Museum of the Mind is hosting an exhibition juxtaposing Thomas More's vision of Utopia with objects which explore the concept of dystopia. It is five hundred years after the first use of the twin word 'dystopia.' Now Bethlem Hospital's museum curators hold up a mirror to today's society by putting a first edition of More's 'Utopia' on display, alongside rarely-seen works from the Museum's reserve collection which communicate a vision of the best - and worst - of all possible worlds. Click here for more information.
Journeys and stories from Thames Valley Partnership
6th April - 1st July 2016 | Reading Museum
Thames Valley Partnership and Elizabeth Fry Approved Premises have been working together over a number of years to provide creative activity for residents at the hostel. The current project, Journeys and Stories, is a collaborative project between women at a crossroads in their lives and women artists and culminates in a public exhibition at Reading Museum. A selection of the artwork will then move onto MERL (Museum of English Rural Life). For more information about Thames Valley Partnership, please click here.
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Arts and criminal justice news
Government launches new strategy to help ensure the arts, culture and heritage are open to all
The Culture White Paper is the first strategy for arts and culture in more than 50 years, and includes new expectation from Government that all publicly-funded arts organisations should reach out to everyone, regardless of their background. Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said: "Our arts, heritage and culture should be for all - not just the privileged few. Culture opens doors, improves social mobility and has a huge impact on life chances." The Paper specifically mentions the importance of arts interventions within the Criminal Justice System: "There are also many good examples of how cultural interventions can benefit prisoners, ex-offenders and people at risk of becoming involved in crime. Culture can help to improve self-esteem, social skills and wellbeing: all of which helps to reduce the risk of offending and re-offending and make our communities safer. We will work with Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund and other partners to ensure that offenders and those at risk continue to benefit from cultural opportunities." You can read the Culture White Paper by clicking here.
Additionally, there is a whole section in the accompanying case studies document that mentions the National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice and a range of examples from our network. Click here to read the case studies.
Lammy Review: call for evidence
In January 2016 the Prime Minister invited David Lammy MP to find out why figures show that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups appear to be over-represented at most stages of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) and what can be done about it. The review will look at the way the CJS deals with young people and adults from BAME backgrounds, and will address issues arising from the Crown Prosecution Service onwards, including the court system, prisons and young offender institutuions and rehabilitation in the community. The review will be evidence-based and will draw on the significant work already published in this area. It will produce new statistical analysis to shed light on the issue, and will provide an opportunity for people to convey their personal experiences and insights. The deadline for responses is 30 June 2016. Click here for more information.
Spirit of 2012: Spirit of Achievement Music and Dance Challenge Fund
This year's Spirit of Achievement Challenge Fund is focused on inspiring people through music and dance. Spirit of 2012 would like to hear from a range of organisations in England and Wales with projects that give people of all abilities the chance to develop skills, confidence and expressive abilities through anything that involves music and/or dance. There is particular interest in projects taking place in the East of England. The Fund intends to award three grants of between £100,000 and £250,000 for three separate projects of three years in duration. The deadline for applications is 22nd April 2016. Click here for more information.
Developing a narrative for people, communities and place
How can arts organisations present their offer more effectively to public service commissioners? Five pilot consortia have been working to do just that, and Jessica Harris, Cultural Commissioning Programme Manager at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, has written about it for Arts Professional. Click here to read the article.
The Art of Mentalizing
Submissions are now invited for 'The Art of Mentalizing'; a New York conference bringing together people working psychology to explore the role of arts in health. The theme of the conference is 'how we define and develop the clinical interventions required to produce sustainable change and the role of mentalizing in this process.' Proposals are invited for: paper presentations, workshops and interactive sessions, posters or exhibits, and arts based installations. The conference will be taking place from 22nd - 24th October 2016. For more information or to submit a proposal, please click here.
Funding for children and young people
The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust is inviting applications on the theme of Children and Youth. Grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 are available to UK registered charities for projects taking place within the UK. Priority will be given to projects focusing on homelessness, domestic abuse, prisoners/offenders, training and education, counselling and support, and activities for those with limited access or opportunities. The next deadline for applications is 1st June. Click here for more information.
