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
Arts Council England's 10-year strategy
Arts Council England has published its strategy for 2020-30. Clinks and the NCJAA are delighted that, following our recommendations, it identifies the criminal justice system as a key community partner for delivering its long term goals. We hope that significant recognition of the criminal justice system under "cultural communities" will ensure the benefits of creative activity are felt by people in prison and probation settings. We also hope that this work will bring these settings to the attention of wider communities, changing public perceptions about what people in the criminal justice system can achieve and enhancing arts and culture for all. Find out more here
Save the date: 23rd June 2020
Our 2020 annual meeting will be held in Manchester on the afternoon of Tuesday 23rd June. We will be welcoming new members to our steering group (watch this space for more details if you're interested in applying to join!) and thinking about what's next for arts in criminal justice and the NCJAA. Please save the date. Booking information to follow.
New blog post: Gareth Malone's The Choir at Aylesbury
Our Director, Jessica Plant, reflects in our blog on the impact of Gareth Malone’s work at HMYOI Aylesbury, and pays tribute to the hard work of pioneering arts organisations that have quietly driven change behind the scenes for over 30 years. Read the blog post here
Prison education contracts
The Ministry of Justice has extended the maximum length of Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) contracts to two years. Clinks, the NCJAA and the Prisoner Learning Alliance have been tracking the use of the new prison education commissioning tool since its inception, and have advocated for longer maximum contract periods, which offer better security for suppliers and more consistency. Find out more here
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 27th February. Please email dora.dixon@clinks.org with any news, research, events, opportunities or blog proposals by Tuesday 18th February.
Irene Taylor Trust performances
Dates in February and March | London, Cambridge | Free
The Irene Taylor Trust is holding a series of public performances to showcase a range of projects creating original music with people in contact with the criminal justice system. Performances include collaborations with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Clean Break Theatre Company. Attendance is free but RSVP is essential. RSVP here
In Plain Sight
5th - 8th, 12th - 15th February | Stoke-on-Trent | £10
Rideout’s new show, In Plain Sight, is an interactive improvised promenade performance taking place in a former tyre garage in Stoke-on-Trent. The show is developed in consultation with people with lived experience of complex life circumstances and uses performance, storytelling, song, interactive debate and food to explore the experiences of those who find themselves sleeping rough. Book here
Prisoners on Prisoners
8th February - 6th September | Ripon | From £5.50
Prisoners on Prisoners is an installation at Ripon Prison and Police Museum that shares the experiences of female prisoners through audio, textile and photography. Workshops took place at HMP Askham Grange using the museum’s Edwardian and Victorian criminal record books to give prisoners a way to share their perspectives and for visitors to consider the individual lived experience of justice systems. Book here
Theatre exploring black men's mental health
11th, 15th February | London | Free
Social justice arts practitioner Tony Cealy has been working with middle-aged black men with experience of depression. A short performance exploring the causes that lie behind poor mental health aims to be a creative catalyst for the following interactive debate and panel discussion. Book here
Mid-Wales arts and health networking meeting
12th March | Powys | Free
Wales Arts Health and Wellbeing Network meetings offer an opportunity for arts and health professionals to come together, network, hear about sector updates and share new initiatives. Coordinated by Engage Cymru, this meeting will be held in partnership with Artworks Cymru and include a presentation from Mess up the Mess Theatre Company on its 'Well Iawn' programme. Book here
Exhibition virtual tour
A National Justice Museum exhibition of women in prison is now available to experience online in a virtual tour. A 3D representation of the exhibition and its collection of historic photographs of women living and working in prison can be explored alongside feedback and creative responses from visitors. The photographs, on display for the first time, were taken in several UK prisons from 140 years ago to the 1980s. Find out more here
Koestler Awards 2020
This year's Koestler Awards are now open for entries. The annual arts awards offer cash prizes, written feedback, certificates, mentoring, publication, exhibition and sale opportunities to people in the criminal justice system. Around three and a half thousand people enter yearly. This year, designer Camille Walala will be curating the annual Southbank show. The themed category is 'Window' and the deadline for entries is 3rd April. Find out more here
Imagine If seeks new trustees
Emerging theatre and criminal justice charity, Imagine If, is seeking new trustees and a Chair to lead it into the next phase of its growth. The new board will support the core objectives of the organisation over the next three years: produce and showcase two pieces of original theatre to the public, secure core funding for the central administrative function, and further develop the flagship 'Bird on the Wing' intervention in prisons across the UK. Apply by 2nd March. Apply here
Research in to arts and youth offending
A West Midlands youth offending service is transforming the lives of young people in contact with the criminal justice system by engaging them in arts and creative projects, researchers have found. Academics at the University of Wolverhampton have been analysing the impact of introducing a range of arts and creative activities across Sandwell Youth Offending Service and early findings include a reduction in breach of order by young people when taking part in creative arts activities. Find out more here
Campaign for #FairChecks
Unlock and Transform Justice has launched a movement calling for a major review of the legislation on the disclosure of criminal records, so that everybody can achieve their potential. Even a minor criminal history can produce lifelong barriers to employment, volunteering and housing, many years after people have moved on from their past. Get involved by tweeting and sharing with your networks, using the hashtag #FairChecks and directing people to the Fairchecks website. See the website here
Monument Fellowship call out
Following the publication of Crime and Consequence by Clinks and the NCJAA in 2019, this year Khulisa is curating responses to the question “What role do kindness, hope and compassion play in the criminal justice system?” for the fourth book in the Monument Fellowship series. Whether you’d like to write an essay, a poem, share some artwork, or express your thoughts on this subject through any other creative medium, Khulisa would like to hear from you. Get in touch by 7th February with a short abstract of 200-250 words. Find out more here
Strategic grant for arts in criminal justice
HM Prison and Probation Service is offering a grant of up to £225,000 (awarded for a maximum of three years) to “increase offender engagement in a range of art activities.” Funded activities include “plan, organise and curate a high-profile annual establishments-wide arts competition” with “a selection of work is to be displayed for public viewing”, and “facilitate a mentoring scheme for individual offenders with an interest in pursuing a career in the arts.” To apply, register and login to the Ministry of Justice’s e-Sourcing portal and select “ITTs Open to All Suppliers”. The competition closes at 10am on 5th February. Apply here
Bromley Briefings
The Prison Reform Trust has published its Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile Winter 2019, which presents extensive statistics about prisons and the people in them. The latest edition opens with a detailed review of how sentencing for the most serious crimes has become more severe over the last two decades. It found that for life sentences, the guaranteed minimum period in custody has risen from 12.5 years on average in 2003 to 21.3 years in 2016. Download the briefing here [PDF]
The road ahead for charities
NCVO has published The Road Ahead, a new report on the forces and trends that will affect charities in 2020. The report covers politics, the economy and social and technological change, and identifies various opportunities and challenges. It is designed to be a useful tool for those involved in planning, especially trustees and managers. Read the report 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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