The newsletter for arts organisations working in criminal justice
In this month’s issue…
- National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance news
- Events and training
- Arts and criminal justice news
- Resources and publications
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April highlights
This month the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) met with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service to discuss ongoing Practice Development Group meetings. The Southwestern Prison Arts Network visited from the US for a research meeting, and were joined by practitioners and academics from the UK to develop our strategies around the NCJAA Evidence Library and their Prison Arts Resource Project. Finally, we submitted a response to the Arts Council England ten-year plan consultation, setting out the case for an arts in criminal justice settings strategy.
New Steering Group member
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Erika Flowers to the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance Steering Group. Erika is an artist whose work includes the 'Postcards from Prison' diary. She has a lived experience of the Criminal Justice System and experience of the arts within this, from both a beneficial point of view and in participatory capacity in her work with Koestler Trust. Find out more about Erika and our Steering Group here
Annual Meeting: arts for all
Our 2018 Annual Meeting on Wednesday 16th May is now fully booked, thank you to those who have signed up to join us at Ikon Gallery in Birmingham. The event will be a chance to look back over the past year and reflect on our work and achievements to date, as well as an opportunity for members to hear about – and contribute to – our future work as an Arts Council England Sector Support Organisation. Click here to add yourself to the waiting list for the event
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 24th May. Please email dora.dixon@clinks.org with any submissions by Tuesday 15th May
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Social Justice Commissioning Lammy Review Seminar
3rd May | London | from Free
This London Academy seminar will discuss the Lammy Review recommendations 31 and 32, the role of commissioning and the involvement of smaller organisations. These particular recommendations are aimed at improving the probations services provided for black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals by Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs). Click here to book
Postcards from Prison
10th May | London | £100
Join Koestler Trust at Sotheby’s for an evening hosted by comedian Griff Rhys Jones, and take home an original artwork by an artist inside or outside of prison. 120 artists from prisons across the country have created artworks on postcards for the exhibition, and are joined by 40 major British artists - including Jeremy Deller, Tracey Emin, Rachel Howard, Alan Kane, Humphrey Ocean RA, Cornelia Parker and Mark Wallinger. Click here to book
Young Adult Summit
15th May | York | Free
Prisoners’ Education Trust are hosting a Young Adult Summit in partnership with Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, for Heads of Learning of Skills and Education Managers from the Young Adult estate. It will be held at HMP Askham Grange and will explore the challenges and opportunities for young adult learners in custody. They are currently looking for a diverse range of speakers to take part in panel discussions. Click here to apply
An audience with Mark Rylance & Intermission Youth Theatre
22nd May 2018 | London | £150
Join Intermission at Two Temple Place for a benefit event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their youth theatre. The evening will begin with a drinks reception, followed by an audience with patron Mark Rylance and members of Intermission. Support will benefit the theatre’s work helping raise opportunities for 16-25 year olds who are at risk, risk of offending, or are economically disadvantaged. Click here to book
Our Country’s Good post-show discussion
23rd May | Birmingham | £10
Geese Theatre Company will be delivering a discussion following Nottingham Playhouse Theatre Company’s performance of Our Country's Good on 23rd May at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. The play tells the story of a group of convicts and a young officer who perform Australia’s first theatrical production. The post-show event will share Geese Theatre Company’s work and discuss the modern challenges and opportunities they face. £10 tickets are available with the code COUNTRYGEESE. Click here to book
Inside View
Until 31st May | Manchester | Free
Manchester Central Library are holding an exhibition of original and creative work produced by learners at HMP Manchester. The joint collaboration between Manchester Central Library and NOVUS Education showcases the standard of creative work produced using a limited range of resources. Click here for more information
Thick As Thieves – a new play from Clean Break
October 2018 | Theatr Clwyd | From £10
Thick As Thieves is a new drama from Wales Drama playwright Katherine Chandler and co-produced by Clean Break and Theatr Clwyd. It follows two women from very different worlds and explores what it means to care for one another and asks who, in a time of increasing disconnect, we expect to look after us. Click here to book
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Calling all women poets/writers with experience of the criminal justice system
Joelle Taylor, leading spoken word artist and performance coach, is working with Safe Ground to offer a unique mentoring opportunity to a woman with demonstrable interest in writing short stories or poetry, and who would like to develop their work further in a new project. The closing date is Monday 30th April. Click here to find out more and apply
Odd Arts blog
In “Applied Theatre: What Works and What Matters (and really believing it)” Rebecca Friel, Odd Art’s Director, talks about how the organisation is taking accreditation, evaluation and partnership processes back in to their hands. Influenced by research work with University of Central Lancaster and Manchester Metropolitan University, it calls for a fresh focus for inclusive partnership working to create positive outcomes for all involved. Read the full blog here
Ear Hustle joins National Prison Radio line-up
Ear Hustle, the award-winning podcast from San Quentin State Prison in California, will be played on National Prison Radio airwaves every Friday at midday, and repeated on Sundays at 6pm. Ear Hustle tells stories of life inside California’s oldest and largest prison, shared and produced by those living there. Find out more here
Michael Balogun: ‘I acted my way out of prison’
In an interview with the BBC, Michael Balogun speaks about his life in and out of jail, and how studying to become an actor turned his life around. "I strongly believe that your imagination is powerful, and that's where the magic is. If you have an idea, a motivation to do something - just do it, because you'll be surprised what you can do." Read the full article here
Developing your Creative Practice grants
A new development fund from Arts Council England has been designed to support independent creative practitioners to ensure excellence is thriving in the arts and culture sector. £3.6 million will be invested per year to allow individuals time and space to undertake ambitious research and development, helping to make a step-change in their practice. Round 1 is now open and will close on Wednesday 16th May. Click here to apply
Co-creation development opportunity
Co-creating Change, led by Battersea Arts Centre, is looking for partners to help build a new national and international network to explore the role which producers, cultural organisations and artists can play to co-create change with community partners, inspired by Lyn Gardner’s assertion that “theatre with, not for, is the way forward”. The deadline for expressions of interest is Thursday 31st May. Click here to apply
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Arts for women in prisons
Public Health England has published guidance which supports the value of arts engagement as a tool for improved mental and physical health for women in prison. The Gender Specific Standards to Improve Health and Wellbeing for Women in Prison in England have been developed from a literature review of current evidence, and cite dance as a valuable resource for physical wellbeing and arts engagement as a useful tool in mental wellbeing, improving self-esteem and building self-efficacy. Read the standards here
Transforming Rehabilitation report
The government’s reforms to probation services have “failed to deliver the aim of ensuring that voluntary and third sector organisations play a central role in providing specialist support to offenders” according to Dame Glenys Stacey, following a report into probation supply chains by HM Inspectorate of Probation. Read the full report here
Positive report on HMP Altcourse
HM Inspector of Prisons have published their report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Altcourse in November 2017. The prison is partnered with FACT Liverpool in their Veterans in Practice programme. The inspectorate noted that "purposeful activity – work, education and training – was excellent for a local prison". Read the full report here
Culture, Democracy and the Right to Make Art
The book Culture, Democracy and the Right to Make Art was launched at this month’s Cultural Democracy: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow symposium. It tells the story of the community arts movement in the UK, and, through a series of essays, assesses its influence on present day participatory arts practices. The book will soon be available open access. Find out more here
This newsletter is written monthly by Dora Dixon. Email dora.dixon@clinks.org if you wish to submit any news.
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Clinks manages the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance and is the legally accountable body for all official National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance activity. Clinks is a registered charity registration no 1074546 and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales no 3562176