National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance News | March 2017

The newsletter for arts organisations working in criminal justice

[[{"fid":"4376","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":"117","width":"340","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

In this month's issue...

National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance news
Events and training
Arts and criminal justice news
Resources & publications

[[{"fid":"4057","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":"117","width":"1004","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance news
New blogs: read reflections on our Annual Meeting and a review of The Monkey

This month we have published two new blog posts on our website. The first, 'A new narrative,' sees the Chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) Alison Frater looking back at this year's Annual Meeting, which took place at the National Theatre on 1st March. In the post, she reflects on readings by four inspiring authors who have had direct experience of the criminal justice system, tying their experiences into the political context that the arts and criminal justice sector currently sits within. The second post is a review of Synergy Theatre Project's play 'The Monkey,' which was part of their Homecomings series; a festival of new plays by prisoners and ex-prisoners about getting out and going home. Click here to visit our blog.

National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance Annual Review 2016-17

Our 2016-17 Annual Review is now available to download. In the review, you'll find highlights from our work over the past year, as well as information on how many people our work has reached. An introduction from our Chair Alison Frater outlines the current state of the arts and criminal justice sector. She notes that "there is much work to do. But, there are opportunities to stick to our core values and realise our ambition: arts for all, responding to diversity, building inclusion across the sector, working regionally, growing capacity and capability for individuals and the creative industries through research and development, training and skills development, and gaining traction from the mainstream; a springboard for change." Manager of the Alliance Jess Plant adds that for her, "success looks like the normalisation of arts and culture in criminal justice settings. I know the membership have the skills and expertise to successfully embed arts in prisons, probation and community life and I am looking forward to the NCJAA supporting them to do that." Click here to read the Annual Review.

Submit a research or evaluation report for inclusion in our Evidence Library

We are looking for new research and evaluation reports on the impact of arts in criminal justice settings to publish in our 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. The Library currently contains over 90 evaluations from 32 arts organisations and 37 academic institutions. Visit the Evidence Library by clicking here. For more information on submitting a report, please email kate.davey@clinks.org.

Want to include something in the next newsletter?

We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 27th April. Please email kate.davey@clinks.org with any submissions by Tuesday 18th March.

[[{"fid":"4058","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":"117","width":"1004","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
Events and training
Scottish Prison Arts Network: first creative conversations event

26th April 2017 | Citizens Theatre, Glasgow | Free

Following the announcement of their appointment of Kirstin Anderson as Artist Producer, the Scottish Prison Arts Network (SPAN) is hosting its first creative conversations event. Creative conversations is a new platform designed to innovate and support the ongoing development of active and strategic networks for all individuals and organisations that work across a range of art forms with people in custody and the community. Click here for more information and to book.

MEAM Coalition: combining lived experience, research, policy and practice

8th - 9th May 2017 | Milton Keynes | £75 +

People facing multiple disadvantage have been pushed to the extreme margins of UK society. The issues surrounding homelessness, substance misuse, mental health, violence, contact with the criminal justice system, domestic abuse and extreme poverty often go unrecognised by services and systems mostly designed to deal with one issue at a time. Two years ago, the first event brought together a vibrant network of people with lived experience, service providers, commissioners and policy makers; each with different skills and expertise, all committed to achieving change. At this event, progress will be assessed and delegates will be encouraged to inspire and challenge each other whilst discussing the next steps in tackling multiple disadvantage. Click here for more information and to book.

AMA Conference 2017: the value of everything

25th - 27th July 2017 | Belfast Waterfront | £391 - £566 + VAT

As professionals trying to find the best way to build relationships with audiences, how do we decide what is of value? The AMA's 2017 conference will bring together over 600 arts, culture and heritage professionals to consider relevant emerging ideas, current trends and existing practice. It is your chance to hear from thought leaders, learn from inspiring case studies, and network with colleagues in the sector. Click here for more information.

Drama and theatre workshops

Various dates | various locations | various prices

Drama and theatre practitioner Tony Cealy has developed a range of low-cost training workshops for continued professional development. Each training workshop uses harmonising techniques for a range of group work applications. The training sessions are for people who are in related professions such as arts practitioners, social care, therapy, mental health, education, community arts, as well as students and trainees. The sessions aim to empower you to reflect, practice and develop your own style and approach. Click here for more information.

[[{"fid":"2450","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":"117","width":"1004","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
Arts and criminal justice news
Justice Secretary announces plans to create 5,000 modern prison places

Justice Secretary Elizabeth Truss has unveiled plans for the building of four new prisons in England and Wales, creating 5,000 prison places with the aim of replacing old and overcrowded establishments with new, fit for purpose buildings. Sites in Full Sutton in Yorkshire; Hindley in Wigan; Rochester in Kent; and Port Talbot in South Wales have been earmarked for development as part of the government's commitment to build up to 10,000 modern prison places by 2020, backed by £1.3 billion to transform the estate. Click here for more information.

Our Museum: communities and museums as active partners

'Our Museum: communities and museums as active partners' is a Paul Hamlyn Foundation programme designed to facilitate a process of development and organisational change within museums and galleries committed to active partnership with their communities, with the ambition of affecting the museum sector more widely. Between January 2012 and December 2015, the programme worked with the following organisations: Hackney Museum; Bristol Culture; The Lightbox, Woking; Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales; Belfast Exposed; Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums; and Glasgow Museums. The programme was based on four outcomes: rooted in local needs, community agency, capability-building, and reflection. Click here to read more.

