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
NCJAA Presents Inspire: Sustainability in the arts and criminal justice sector
Thank you to everyone who joined us this month for NCJAA Presents Inspire: Sustainability in the Arts and Criminal Justice Sector at Rich Mix, London. It was a wonderful event filled with energy and spirit that will inform future NCJAA activities and forums moving forward. Thanks again to our fantastic Inspiring Futures partners Cambridge University Institute of Criminology, The Irene Taylor Trust, Clean Break, Open Clasp, Geese Theatre, Good Vibrations, Only Connect and Koestler Arts and to the panellists and participants for making the event so great. We will be collecting thoughts and contributions from the day in our Inspire Key Takeaway's event blog in the coming weeks.
Image credit: Jasmine Thompson
Clinks in conversation with Amy Rees and Phil Copple
3 May | Petty France, London and Online | free
Join Clinks for this exciting opportunity for the voluntary sector to engage with Amy Rees, Director General CEO, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and Phil Copple, the Director of Operations, HMPPS at our hybrid event. We will be hearing about the new HMPPS senior leadership structure and learning about the priorities and vision for the service, including the role and the value of the voluntary sector working within it. The event will consist of a discussion between the chair, Anne Fox, Chief Executive Officer at Clinks, Amy Rees and Phil Copple focussing on the themes which have emerged from our recent State of the Sector research findings as well as other current issues that the voluntary sector is facing in the criminal justice system. This will then be followed by a Q&A, we encourage questions to be submitted in advance by emailing events@clinks.org by 31st March.
This will be a hybrid event hosted by the Ministry of Justice and we have a limited capacity of in-person tickets available to attend Petty France (London).
Creative writing classes in prisons: The Late Show with Christopher Vowles
Teachers Talk Radio host Christopher Vowles, himself an experienced secondary school English teacher, speaks with deputy prison governor Steve Robertson in conversation with Kam Stevens, one of his former prisoners, turned successful creative producer and Dr Ella Simpson, a researcher and practitioner of creative arts interventions in prisons at the University of Greenwich. The stories of the three converge one Saturday morning in an unremarkable prison classroom, where Kam attended a series of creative writing Masterclasses facilitated by Ella and authorised by Steve. The transformative results are reflected upon and extended into a discussion of the broader rewards of creative writing in custodial environments. Listen online.
Writing on the Wall project Superheroes: Words Are Our Power
Liverpool based NCJAA members Writing on the Wall recently concluded Superheroes: Words are our Power, a pioneering programme delivered in eight primary schools across four years. Using a range of creative writing strategies, poets, authors, comic book writers, spoken word artists and playwrights all worked alongside teachers, supporting them to put creativity back into the curriculum. The Superheroes project gave children the chance to meet and work with a range of writers with different backgrounds, interests, approaches, specialisms, cultures and heritage. The difference this made for children was noticed across the curriculum as they became more resilient, more confident, more engaged and more motivated. Children were inspired by writers and became more comfortable writing about their own experiences and interests. Moreover, amongst this diversity of authors, children were able to find relatable role models, and this shifted their aspirations. You can read the Super Heroes Impact report here.
The Irene Taylor Trust Emerging Artists Showcase collaboration with Drake Music
20 April | Rich Mix, London and Online | from £5
Shining a light on talented artists who are often marginalised, this special showcase gives a platform to four incredible Emerging Artists who have been supported by highly experienced musicians from the Irene Taylor Trust and Drake Music to develop their artistic voices and share their unique stories. Emerging Artists L U C I N E, Luke McCarthy, Macelino and Reese Quinlan have been selected from alumni of the Irene Taylor Trust’s #SoundingOut programme for former prisoner musicians and #MakingTracks, an initiative for young musicians facing barriers. Book online.
