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
July highlights
Welcome to the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance's (NCJAA) July newsletter. We hope you have been enjoying the sunshine and are staying safe today - on what is looking like the hottest day ever recorded in the UK. It has been an exciting month for the NCJAA. Our director attended an event at 10 Downing Street to champion the crucial work our network does using arts and culture to provide positive alternatives to violence and crime for young people. Elsewhere, planning for Inspiring Futures, our ambitious research project with the University of Cambridge and eight arts partners, is now well under way. Read on to find out what else is on the horizon for the NCJAA and for further arts and criminal justice news, events and resources.
Final round of Arts Council England consultation
Arts Council England (ACE) is calling for responses to the final draft of its 10-year strategy, which sets out its vision for 2020 – 2030, along with new guiding principles for investment in arts and culture. We are delighted that the final draft strategy places outcomes for people and communities centre stage, embraces the impact of creativity on health and wellbeing, and prioritises inclusivity and relevance. We are particularly pleased that it identifies the criminal justice system as a key partner in achieving its ambitious goals. The final stage of the consultation is now open and we urge our network and supporters to respond to the online survey by 23rd September 2019. We have published our response to the previous round of the consultation, made jointly with Clinks, which you may find helpful when developing your own response to the strategy. Please also get in touch if you are interested in contributing to our final response. Find out more and respond here
Save the date
15th October 2019 | London
Our annual Anne Peaker lecture will this year take place in London on the evening of Tuesday 15th October 2019. We are delighted to announce that the keynote speaker will be François Matarasso, community arts worker, writer and researcher. Please put the date in your diary and keep an eye out for booking details.
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 29th August. Please email dora.dixon@clinks.org with any news, research, events, opportunities or blog proposals by Tuesday 20th August.
Future of probation services
July and August | Various, UK | free
Following its announcement to reunify probation services under the National Probation Service, the Ministry of Justice is undertaking continued market engagement on the future of probation services in England and Wales. Organisations delivering - or interested in delivering - rehabilitative and resettlement services are invited to discuss the design of the future framework. There is a series of market engagement events and webinars taking place nationally. Find out more and book here
Miss Represented: Mirror Mirror
30th July - 4th August | Sussex | free
See an exhibition of work by Miss Represented, a Brighton-based arts collective of young women experiencing challenging life situations. Mirror Mirror explores image, identity, reflections and the different sides that people show – on social media, in their lives and to themselves. On the opening night, the exhibition is accompanied by a screening of the Miss Represented documentary, Can You See Me Now? Find out more and book here
Re:Lease
24th August | Suffolk | free
Snape Maltings marks 20 years’ work with its local prison, HMP Warren Hill, with a day of performances and workshops showcasing the role of music and arts in rehabilitation. The arts centre and music venue will be joined by its national partners Koestler Arts, The Irene Taylor Trust, Clean Break and Fine Cell Work for workshops, exhibitions, performances, talks and pop-ups, to share insight into the different approaches used to engage those within the criminal justice system. Find out more and book here
Koestler exhibition 2019
19th September - 3rd November | London | free
Koestler Arts' annual exhibition of work produced by people within the criminal justice system at the Southbank Centre is this year curated by award-winning jazz and hip-hop musician Soweto Kinch. Over 150 artworks will be on display, from music and poetry to paintings, drawings and sculpture. Titled Another Me, the exhibition invites visitors to reassess their perceptions of people who have spent time inside. The exhibition will launch with an opening festival on 18th September. Find out more here
Theatre of the Oppressed training
Early November (dates tbc) | Manchester | £150
Odd Arts, a theatre company that delivers issue based creative programmes with vulnerable and excluded groups and in prisons, is offering an opportunity to train with Geo Britto, one of the first generations of students who trained with Augusto Boal in Brazil. Geo has continued to deliver this work in Centre of the Theatre of the Oppressed (CTO) Rio and will be coming to Manchester in early November to host a three-day training workshop, covering methodology and practical learning. Find out more and book here
Arts Council England commit to 'Ban the Box'
Arts Council England (ACE) has announced its commitment to be a 'Ban the Box' employer in a new blog from Mags Patten, its Executive Director for Public Policy and Communication. The blog focuses on the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance's 'Ban the Box' briefing event, attended by ACE Chief Executive Darren Henley OBE and the then Minister of State for Justice Robert Buckland QC MP, and shares the new publication Positive action to recruit people with criminal records into the arts, media and cultural sector. Alongside its commitment to 'Ban the Box', ACE has committed to developing new sector guidance and supporting a new pilot around employability. Mags writes, "Everyone deserves the chance to reimagine and change their lives." Read the blog here
New cabinet announced
The Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appointed his new cabinet ministers. Nicky Morgan MP succeeds Jeremy Wright MP as the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Former Minister of State for Justice Robert Buckland QC MP succeeds David Gauke MP as the Secretary of State for Justice. The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance looks forward to working with the new secretaries of state and would like to thank Jeremy Wright MP and David Gauke MP for their hard work supporting arts and culture in criminal justice settings.
