The newsletter for arts organisations working in criminal justice.
In this month's issue...
Supporting arts in criminal justice through Covid-19
Throughout April we have held a number of online meetings to bring the arts in criminal justice network together during this challenging period. Artists and organisations have risen to the challenge – adapting work to support those most in need. We are continuing to map current arts provision across the criminal justice system and are pleased to learn something creative is being attempted in almost every prison in the country. However the health of the arts and criminal justice sector is at risk and we are doing everything we can to support sustainability at this time. To support this mapping process and enable us to get you the support you need, get in touch with us at info@artsincriminaljustice.org.uk. Please read on to learn more about: funding opportunities, call outs for artists, creative packs available for young people as well as other information and resources to support and inspire you.
How is Covid-19 affecting arts in criminal justice
Earlier this month, NCJAA Director Jessica Plant reflected on how the current Covid-19 crisis is affecting our network. In her blog, she explores how our community of artists and arts organisations are adapting and coping to ensure they can continue to support people in prisons and the community. She also gives an update on what the NCJAA is doing to support organisations and arts practitioners during this time. Read her blog here
Survey on the impact of Covid-19
Clinks would like to hear from voluntary organisations on the impact of Covid-19 so we can help the government, funders and other decision makers understand what you're experiencing, and advocate for your needs during this difficult time. Thank you to the voluntary organisations and arts practitioners who completed the previous survey. Clinks and NCJAA are sharing this information with policy makers and funders to help them understand the impact of Covid-19 across the sector. See the key findings so far here, and keep an eye on this newsletter and Light Lunch for future updates or get in touch for further specific arts information. Take the survey by 1st May here
RR3 Covid-19 Special Interest Group update
The Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) has set up a Special Interest Group (SIG) on Covid-19, bringing together leading experts from across the voluntary sector weekly, in order to formally channel policy suggestions to the government on how they can protect people in contact with the criminal justice system and their families, to ensure the future of the voluntary sector working in criminal justice. Will Downs, Policy Officer at Clinks, has been writing weekly blogs summarising key points and recommendations made by the group. Read them here
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service invitation for offers of support
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is inviting voluntary organisations to submit offers for how they can adapt their service or deliver more support to people in prisons, youth custody or in the community in the context of Covid-19. There is now a formal way for organisations to let HMPPS know how they can help. The NCJAA encourages organisations in the arts in criminal justice sector to submit offers of proposals for creative activity to HMPPS. Find out more about how to submit a proposal here
NCJAA network hang outs
On 22nd April, NCJAA held a network hang out, on the theme of ‘Planning for an uncertain future’. We were joined by people from across the network for a vibrant and wide-ranging discussion. It was fantastic to connect, share and learn from each other. John McMahon, Arts Council England (ACE), also joined us early in the session, to discuss ACE’s emergency response package and provide some thoughts at this early stage on how to plan for the re-opening of the arts and cultural sector. Our next hang out will take place in early May. Hang outs take place online (on Zoom) and are free to join. We will be publishing information about our next network hang outs soon. Watch this space for more information here
Steering group election update
Towards the end of March, as the profound impact of the Covid-19 crisis on our sector became increasingly clear, NCJAA took the decision to delay our steering group election process. Supporting our network through the next weeks and months is our primary focus at this time. The current steering group have agreed to stay on to provide their guidance and expertise as we navigate this crisis. We will not be re-opening applications to new prospective candidates during this time. We will recommence the election process as soon as possible.
Clinks appoints new Director of Support and Development
Clinks is delighted to announce that Nichole McIntosh joined the team on Monday 20th April as the new Director of Support and Development. Nichole’s work will focus on supporting organisations through Clinks’ membership, events, training, regional and thematic networks, including the NCJAA, and projects and programmes which seek to provide solutions to challenges the sector faces.
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 28th May. Please email info@artsincriminaljustice.org.uk with any news, research, events, opportunities or blog proposals by Tuesday 19th May.
