Overview
Creative arts and cultural activities have a long-standing tradition of empowering people in the criminal justice system to transform their lives. Evidence shows that the arts can support the process of desistance from crime, improve mental health and wellbeing, and help people envision a brighter future for themselves. Participation in the arts can not only offer new skills and employment opportunities, but also a strong sense of connection to community and culture.
In addition to fostering empathy, building family connections, and playing a role in restorative justice, arts-based and creative activities in criminal justice settings have also been found to improve safety and wellbeing, particularly in prisons, and contribute to building safer communities. The Justice Data Lab found that even simply providing access to arts and craft materials in cells can have a positive impact on reoffending rates.
Despite facing numerous challenges such as a difficult funding climate, operational challenges, and public misconceptions, there is clear evidence, and growing recognition that access to arts can ignite lasting, positive change.
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) is embedded in Clinks and is dedicated to promoting, developing, and supporting high quality arts and creative practice in criminal justice settings. By using the expertise and evidence from arts organisations and practitioners, Clinks helps inform government policy, influence commissioners, and shift public perceptions about the vital role of the arts in criminal justice.
Our work
Keeping the voluntary sector informed
We are committed to keeping voluntary sector organisations informed by regularly sharing criminal justice updates and commissioning news through sector wide mailings and newsletters. These communications ensure that our members and others in the sector are up to date with the latest developments and opportunities.
We also help arts organisations working in criminal justice stay connected and informed, through regularly email updates and the NCJAA newsletter. These communications cover policy developments, opportunities for commissioning and grant funding, training sessions, upcoming events, guidance, resources, publications, and campaigns.
Enhancing sustainability
The NCJAA's annual bursary scheme provides financial support for artists and practitioners to develop their programme of work, and the professional mentoring scheme expands opportunities for practitioners to develop professional skills and knowledge of arts in criminal justice through a one-to-one mentoring relationship. Expert mentors working in the field provide a range of support about using arts within the criminal justice system to their mentee.
Our NCJAA Manager also works directly with Alliance members to understand their sustainability challenges and gather insights that we share in commissioning forums. We connect members with relevant grant funding opportunities and support them to engage with public procurement processes, providing sharing information on competitive tendering and commissioned contracts where appropriate. We feed back our members’ experiences to commissioners to help improve commissioning processes.
Training and development
Throughout the year, Clinks holds a full programme of training events designed to support the sector develop the essential skills needed to navigate the criminal justice landscape. We also hold other regional and thematic criminal justice forum events to support information sharing and provide networking opportunities for organisations and individuals. Visit the events and training page for more information.
Listening and acting on the experiences and views of the voluntary sector
The NCJAA Advisory Group, comprising of voluntary organisations and individual arts practitioners, provides strategic and operational advice to ensure that the NCJAA and Clinks are informed by the communities we support.
Additionally, we actively gather intelligence from NCJAA members on emerging topics and key policy developments through:
- Email call-outs for information
- Small group discussions at forums
- Specific focus groups
The information gathered is then collated and shared to inform our representative work officials in the Ministry of Justice, and other stakeholders, ensuring that the voices and insights of arts-based organisations are considered in policy decisions.
Clinks represents arts and creative practice in criminal justice settings through a variety of strategic channels, including the Arts in Criminal Justice Forum, convened by the Ministry of Justice and attended by Arts Council England. This is to ensure the sector’s involvement in decision making, and to make the case for proven and innovative approaches to supporting people in contact with the criminal justice system through arts and creative activities.
Promoting the expertise of the voluntary sector
Clinks represents arts and creative practice in criminal justice settings through a variety of strategic channels, including the Arts in Criminal Justice Forum, convened by the Ministry of Justice and attended by Arts Council England. This is to ensure the sector’s involvement in decision making, and to make the case for proven and innovative approaches to supporting people in contact with the criminal justice system through arts and creative activities.
Championing the voluntary sector at the highest levels
Clinks play an important role in championing the voluntary sector at the highest levels through the Arts Seat on the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3). Chaired by Clinks, this influential group of senior voluntary sector leaders amplifies the voices, concerns, and vital work of organisations supporting people in contact with the criminal justice system.
Facilitating networks and collaboration
The NCJAA is one of several specialist networks that we convene, creating spaces for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the promotion of good practice. These networks bring together the collective expertise of the sector to strengthen services and enhance outcomes for people in contact with the CJS.
Our extensive network connects Clinks members, the wider voluntary sector providing arts-based and creative activities in criminal justice settings, and key statutory partners, including the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.
Get involved
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA)
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) brings together organisations proving arts and creative activities in criminal justice settings, independent arts practitioners, and partners.
The Alliance regularly engages with its members, offering opportunity for people to stay informed about current and future developments in arts and criminal justice, while fostering collaboration and partnership building. Our NCJAA Manager communicates regularly with Alliance members to share information, provide advice, and offer support.
Get involved for opportunities to:
- Connect with other organisations delivering arts and creative activities/services
- Access information, advice, training, and support on developing and running arts and creative activities/services
- Receive sector-specific information and policy updates
- Influence policy and procedures within the criminal justice system
- Showcase your work, share good practice, and learn from others
- Stay informed with regular updates on issues relevant to arts and criminal justice via mailings and the WCJAA newsletter.
To find out more about joining the NCJAA, please contact us.