Pragmatism and progress. Using values to build the case for bridges from prison
4 April | Online | free
How can we help more people to see that? How can we build support for action and investment in these areas? These are the questions at the heart of FrameWorks’ latest communications research into the criminal justice system. In this session, we’ll take a closer look at two of the principles featured in the communications toolkit ‘Bridges from prison’, and how you can apply them to your organisation’s communications. This workshop is suitable whether you’re new to FrameWorks’ latest work, or if you attended their session at Clinks’ conference in the autumn and would like to get a refresher and focus in on two of the principles in more detail. Register now
Britten Pears Arts 'SPARK' - the future of music in criminal justice settings
9 May | Suffolk | from £20
Spark events aim to spark conversation and promote networking. Following on from their ThinkTank in November 2022, Britten Pears Arts is opening the discussion on the future of music in criminal justice settings. The event will be structured around the themes Community, Reach, Understanding and Development. Register online
Fair Pay and Lived Experience online events from Arts and Social Outcomes Network
28 April + 26 May | Online | free
In partnership with the Arts and Social Outcomes Network and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (UK), Arts & Homelessness International are delighted to invite you to a series of events focusing on paying people with lived experience fairly for their work. This is a set of co-produced events & resources to create more information, ideas & justice for creatives with lived experience to be paid fairly. The first event sets the scene: and you can expect to hear case studies from people who are trying to be paid fairly and the barriers (and opportunities) they have experienced, and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will share the exact rules for earning money on benefits; the distinctions between volunteering, participating and being paid. Following on at the second event you will hear from innovative projects finding new solutions and we will discuss what needs to be done to create more justice in Fair Pay. Register for 28 April and Register for 26 May
The Place Bedford Zine workshops for young people aged 11-16
10-14 April | The Place, Bedford | from £15
Throughout Easter The Place Bedford is hosting workshops for young people will create their own newspaper, filled with local & relevant journalism based on their own interests. Covering all areas of research, investigation, interviewing, editing & photo journalism this course is perfect for young people interested in flexing their creative writing skills, as well as budding photographers, cartoonists or visual artists. Book early to avoid disappointment
2023 Koestler Awards
The 2023 Koestler Awards for arts in criminal justice is open for entries! The annual Awards welcome all forms of art, writing, design, and music from people in secure settings and on probation. Every entrant gets a certificate and many winners receive a cash prize. The total prize money is over £30,000. At the end of each Koestler Awards, Koestler Arts holds an exhibition at the Southbank Centre, London, featuring a selection of the creative work received. This year’s exhibition will be curated by poet, playwright and author Joelle Taylor. Entrants may send up to five creative works (with completed entry forms) by the closing date on 6 April 2023. Entry forms and further information can be found on the Koestler Arts website
Working and volunteering in prisons training
8 June| online | from £50
Join Clinks at this three-hour training session for voluntary sector staff and volunteers in which we aim to raise awareness of the prison environment and provide information on key aspects such as staffing structures and departments, prison procedures, and current challenges associated with working in prisons. Participants will explore ways in which voluntary sector staff can have meaningful and professional engagement with prisons operationally, as well as ensuring safe and responsible ways of working are understood and prioritised.
Creative Scotland and Engage Scotland launch the Stephen Palmer Travel Bursary Fund 2023
The fund provides support to freelancers / self-employed people working in the visual arts in Scotland, to connect with peers across the UK, and enhance their creative and professional development. Artists, curators, producers, writers, educators and others, at any stage in their career, can apply for awards of up to £500 each before the application deadline on 20 April. The fund will support freelance / self-employed people working in the visual arts in Scotland who are unable to travel physically, to connect digitally. Read more.
Vacancies
Development Manager Synergy Theatre
Director of Development Koestler Arts
Music Director Liberty Choir
Music Director Bowes Park Community Choir
Community / Outreach Coordinator Melbourne Festival
Take a creative break
Try something new for National Craft Month 2023 and fall in love with making by challenging yourself to learn a new crafting hobby. Here’s some inspiration to get you started.
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
The next NCJAA monthly newsletter will be sent on Thursday 27 April. 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 17 April 2023.
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