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
2018 highlights
At the end of a significant year for arts in criminal justice, our network has grown to over 900 and our Evidence Library holds over 100 evaluations. In 2018 we were pleased to become a part of Arts Council England's National Portfolio and expand our team to the West Midlands. Our film, Why do arts in criminal justice matter?, was viewed over 1,500 times and screened in USA and Australia. We enjoyed countless exhibitions and performances from our members, saw first-hand the transformative impact creative work has across the criminal justice system and, recently, we shared this message with senior government. Thank you all who supported the arts in criminal justice in 2018. We look forward to seeing you all in 2019.
Introduction to arts in prisons
22nd January 2019 | Birmingham | £75
There are a few tickets remaining for our one-day training course that explores some of the questions to consider before embarking on a creative project in prisons. Recommended by 100% of participants, the course aims to provide an overview of the current criminal justice system and a practical insight to working inside prisons. It is aimed at those with an arts background, but with little or no previous experience of working in criminal justice settings. Find out more and book here
Annual conference 2019
27th February 2019 | Birmingham | £50 (early-bird)
There are early-bird tickets available for our 2019 annual conference: 'Young people in the criminal justice system - how can the arts respond?' Join us to discuss how the arts can take up the challenges facing young people across the criminal justice system. An exciting programme is taking shape and we're looking forward to announcing our speakers and performers in the New Year. Book quickly to join us. Find out more and book here
Consultation response published
Our response to Arts Council England's (ACE) consultation on its next 10-year strategy is now available for you to read on our website. We welcome ACE's increased support for the criminal justice system and make the case for further investment and advocacy with explicit recognition of work in criminal justice settings in order for ACE to deliver on their proposed outcomes for 2030. The online consultation closes on 2nd January 2019. We urge anyone delivering (or wanting to deliver) creative projects in criminal justice settings to read our response document and respond to the consultation individually, so your work has the best chance of being supported in the final strategy. Find out more here
Article in ArtsProfessional
We spoke to Steering Group member, artist and former prisoner, Erika Flowers, about how Arts Council England can do more to include the voices of people with experience of the criminal justice system for an article published by ArtsProfessional. In the article, Erika told us how her art enabled her to cope with the prison experience and what she thinks Arts Council England should do to widen opportunities for people whilst in prison and upon release. Read the article here
Employment in the creative industries
Senior government ministers, along with Arts Council England and major arts and culture organisations, are set to lead the way in supporting people with criminal records to gain skills and find employment. At a roundtable meeting convened by the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, and jointly chaired by the Secretary of State for Justice and the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, leading experts discussed the important role of the arts and creative skills in criminal justice settings and considered initiatives such as Ban the Box. Find out more here
Recognition in parliament
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee held a session last week on the social impact of participation in culture and sport. At the session Michael Ellis MP praised the work of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance in championing the importance of arts in the criminal justice system across the government, including in the recent roundtable on employment in the creative industries. He also praised the work of voluntary organisations Geese Theatre Company and Clean Break for their work supporting people in prison through arts provision. Find out more here
Contribute to new book
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance and Clinks, as part of the Monument Fellowship, are curating responses to the question “What should happen to people who commit criminal offences?" We are actively seeking contributions to a book allowing for differing, contrasting and contrary viewpoints. Contributors can either provide the piece themselves or be interviewed by CEO Anne Fox or a colleague from Clinks. We strongly encourage creative responses that may not fit a typical essay format – for example poetry, illustration or photography. If you are interested in contributing please get in touch by 31st January 2019. Find out more on how to contribute here
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 31st January 2019. Please email dora.dixon@clinks.org with any news, research, events, opportunities or blog proposals by Tuesday 22nd January 2019.
Date change: Effective facilitation workshop
27th January 2019 | London | £25
Please note the new date of 27th January 2019. Good Vibrations, a national music charity with experience in criminal justice and mental health settings, presents a day-long effective facilitation workshop for music practitioners to develop their facilitation techniques, subsided with funds from Arts Council England. Find out more and book here
Rewriting Justice
8th February 2019 | London | from £59.88
Clean Break is holding a one-day introductory course in teaching writing for theatre in criminal justice settings. Led by Anna Herrmann, the company's Joint Artistic Director, and playwright Vivienne Franzmann, participants at the training will learn creative ideas and exercises, gain insights and explore best practice. There are three bursary places for applicants with personal experience of the criminal justice system. Find out more and book here
The Jumper Factory
27th February - 9th March 2019 | London | from £15
From Young Vic Taking Part, created in collaboration with inmates at HMP Wandsworth and written by Luke Barnes, this new piece of theatre explores the stories of people behind bars and the resilience they need to face a world that moves without them. Find out more and book here
Book charity wins Longford Prize
A charity that has been purchasing educational books for prisoners since 1996, Haven Distribution, has won The Longford Trust‘s 2018 Prize. The panel chose the low-profile work of the organisation as they wanted Haven Distribution to be publicly applauded for sending books into prison. The charity purchases books for prisoners’ courses to a maximum of £20 per person per calendar year. Find out more here
Teaching children about knife crime through comedy
Speaking to The Times, The Comedy School‘s Keith Palmer has explained how It’s No Joke! teaches 10 and 11 year olds about knives – and why the comedy show and following Q&A with the actors resonates with the children so effectively the danger of carrying a knife. The article explores why it is that, after seeing the show, pupils who think carrying a knife is a defence drops by 88%. Find out more here
MP comments on youth violence and creative arts
Vicky Foxcroft, MP for Lewisham Deptford, has written an article for South London Press about why she set up the Youth Violence Commission and the important role the arts can play in supporting young people. She says, "It is all too easy to dismiss the arts as an optional extra or a luxury, but I believe that they can be central to a young person’s sense of well-being and belonging." Find out more here
Funding for disadvantaged women and girls
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport has opened applications to the Tampon Tax Fund. Charities can now bid for at least £1 million in funding for projects that support victims of domestic violence or work to reduce rough sleeping and homelessness among women, including projects using music. The deadline for applications is 20th January 2019. Find out more here
12 days of drama, history and food
Prison arts specialist Rideout (Creative Arts for Rehabilitation) has published a report about Past Time, a food and theatre project delivered at HMP Hewell in partnership with historians from the University of Warwick, as part of the five-year Wellcome Trust-funded project, Prisoners, Medical Care and Entitlement to Health in England and Ireland 1850 – 2000. The report offers an insight in to some of the outcomes from workshops that brought the experience of food in the past to life through theatre and taste. Find out more here
Latest figures on prisons
The Prison Reform Trust has published its latest Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile, which highlights the latest facts and figures on prisons in England and Wales. This year's edition draws heavily on government data on safety and living conditions in prisons, and features a long view analysis of the use of indeterminate sentences. Read the report here (PDF)
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.