Youth Music is actively seeking applicants for its Youth Justice funding stream

Youth Music provides funding for music-making projects in England for children and young people up to the age of 25. Youth Justice is one of their priority areas and they are actively seeking more applications to work with children and young people in the criminal justice system or who are at risk of offending. Youth Music offers the following funds tailored to meet the size and scope of different projects: Fund A offers small grants (£2,000 to £30,000) and has a simple one stage application process (next deadline is 18th August 2017), and Fund B offers larger grants (£30,001 to £20,000) for high-quality, sustained projects and has a two stage application process (next deadline 12th May 2017). Click here to find out more about Youth Music's grants programme.

The British Academy's Flagship Skills Project: the value of arts, humanities and social sciences

The British Academy is launching a new project which aims to articulate, for the first time, the skills that are inherent to the study of arts, humanities and social sciences (AHSS), their value to the individual, and the contribution they do make and could make in future to society. The Academy hopes to stimulate and facilitate a national debate about the nature and value of these skills, as well as setting the agenda for its own Skills Programme to 2020. The project will seek to intellectualise what we mean by skills, and look at questions such as what skills should studying AHSS develop? What skills to individuals who have studied AHSS demonstrate? What contribution do individuals with AHSS skills make to society and the economy? Click here to find out more and to contribute to the project.

Fine Cell Work opens new hub for ex-offenders

Fine Cell Work, the charity which trains and pays prisoners to do fine needlework in their cells for commercial sale, is planning to open a London-based crafts training studio for people with convictions. The workshop will be called the Fine Works Hub and will offer work experience, accredited employment training and one to one mentoring to participants. Click here to find out more.

Updated prisons map

The Ministry of Justice has published an up to date map showing the location of all the prisons in England and Wales. The map is colour coded to highlight which prisons are specifically for young people and women, and which prisons are high security. It also includes information on which prisons are Foreign National Prisons and which are Immigration Removal Centres. Click here to download the map.

Youth justice update

The Secretary of State for Justice Elizabeth Truss has given a statement to Parliament releasing plans to reform the youth justice system. The statement included that Charlie Taylor has been appointed as the new Chair of the Youth Justice Board, the creation of a new Youth Custody Service as a distinct arm of HM Prison and Probation Service and the creation of a Youth Justice Specialist Worker role within the prison estate. Click here to read more.

Good Vibrations is seeking new facilitators and a trainee technician

Music charity Good Vibrations is looking for new facilitator and a new trainee technician. The new facilitators will support their projects with vulnerable groups in youth offending institutions, pupil referral units and secure hospitals in London and Kent. They will need to have skills and experience in music production, music technology and Gamelan music. The trainee technician will be someone with music and technology experience, and lived experience of the criminal justice system. Good Vibrations is looking for committed and dynamic individuals who believe in the organisation's approach and values. The deadline is 10th April. Click here for more information.

Fit to plead: gathering experiences from people with learning disabilities in the criminal justice system

Following the award-winning book and national exhibition 'Great Interactions,' photographer Polly Braden and policy expert Rashmi Becker are working with West Midlands-based community arts organisation Multistory to produce a new book and exhibition looking at how people with learning disabilities experience the criminal justice system. The project aims to promote discussion and improve awareness amongst policymakers, practitioners and prisoners of the issues facing people with learning disabilities. They are inviting support from prisons to identify and engage potential case studies through two options: on a one-to-one basis, and in workshops. The case study development and workshops will have no cost implications for prisons, and the project team are keen to be as flexible as possible to enable people to share their experiences. For more information, please contact beckysexton@multistory.org.uk.

Music in Detention Trustee vacancy

Music in Detention takes music-making into immigration detention centres and then takes detainees' music out into the community, to groups facing their own problems living near the centres. Their work helps detainees to cope with detention and people in the wider community to understand their experience of it. To help their Board lead and guide this work, they are seeking additional financial expertise. They are looking for an able and motivated individual with a strong background in charity finance to join their Board of Trustees. The position may suit someone with senior charity finance experience, whether gained in a professional or voluntary role. Click here for more information.

Geese Theatre Company is recruiting a part time administrator

With a growing portfolio, Geese Theatre Company is looking for a part time administrator to provide support to their small and busy administrative team. This will be a full and varied role and the ideal candidate should be able to engage immediately with the role using previous experience of administration, maintaining records and systems, data collection and analysis. The successful candidate will be organised and efficient with the ability to work independently and will possess excellent customer service and communication skills. Experience of online communications and social media would be advantageous and knowledge of Microsoft packages is essential. The closing date for applications is 10am, Thursday 20th April 2017. Click here for more information.

Share your story alongside others who have been or are going through recovery

A recent psychology graduate is developing a storytelling and mental health platform with the ultimate aim of curating a museum exhibition. Soul Relics Museum is a platform for people to read and tell stories about mental health through objects that help them connect to or express a present or past experience. Its aim is to encourage people to come forward and share with others what their mental health challenges have been like, and it provides a safe and constructive way to explore others' stories. Click here for more information.

[[{"fid":"4060","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":"117","width":"1004","style":"font-size: 0.923em;","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]
Resources & publications
Dance for Health evaluation report

Aesop have announced the publication of the Dance to Health Pilot Programme evaluation. A key question was whether they could create an 'Aesop' - an arts enterprise with social purpose - which responds to a major health challenge and is of consistent quality, evidence-based from a health point of view, effective, cost-effective, sustainable and scalable. The Pilot Programme has provided an early, provisional 'yes.' Click here to read the evaluation report.

This newsletter is written monthly by Kate Davey.

020 7383 0966

National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance on twitter
National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance on Facebook
National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance website
Clinks website

[Disclaimer]

unsubscribe from this list | Terms & conditions of use

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