The newsletter for arts organisations working in criminal justice.
In this month's issue...
- National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance news
- Arts in criminal justice news and publications
- Events and training
- Resources and opportunities
Season's Greetings from the NCJAA
Throughout 2022 arts organisations and artists have time and again shown resilience, adaptability and determination in a time of change and resurgence of activity for the arts in criminal justice sector, and it has been an honour to work alongside you.
The NCJAA has continued to meet online throughout the year for our Arts in Criminal Justice network forums, and more recently in person at the Clinks annual conference which was opened by NCJAA Co-Chair, Lady Unchained, and featured Ashleigh Nugent from Rise-Up CIC. Over 2022 our team transformed as Abi Lunn joined as Support and Engagement Officer in the summer and Lorraine Maher took over as Manager in Autumn whilst Janette Kilner takes maternity leave. We are looking forward to starting off the new year with more training in our Writing Development series delivered in partnership with Royal Literary Fund, and the many other events and opportunities lined up for 2023.
The NCJAA has thrived in 2022 thanks to your engagement and we are proud to highlight some of our achievements:
- Supported 10 arts in criminal justice practitioners to develop their practice through our bursary scheme
- Provided free training to over 250 individuals including subsidised access to accredited courses through Guild Hall School of Music and Drama
- Paired seven sector experts with mentees through our mentoring programme
- Promoted over 70 jobs and opportunities via our network of newsletter subscribers
- Increased our knowledge base, including additional resources and case studies.
More reflections on Clinks’ and the NCJAA’s achievements are collated in Clinks’ Annual report & financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022.
We wish you all a happy and restful holiday season – we will be out of the office from 23 December until 3 January 2023 but occasionally monitoring social media. See you all in 2023!
Save the date: Anne Peaker lecture 2023
21 February 2023 | online
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 work we do today. The 2023 Anne Peaker lecture will bring voices from the arts in criminal justice to an online audience. Booking opens January 2023, updates will be shared in the January newsletter.
Save the date: NCJAA Festival of Arts in Criminal Justice: Inspire
21 March 2023 | Rich Mix, London
The NCJAA are hosting a one-day festival of arts in criminal justice, featuring a showcase of the Inspiring Futures project and a gathering of network members at Rich Mix, London in March 2023. The day will bring together our network of sector specialists and stakeholders to share and reflect on the impact and future sustainability of being an arts practitioner in criminal justice settings. More information including how to book will be released in January 2023.
Arts in Criminal Justice network forum
1 March 2023 | online
The NCJAA arts in criminal justice forums are regular online events themed around important ideas and relevant developments in criminal justice. You will have the chance to hear from expert speakers in both practice and policy, meet others working in the field, and share good practice within the network. Forums are open to all working, or with an interest in, arts in criminal justice. Register online here.
New research shows evidence that Shared Reading delivers positive change for individuals in prisons and probation services
Currently, The Reader delivers Shared Reading groups in 31 criminal justice settings, including prisons and approved premises in probation services. Groups read plays, poetry, short stories and novels from around the world. Recent favourites have included Kei Miller, Jackie Kay, Charles Bukowski, Lemn Sissay, Thomas Hardy and Kae Tempest. Last month, the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service published an independent evaluation of Shared Reading work in PIPES (Psychologically Informed Planned Environments) carried out by Professor Alison Liebling and her team at the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge. PIPEs are specifically designed, contained environments where staff members have additional training to develop an increased psychological understanding of their work. This understanding enables them to create an enhanced safe and supportive environment, which can facilitate the development of those who live there. Read more here.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation Awards for Artists 2022
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation have announced the next cohort of talented visual artists and composers in receipt of Awards for Artists 2022. The awards support individuals at a timely moment in their careers, giving them the freedom to develop their creative ideas and contributing to their personal and professional growth. The largest of their kind in the UK, each award amounts to £60,000 with no strings attached. The 2022 awards recognise five visual artists and five composers. Learn more about the awards and the artists' work here.
Case study: The Stolen Generations: offering creative writing, visual art and dance to young people in secure centres
Published to the NCJAA Case Study Library: The Stolen Generations, is a reflection on the Stolen Generations Project which delivered workshops in dance, creative writing and visual art for young people (aged 11-15) at Aycliffe Secure Centre, all informed by Indigenous Australian culture and dance practice. The project aimed to engage young people who would not otherwise easily access the arts. It also feeds into a wider project, The Other Side of Me, led by two academics at Northumbria University: Dr Laura Fish, a writer and Assistant Professor in creative writing, and Liz Pavey, Assistant Professor in dance and performance. Read more here.
Central Changemakers
11 January 2023 | online | free
Join RSA Central every other Wednesday for an informal online talk. You will hear from a speaker about their story of social change and what they have learnt about effective changemaking, followed by a chance to discuss the topic of the day or anything else on your mind, in small breakout rooms. We start at 13:00 and we will be finished by 13:45, allowing you to enjoy your Wednesday lunch break with inspiring speakers and interesting colleagues. Read more here.
Navigating the criminal justice system
17 January 2023 | online | from £50
Are you new to working or volunteering in the criminal justice system? Do you have volunteers or staff members who want to increase their understanding of the criminal justice system? Join us at this three-hour workshop for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to increase awareness of and provide the opportunity to explore and discuss how the criminal justice system is organised, the complexities within it, and how it works. The workshop will explore the different elements of, and the varies structures within, the criminal justice system, including government departments, regional and local statutory agencies, and the role of the voluntary sector, the services they provide and its work in supporting people. Book your place here.
Evaluation of the Westminster Specialist Domestic Abuse Court Partnership
16 January 2023 | online | free
For the last 20 years, Standing Together has coordinated Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts (SDACs) at Magistrates Courts in London. Today, they coordinate two SDACs at Westminster Magistrates Court. After receiving funding from the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport via the Tampon Tax Fund, Standing Together launched the pioneering Mentor Court Project. As part of this project, the Centre for Justice Innovation (CJI) was commissioned to evaluate the work of the SDACs at Westminster. This report, published on 25 November 2022, brings into focus the real impact the SDACs have had on the lives of victim/survivors of domestic abuse, but also highlights the challenges, barriers, and the long way we have to go. Standing Together warmly welcomes you to join this report launch and panel discussion, in which the evaluation findings will be presented, and a panel discussion will be held with some key criminal justice stakeholders. Book now here.
Vacancies
Deputy Chief Executive Officer - Clinks
Head of Influence & Communications - Clinks
Chief Executive Officer - Good Vibrations
Creative Producer - imagine if theatre
Radio Producer - National Prison Radio
Take a creative break
The January challenge invites all of us to join over 50,000 participants worldwide in showing just how creative we can be. The challenge is a chance to get back in touch with a part of ourselves, often long-buried, that allows us to connect with the world around us differently throughout January. Register to participate in The January Challenge 2023.
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
The next NCJAA monthly newsletter will be sent on Thursday 26 January 2023. If you have any news, opportunities or events relating to art organisations or projects within the criminal justice system that you would like included, please complete this form or email artsalliance@clinks.org by Monday 16 January 2023.
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This newsletter is written monthly. Email artsalliance@clinks.org if you wish to submit any news.
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