Encouraging family bonds through storytelling
Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival is expanding its transformative Bedtime Stories project in prisons. Through storytelling, the project builds literacy skills and encourages important family bonds, recognised as hugely influential in the wellbeing of the children and in the rehabilitation of prisoners. The project will be rolled out in another five schools and 12 prisons across England, reaching a further 1,000 families. Find out more here
Real life stories of women who have faced coercive control
This winter, Open Clasp Theatre Company's new play tackling coercive control will be screened for free online and in venues across the UK. Rattle Snake is based on the real life stories of women who have faced and survived coercive controlling domestic abuse and was originally developed as part of a training programme for frontline police officers in Durham. The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance will be hosting a screening online, and Open Clasp encourages venues and organisations to sign up to do the same. Watch the trailer and find out more here
Music and mentoring at HMP Drake Hall
For the last two years Changing Tunes Midlands (CTM) has been bringing musicians-in-residence into prisons across the Midlands and is now seeking support to expand to a women's prison, HMP Drake Hall. The musician-in-residence model uses a therapeutic approach to teaching music and mentoring developed over 30 years of experience from Changing Tunes in Bristol. The programme uses music teaching, rehearsing, recording, improvisation and composition to foster improvement in attitudes and self-esteem, building resilience in the students. Find out more here
Play and workshop package
Imagine If invites conversations with prison establishments about Jadek - the theatre company's new play and workshop package. Available from mid-October to December 2019, Jadek deals with mental health, exploitation and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for prisoners through a professional theatre production and intensive drama-based workshop. There are limited tour dates available. For further information and to book, contact Tamsin at tamsin@imagineiftheatre.co.uk as soon as possible.
People in prison say they need arts
Over 1,250 prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families have contributed to a new report titled What do you need to make the best use of your time in prison? Published by the Prisoner Policy Network, the report highlights prisoner experiences of life behind the wall and positive ways to move forward. It argues that prisons need to promote personal growth as an end in itself and not just a means to reduced reoffending and shows that prisoners consider access to arts and culture a leading factor in making the best use of time served. Read the report here
Double discrimination?
Unlock, the country’s leading charity for people with convictions, has today published research on the impact of criminal records as perceived by people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. New data in the report, Double discrimination?, shows that over three-quarters of people surveyed felt their ethnicity made it harder for them to overcome the problems they faced as a result of having a criminal record. The report is based on the survey responses from 221 individuals. Download the report here (PDF)
Socio-economic diversity and inclusion in the arts
A new toolkit from Jerwood Arts and the Bridge Group aims to support employers to take action to advance socio-economic diversity. It advocates for long-term change across the arts sector by sharing knowledge, providing expert support, and encouraging take-up of an intersectional approach to equality, diversity and inclusion. Download the toolkit here (PDF)
Sisters in Desistance
Khidmat Centres has published a report titled Sisters in Desistance, Commuity-based solutions for Muslim women post-prison. Written by Sofia Buncy and Ishtiaq Ahmed, the report shows Muslim women struggle to cope with the stigma of having served time in prison, with some being disowned by their family. The report calls for more targeted support and shares learning from the Muslim Women in Prison Project, which uses a model of community rehabilitation. Download the report here (PDF)
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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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