Safe Ground online space to think sessions
From 6th May | Online | Free
Safe Ground will be holding reflective groups for people interested in using online space to think with others about their emotional responses, thoughts, issues and concerns during the current situation. Safe Ground has a long history of designing and delivering therapeutic group work. Anyone is welcome to join. The first session will take place at 6pm on Wednesday 6th May. To register your interest, please email info@safeground.org.uk
Clinks members hang out
11th May, 13:00 – 14:00 | Online | Free
The Clinks Membership and Events Team invite you to join them for a conversation over lunch. The future is looking uncertain for many of us. You are likely to be trying to deliver your services remotely, with fewer staff and in unknown environments. Would you like to talk to someone? This is an opportunity for you to come together to talk to the team and each other during these challenging times. Find more information and register here
Creativity and Wellbeing week 2020
18th – 24th May | Online | Free
The Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance has announced its reimagined Creativity and Wellbeing week 2020, a festival celebrating the groundbreaking work happening around the country bringing together culture, creativity, health and wellbeing. The theme of the week is Positive Futures. Find out more about how to get involved here
Street Cones #Covid19 workshops
Available now | Online | Free
Anyone currently feeling isolated (or just bored) as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions is welcome to join Street Cones online creative workshops. Street Cones use the arts to give people who are marginalised a voice to help themselves as well as their wider community. Find out more here
Daily creative challenges
Daily | Online | Free
Create to Connect is a month of challenges for each day of May, specifically designed to keep communities connected, curious and creative in uncertain times. You can sign up to receive daily challenge emails, or follow along on 64 Million Artists’ social media. Find out more here
Social Impact of Making Music (SIMM): research symposium
The 5th international annual SIMM-posium will take place in Brussels on 18-19th December, bringing together individuals and organisations to build and strengthen a network of professionals wishing to deepen rigorous and evidence-based understanding of how active participatory music making may be used to bring social benefits to groups of individuals in diverse contexts and situations. The call out for proposals and expressions of interest is open until 1st June 2020. Found out more here
Letter writing project
Clean Break and It’s Not Your Birthday But… have joined together to launch Write 2 Connect, a letter writing project connecting women through the prison walls with women in the community sharing words of inspiration, hope and solidarity. Women from all corners of the UK and from all walks of life are invited to write a message to a woman in prison. Have you found comfort in words, a story or a song? What inspires you? Is it a quote from a book, nature, a woman you know? Sharing something that is personal to you and offering hope to another person is a gift which everyone can afford. More details here
The National Justice Museum launches ‘Letters of Constraint’
The National Justice Museum invites you to write a letter that shares a personal insight into a time of confinement and isolation during the current Covid-19 pandemic. Your letters will join the museum’s existing collection of letters, providing a snapshot of life from many perspectives within a historically significant time. These ‘Letters of Constraint’ will shape audio artwork and a digital book which will be added to the ‘Constraint Restraint’ virtual exhibition, exploring ideas of constraint through historic objects and contemporary art. Find out more about how to get involved with ‘Letters of Constraint’ here. Explore the exhibition here
Fio Pen 2 Paper challenge
Fio is challenging you to put Pen 2 Paper and write them a letter. Not brisque emails, not fleeting tweets but good old fashioned letters. This is an online initiative to promote offline mindfulness. Find out more about how to get involved here
Call outs
Call out for arts supplies for HMP Onley
HMP Onley are looking for support with the provision of arts supplies and materials, to help them make a rainbow across their sports hall walls, comprised of A4 sheets of art work produced by residents individually in their cells. If you have materials or ideas to contribute to this initiative, please email paul.smith9@justice.gov.uk and Isabella.james@justice.gov.uk
Musical Instrument appeal
In response to Covid-19, Changing Tunes is launching an urgent instrument appeal, to benefit participants at HMP Bristol, and possibly further afield too. As it can no longer deliver music sessions in person at HMP Bristol, Changing Tunes is now facilitating in-cell learning instead. Prisoners will receive a resource pack, alongside an instrument in working order. This will mean they can continue developing musical skills, even with all the disruption that Covid-19 has brought to prison life. If you are able to donate any instruments (acoustic guitars especially welcome), please email info@changingtunes.org.uk
Sponsor Rise & Bloom to send baked treats to HMP staff and people in prison
Rise & Bloom is a small prison charity currently baking treats for local HMP staff, people in prison and NHS staff. If you want to sponsor Rise & Bloom to bake a batch of goodies, follow the link below. You can write a personal note to the recipient and Rise & Bloom will let you know which prison received the batch you sponsored. Follow Rise & Bloom on Instagram @rise_bloom_ and click here
Unlocked lockdown project
With support from prison staff, Soft Touch Arts are distributing weekly arts challenges to prisoners in HMP Leicester, whose responses are then returned to Soft Touch who post them on social media. Comments received are fed back to prisoners creating a link between them and the outside work. To find out more, including how you can get involved, visit Soft Touch Arts here
Clinks’ support and information
Clinks is regularly updating the Covid-19 webpage with the latest developments and sources of support for voluntary organisations working in criminal justice, including arts organisations. See the latest updates here
Emergency funding from Arts Council England
Arts Council England (ACE) is making £160 million of emergency funding available for organisations and individuals who will need it during the Covid-19 crisis. This includes £20m for individuals (made up of grants of up to £2,500 each), £90m for National Portfolio Organisations and £50m for organisations outside of the National Portfolio. Applications for organisations outside of the National Portfolio and for individuals close today (30th April 2020). Financial support for NPOs and Lead CPP organisations will open on 12th May and the deadline for applications is 19th May. Find out more about ACE’s Covid-19 support here
Prisoner Learning Alliance In-Cell Activity Hub
The Prisoner Learning Alliance In-Cell Activity Hub contains creative, unique resources contributed by organisations and individuals for PEF providers and prison staff to download and print. This will help support people whilst prisons are in lock-down, where people are spending a lot of time in their cells with no access to face-to-face activities. Read more here
Creative Packs available from Odd Arts
Odd Arts has Creative Packs available to a limited number of young people (10-16yrs) who have increased vulnerability, needs or disadvantage, including those serving custodial sentences and those involved with the criminal justice sector. There are four packs per participant, which includes arts materials, a toolkit to follow and all themed around the five steps to wellbeing. The packs work towards an arts award and have all the materials needed to complete the award without Wi-Fi/mobile devices. If you have young people you would like to add to the list (maximum 5 per organisation currently) please get in touch with jess@oddarts.co.uk - please note this is on a first come first served basis.
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This newsletter is written monthly. Email info@artsincriminaljustice.org.uk 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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