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
August highlights
Welcome to the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance's (NCJAA) August newsletter. We're excited to share with you this month a chance to join the NCJAA team at Clinks in a new role as Project Manager. This is an excellent opportunity to join our team at a time of growth and development. Please note the vacancy closes very soon and applications must be sent by Monday 2nd September. Read on to find out how to apply for the role, book your ticket for our next annual Anne Peaker lecture, or respond to Arts Council England's consultation on its 10-year strategy - alongside other arts and criminal justice events, news and resources.
Join our team
We are looking for an experienced Project Manager [£30,689 (FTE £37,849), 4 days a week, London] to deliver and measure the impact of a number of NCJAA projects. The post holder will be responsible for supporting the development of an ambitious new research programme (Inspiring Futures) that aims to enable more people within the criminal justice system to participate in arts interventions that help them on their journeys away from crime. The deadline to apply is 5pm, Monday 2nd September. Apply here
François Matarasso: A space to think
15th October | London | £10
Anne Peaker was a pioneer of arts for, and by, people in the criminal justice system. Our annual lecture honours her work and legacy, which forms the basis of the NCJAA today. This year, keynote speaker François Matarasso will consider the historical context of participatory arts in criminal justice settings and Anne Peaker’s contribution to this. He will go on to consider art’s capacity for the kind of reflection that helps individuals grow and make the case for its importance in terms of human rights and power. The event will include a performance of an arts project developed in criminal justice settings, a Q&A and networking drinks. Book here
How you can give a boost to arts in criminal justice
If you would like to see arts and culture in criminal justice supported by Arts Council England over the next 10 years, this is your last chance to have your say. Clinks and the NCJAA are responding to the final stage of the open consultation on Arts Council England's strategy for 2020 - 2030 and Clinks has written a blog that sets out the key aspects of the strategy and how we are going to respond. The blog also explains how you can respond to the final stage of the consultation, which closes on 23rd September, to ensure arts in criminal justice is supported in the final version of the strategy. Read the blog and respond here
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 26th September. Please email dora.dixon@clinks.org with any news, research, events, opportunities or blog proposals by Tuesday 17th September.
Clean Break's Writers: Here. There. Then. Now
7th September | London | From £5
For forty years Clean Break has produced plays on the theme of women and crime with some of Britain’s best playwrights. A selection of these artists will come together to share what they have learnt from working with Clean Break, what the future holds for women playwrights and why multifaceted representations of women on our stages are more essential than ever. Book here
A Night in the Clink
15th - 18th September, 22nd - 25th September | Cardiff | From £20
An immersive theatre and dining experience at The Clink Restaurant in HMP Cardiff. Produced in partnership with Sherman Theatre, the stories have emerged from a series of workshops run by theatre company Papertrail at the prison. Book here
HMPPS grant programme information events
24th September, 26th September, 1st October | York, Cardiff, London | Free
Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is shortly launching its next grant funding programme for 2020-2022. Clinks and HMPPS are holding three information events to provide further details on the grant programme to voluntary organisations who may wish to apply. Book here
I'd Rather Go Blind
1st - 5th October | London | From £13
Futures Theatre presents I’d Rather Go Blind, a new play by Somalia Seaton shaped by the stories of women who all have lived experience of the criminal justice system. The play presents an insight into the fear around motherhood. Book here
Novus at Tate Liverpool
28th October - 3rd November | Liverpool | Free
Creative art pieces produced by men from five prisons across the North West and North Wales will be presented in Tate Exchange at Tate Liverpool. Men taking part in the Novus Family Learning programmes have worked with artist Denise Wright to explore artistic techniques and processes, taking inspiration from the Keith Haring exhibition at Tate Liverpool. Find out more here
Ikon Gallery's new artist in residence at HMP Grendon
Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery has announced Dean Kelland as its artist in residence for the next three years at HMP Grendon, Buckinghamshire. Kelland is Ikon’s third artist’s residency at HMP Grendon, following Edmund Clark‘s residency from 2014 to 2019. Kelland will continue to support artistic practice for the prison community alongside developing his own work. Find out more here
New study centre at HMP Whitemoor
The Learning Together programme, which brings together people in criminal justice and higher education institutions to study alongside each other, has launched a new study centre at HMP Whitemoor. The centre was launched with a day event celebrating recent creative courses that have taken place at the prison, and included a photography exhibition and choir performance. Find out more here
Impact of changes to prison education commissioning
In a new guest blog for Clinks, Francesca Cooney from Prisoners' Education Trust looks at feedback from prison staff and the voluntary sector on the impact of the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS), what improvements can be made and how the government has responded to this feedback. Read the blog here
Clinks shortlisted for Charity Times Award
Clinks - who manages the NCJAA - has been shortlisted for Charity of the Year in its size category for the Charity Times Awards. Congratulations to the Clinks members who were also shortlisted for awards, including: Switchback, Commonweal Housing and Working Chance. See the full shortlist here
Clarification sought following government announcements
In response to the recent government announcements on a review of sentencing, building 10,000 additional prison places, and further investment in prison security, the Prison Reform Trust has written to Robert Buckland, Richard Heaton and Jo Farrar seeking urgent clarification in order to assist its and the wider public's understanding. Read the letters here
Call out for artists in West Mercia
Artists with experience of delivering arts programmes or activities for young people at risk of offending are invited to join a new programme of work in West Mercia. The programme aims to deliver work in Herefordshire, Shropshire or Worcestershire from 2020 as part of a funded opportunity by the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner, due to be tendered in the autumn. The deadline for expressions of interest is 6th September. Find out more here
Young BAME theatre-makers
Creating Routes is a free programme from Talawa Theatre Company for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) theatre-makers aged 18-25 years old who want to use their creative skills in community settings such as schools, health settings, or the criminal justice system. The deadline to apply is 2nd September. Apply here
Funding for individuals
Open Wing Trust offers financial and other support to individuals who are in a process of inner change, and who are changing the focus of their work towards working with others in need. The trust expects to fund up to three small one-off grants a year, with an individual maximum of £2,000. Its next meeting to consider applications is on 14th September. Apply here
The transformative potential of prison libraries
The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning has published Lisa Krolak's Books beyond bars: the transformative potential of prison libraries, which explores the extent to which prisons around the world rehabilitate and reintegrate prisoners by enabling them to use libraries to pursue their right to education. The book is available to read online for free. Read the book here
Recruitment and workforce development toolkit
Arts Council England has partnered with The Clear Company to develop a new online toolkit that aims to help arts and cultural organisations develop an inclusive and diverse workforce. The toolkit focuses on four key areas: boards and leadership, recruitment (attracting), recruitment (selecting), and retention (workplace practices). Use the toolkit here
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This newsletter is written monthly by Dora Dixon. Email dora.dixon@clinks.org if you wish to submit any news.
Clinks manages the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) and is the legally accountable body for all official NCJAA activity.
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