The Irene Taylor Trust is looking for a Personal Development Manager
The Irene Taylor Trust has been working at the forefront of arts and rehabilitation since 1995, bringing creative music projects to men and women of all ages in prisons throughout the UK with its Music in Prisons programme, providing positive learning experiences which aid the development of important life skills. The Personal Development Manager is responsible for the pastoral care of participants on its community projects with ex-prisoners and with young people facing challenging circumstances. The role is responsible for forming trusting relationships with participants, supporting them through the course of the projects and assisting them in sourcing suitable progression routes and opportunities. The role is 21 hours a week and is based in London. The deadline for applications is 4th April 2016. Click here for more information.
Musician in Residence opportunity
The Irene Taylor Trust has announced a new freelance position for a Musician in Residence at HMP Spring Hill as part of its Music in Prisons programme. They are looking for a versatile freelance musician who has experience of teaching guitar, keyboards and song-writing to work with prisoners to provide on-going intervention and support. It may also be advantageous (but is not essential) to have experience of creating music on computers. The Musician in Residence will be responsible for delivering music workshops to groups and possibly individuals at HMP Spring Hill. They will be working with adult men who have been in prison for varying lengths of time, delivering a coherent and engaging programme that will fully engage those who take part and act as a catalyst for positive change. The deadline for applications is 8th April 2016. Click here for more information.
New films demonstrate the work of Odd Arts
Odd Arts have made two new films and an animation highlighting their work. The first is an animation created by men in HMP Hindley exploring victim awareness and restorative justice, and is the result of a project using creative writing, drama, drawing, film and audio to tell a story based the experiences of the participants. The second film is the result of a larger drama project working in partnership with Greater Manchester Police's Integrated Gang Management Unit and Hideaway Youth. The project was developed in response to a previous project with young women where they disclosed experiences of receiving racial and religious hatred. The third film is a celebration and collection of memories of the work Odd Arts has delivered with one young person during his time within the secure estate.
Constructive Voices: helping charities tell their story
The voluntary sector has so many positive stories to tell and practical solutions to offer, across a huge range of issues. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) want to help you make sure your voice is heard in the public arena. They are working to link charities and journalists, and to encourage constructive journalism - a more solutions-focused approach to news coverage. Reducing reoffending is one of the work areas they are focusing on in the first stages of the project. Please click here to find out more.
Visiting Times app by Prison Image is now available in the app store
Visiting Times is an interactive multimedia documentary produced by Prison Image Ltd which explores the impact of imprisonment on the families of prisoners. Combining video, photographs, text and interactive elements, Visiting Times sells the stories of three families who have found themselves confronting the realities of having a loved one imprisoned. The stories are told from both sides of the prison wall reflecting on the experiences of the families and the prisoners themselves. Click here for more information.
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Resources & publications
Understanding the value of arts and culture
The Arts and Humanities Research Council has published the findings of their three year Cultural Value Project which has been described as being "among the most extensive, wide-ranging and challenging" of attempts ever made to grasp the difference that engagement with arts and culture makes to individuals, society and the economy. It was based on over 70 original pieces of work, including new research, critical reviews of literature and specialist workshops. The report includes a case study on arts, culture and the Criminal Justice System, mentioning the work of NAACJ members including Clean Break, Fine Cell Work, Dance United, Safe Ground, and Geese Theatre Company. Click here to download the report.
Exploring the role of music in resettlement and crime prevention
Artistic Director of the Irene Taylor Trust, Sara Lee, travelled to Norway and the USA in 2015 to explore the role of music in resettlement and crime prevention as part of a Winston Churchill Fellowship. She has now released her final report, which you can read by clicking here.
Collected resources from NCVO Making Connections events
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations have collated resources from their Making Connections events to give access to information and discussions shared on the day. The events included: Creative interventions to enable wellbeing; using arts and culture in social prescribing; how arts and cultural activities are supporting co-production and innovation in public services; and how arts and cultural interventions support housing associations to achieve their outcomes. Click here for more information.
Art and the whole person
"Art has always had the capacity to take into account the whole person, while top-down medical treatment may address symptoms and body parts rather than personal and social experience of being ill. Health professionals are finding new ways to successfully engage the arts to create a whole-person environment in which recovery is possible, and in which the longer-term resilience and the cultural and social engagement necessary for a fully realised human life can be achieved." Director of the Old Reading Room, Emma Drew, has written for Arts Professional about how using a whole person approach that uses the arts could help treat addiction. Click here to read the full article.
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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