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
September highlights
It's been a busy month for the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) and the sector. We hosted over 15 organisations at the Young Vic to develop new guidance for arts organisations wanting to work in criminal justice settings, matched participants on our professional mentoring scheme, and managed to find the time to remind ourselves of the transformative power of our members' work at inspiring events from Clinks, Stretch Charity, Music in Prisons, Geese Theatre Company, Koestler Trust and more. Read on to find out more of what NCJAA is up to, and the latest in all things arts and criminal justice.
New NCJAA publication: what does success look like?
Published earlier this month, What does success look like for arts in criminal justice? was written following a series of roundtable discussions commissioned by Arts Council England and attended by leading voices in arts and criminal justice. The paper outlines learning points and opportunities for development, and concludes with key messages and the seven next steps we would like to see happen to move the agenda forward and achieve success for arts in criminal justice settings. Click here to read the paper
Bursaries awarded
We are pleased to announce we have successfully awarded seven small bursaries to help emerging artists with a lived experience of the criminal justice system develop their career and artistic practice. At the end of this years' scheme grants were awarded to two poets, two musicians, a potter, a visual artist and a photographer. We look forward to seeing the outcome of these bursaries over the next year, and wish all applicants the best of luck in their creative practice. Click here to find out more
New blog: art and violence
In June 2018, Odd Arts' Jo Lane attended a conference at the University of Edinburgh that explored how contemporary art addresses violence and war. Her blog, Reflections on art and violence, shares her key findings and feelings from the conference. She writes, "If we can offer opportunities for people to be heard, valued and recognized for their creativity and ingenuity, we can bring about a deeper sense of belonging, trust and purpose; and in turn can reduce the risk of harm to selves and others." Click here to read more
Last chance: Anne Peaker debate
5th October | London | £10
There are limited tickets remaining for our Anne Peaker debate, How can art create a less violent society?, at the National Theatre next Friday 5th October. Join us for an exclusive performance from Synergy Theatre Project, followed by a panel discussion featuring Odd Arts' Rebecca Friel, artist and activist Chairman Kato, The Comedy School's Keith Palmer and leading urban youth specialist academic Craig Pinkey. Click here to book
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 25th October. Please email dora.dixon@clinks.org with any news, events, opportunities or blog proposals by Tuesday 16th October.
Festival of Audacity
27th - 29th September | Birmingham | Free
Beetfreeks' multidisciplinary festival of activist arts begins today and continues across Birmingham through the weekend. The Festival of Audacity makes space for young creators to take risks and reach people beyond traditional arts venues. The programme features cinema, interactive performance, discussion, spoken word and music. Click here to find out more
Arts Award webinar
2nd October | Online | Free
Trinity College London's free webinar will give participants guidance and top tips on delivering Arts Award with young people at risk of offending. It will cover the key benefits of achieving an Arts Award for young people and provide examples of good practice with young people in prisons, young offender's institutes or secure care homes. Click here to sign up
Autumn concert
13th October | Bristol | £5
Join Changing Tunes for a night of music and stories from its participants and musicians. The autumn concert is a unique opportunity to see the result of Changing Tunes' work with prisoners and former prisoners, with a mixture of songs by its beneficiaries and musicians and first-hand stories of how music has helped change lives. Click here to book
Book launch
20th October | Bradford | Free
Join artists Pablo and Roxana Allison at Impressions Gallery, Bradford, for the launch of their book Operation Jurassic, a culmination of a long-term collaboration between brother and sister that follows the journey of imprisonment. The launch includes an 'in conversation' with the artists and Impressions Gallery's Head of Programmes, Pippa Oldfield. Click here to find out more
A masterclass in theatre and rehabilitation
15th November | London | from £65
Clean Break and Geese Theatre Company are delivering a one-day training course, Staging Rehabilitation, for both theatre artists and criminal justice professionals interested in the specialised field of arts in the criminal justice system. Three bursary places are available to anyone with direct personal (not professional) experience of the criminal justice system. Click here to book
Vacancies at Synergy Theatre Project
A leading producer of arts programmes within the criminal justice system and theatres, Synergy Theatre Project, is looking for highly motivated and experienced individuals to join its team as Development Manager and Learning and Engagement Manager (Young People). The deadline for applications is 8th October. Click here to apply
Art competition for young people
Youth Justice Board (YJB) is holding an artwork competition for children in the youth justice system (10 - 17 year olds) in the secure estate and in the community. Entries will be judged by young people, in a number of categories, and the winners announced during YJB's youth justice convention on 27th and 28th November. The deadline for submissions is 28th September. Click here to find out more
Beating Time joins global choir
Beating Time’s singing group at HMP Maidstone, The Maidstone Jammers, took part in this year’s One Day One Choir initiative – a global choral project in support of the UN World Peace Day on 21st September. The programme included a special song of peace and reconciliation, 'Closer', written by one of the group as part of his healing process. Click here to find out more
Education awards recognise arts
The winners of the Prisoner Learning Alliance's annual awards this year included librarians and arts tutors, amongst others. One winner, Lesley Bennetts, said, "A lot of learners have never touched a paintbrush before they come in, but around 90% then apply for arts materials grants afterwards. I'm only a catalyst - it's great to have given them that means to express themselves." Click here to find out more
CEO of HMPPS steps down
Michael Spurr, CEO of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will step down at the end of March 2019, after 35 years in the service and nearly nine years leading it. Clinks' CEO Anne Fox, said “Clinks and the [voluntary] sector have had a long and good relationship with Michael and the teams he’s led over many years. We look forward to working with him over the coming months and to continuing to work with HMPPS teams into the future." Click here to find out more
Special arts edition of Prison Service Journal
The latest issue of the HM Prison Service's peer review journal is a special edition that focuses on The Arts in Prison. Edited by Dr Michael Fiddler and National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance steering group member Alli Black, it contains 10 articles and evaluations that show "a partial snapshot of the vital and important work being done in the arts both within and outside prisons" and highlight the power of this work to transform the lives of those involved. Click here to read the journal
Stretch Digital report
Stretch Charity has prepared a detailed report of its lottery funded project that saw Stretch deliver work across five prisons and in the community over three years. The report includes a foreword from Joe Lambert, Director of the Center for Digital Storytelling; essays and reflections from the Stretch team and practitioners; and links to many of the stories for you to watch online. Click here to read the report
Report on cultural democracy
64 Million Artists has published Cultural Democracy in Practice. Commissioned by Arts Council England, the report explores how to embed democratic practice within arts and cultural organisations and includes practical advice, examples, and case studies of cultural organisations opening up programming, decision making, creation of work and commissioning to their local communities. Click here to read the report
Restorative justice journal
The Internet Journal of Restorative Justice (IJRJ) has announced the publication of a special issue on Restorative Justice and Complex Cases, with contributions of 15 authors in the UK, Canada, Greece, and the USA. The contributions assess the readiness and suitability of restorative justice in cases of complex and serious crimes. The IJRJ is offering a 10% discount with the code “GIFT4U”. Click here to find out more
Funding for Arts Awards centres
The Arts Award Access Fund provides grants of between £100 – £1,500 to centres working on Arts Award projects with young people where access and inclusion is an issue – including youth justice settings. The current round closes 19th October 2018. Click here to apply
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