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
March highlights
Welcome to the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance's March newsletter. Thank you to everyone who took part in our annual survey - over 100 of you responded, all of which will help drive how we can best support the arts and criminal justice sector in the future. Out of the office, this month we made cross-sector connections at the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance's first annual conference, sat in on a Finding Rhythms session at HMP Peterborough, and visited HMP Hull to see arts practice in its education department. We continue to feed back issues to the government, particularly around your experiences of the new Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS); please get in touch if you have used the DPS and let us know how you are finding it.
Annual meeting 2019
12th June | FACT, Liverpool | Free
Our annual meeting will be in Liverpool to launch a new publication to support arts organisations who want to work in criminal justice settings and begin our regional development work in the North West. The event will be a chance for our members to look back over the year's achievements, share experiences and learn more about transformative creative work happening in criminal justice settings. Capacity is limited and reservation is essential. Find out more and book here
Measuring intermediate outcomes of arts interventions
We are pleased to see the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published research from the development of a toolkit to measure the intermediate outcomes of arts and mentoring interventions for people in the criminal justice system. The main objective of the work, which began in 2013, was to design a robust but user-friendly instrument to measure outcomes contributing to desistance made by individual interventions which are not expected to reduce reoffending on their own. We look forward to working with the MoJ to explore the toolkit’s potential use for our members working across arts and mentoring activities. Download the toolkit here
New research in to music and criminal justice
We have added new research to our Evidence Library. Academics from the University of Wolverhampton have evaluated The Irene Taylor Trust's Sounding Out programme, which provides ex-prisoners with rehabilitative opportunities upon their release; through music creation, performance, training and work placements. It found that the programme demonstrated benefits in social skills, focus and direction, musical ability and empathy. Read the report here
Read our latest guest blog
If you attended our annual conference last month, you might remember the youth and community specialist Nathan Dennis' energy-boosting lunchtime session - and may have been lucky enough to catch his workshop on role models for young people. Nathan has shared his highlights from the day for us in our blog, and asks, "It was very clear from the panel discussion after the production that young people have the solutions. My question is: are we, as practitioners, listening?" Read our latest blogs here
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 25th April. Please email dora.dixon@clinks.org with any news, research, events, opportunities or blog proposals by Tuesday 16th April.
Geese Theatre Company introductory workshop
8th April | Birmingham | £10
Geese Theatre Company is holding an afternoon workshop to share its practice, answer specific questions and provide a rare opportunity to experience the organisation's work. The sessions are particularly suited for students researching prison theatre, academics and professionals, but are also open to the public and anyone may attend. Book here
Changing Stories symposium at HMP Thorn Cross
11th April | Cheshire | Free
To celebrate the conclusion of its Changing Stories project, Theatre in Prisons and Probation (TiPP) is holding an afternoon symposium at HMP Thorn Cross. The participatory arts project is based in four North West prisons, and equips participants with the skills to write, create theatre and perform music. Registration by 1st April is essential. Book here
Guys and Dolls at HMP Dartmoor
21st - 23rd May | Devon | Free
Following Carmen in 2017 and West Side Story in 2018, the Prison Choir Project returns this May to work with the residents of HMP Dartmoor in a production of the Guys and Dolls and will be putting on three performances of the musical. Registration is essential. Book here
Women's prison activism symposium
7th June | Oxford | Cost tbc
This one-day symposium will bring together researchers, creative thinkers, artists, and wider communities interested in criminal justice with a particular focus on women’s transnational prison activism. A call for papers closes on 1st April. Find out more here
Koestler Trust on BBC Radio 4
Prison arts charity the Koestler Trust is taking part in BBC Radio 4‘s charity appeal. Tune in to hear the story of John, a former Koestler Awards entrant and mentee who made the journey from a young offenders institution to the Venice Biennale. The appeal is read by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller and is live until 30th March. Find out more here
Theatre in prisons reviewed in the Guardian
Two shows produced with people with experience of the criminal justice system, Clean Break's Inside Bitch and Young Vic's The Jumper Factory, have been reviewed in a Guardian article titled 'A world to escape into': how theatre gives prisoners a way out. Read more here
Music programme helps young people get back on track after prison
The charity HDMT Music is set to publish findings from its music and resettlement project, One Spirit, which has reached 177 young people from three prisons over the past 12 months. The project uses a framework of music, creative and arts activities to support personal wellbeing and develop a range of skills, both in custody and through the gate. Find out more here
Awarding those who support young people to manage conflict
Lighting the Fire, Leap‘s annual awards that celebrate the young people, adults and organisations that excel at supporting young people to manage the conflict in their lives, is open for nominations in three categories; young leader, inspirational adult, and best project or organisation. The deadline to nominate is 1st April. Find out more here
Coding in prisons
CODE 4000, a voluntary organisation that teachers prisoners coding, has been given new funding by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to expand its scheme and reach more than a thousand more people. The £100,000 award will support the organisation as it looks to achieve its aim of developing a network of coding workshops in UK prisons. Find out more here
Clean Break's Rebel Voices
Women's theatre company Clean Break has compiled an anthology of monologues in a book titled Rebel Voices: Monologues for Women by Women to celebrate 40 years of the company supporting women in the criminal justice system. It will be released on 2nd May, but is now available for pre-order. Pre-order the book here
Research on charities in prisons
Clinks is advising NPC’s criminal justice programme which has published research on charities delivering services to people in prison. The report acknowledges that it is increasingly difficult for charities to access people in prison, but that those charities are vital. It sets out some of the barriers and how to overcome them, identifying recommendations for charities, governors and funders. Read the report here
Creative Careers Programme
The Creative Industries Federation's Creative Careers Programme is an industry-designed initiative to raise awareness of opportunities for work across the creative economy, and aims to ensure there is a larger and more diverse intake of young people into the sector and respond to serious skills gaps so the workforce is fit for the future. There are many ways in which organisations can get involved and support the programme. Find out more here
Good practice for building access
Arts Council England has published a guide that sets out best practice to support organisations in identifying and removing the barriers that may exist in their physical environment. Building Access includes case studies and an illustrated guide to key stages when designing for inclusion and accessibility. Read the guide here
Work experience opportunities for students
Royal Holloway is currently supporting students who are particularly keen to gain valuable experience in the voluntary and criminal justice sectors this summer through its micro-placements scheme, which provides two to four week work experience placements. If your organisation is interested in offering a placement or you would like to find out more, get in touch with Lisa Zampetti at lisa.zampetti@royalholloway.ac.uk
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.