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
April highlights
Welcome to the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance's April newsletter. We hope you enjoyed the long weekend and the good weather it brought with it. This month, our director and chair met with Edward Argar MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Justice, to follow up on our annual conference and talk about how the arts can support young people in the criminal justice system. Back in the office we are pulling together our annual review, which paints an encouraging picture of the arts and criminal justice sector in 2018-2019. We look forward to sharing the report with you at our annual meeting in Liverpool on 12th June. Read on to find out how you can join us at this event and hear what else we are up to; followed by news, events and opportunities from our broader network.
An introduction to arts in prisons
21st May | London | £75
Our one-day training will explore some of the questions to consider before embarking on arts and culture work in prisons. Recommended by 100% of former participants and described as "energising, thought provoking and informative," the course aims to provide an overview of the current criminal justice system and will take participants through the process of delivering sustainable creative activity, from idea formation to evaluation. Find out more and book here
Annual meeting 2019
12th June | FACT, Liverpool | Free
Our annual meeting will be held in Liverpool to launch a new publication to support arts organisations who want to work in criminal justice settings and begin our regional development work in the North West. The event will be a chance for our members to look back over the year's achievements, share experiences and learn more about transformative creative work happening in criminal justice settings. Capacity is limited and reservation is essential. Find out more and book here
Four months in, how are you finding the Dynamic Purchasing System?
In a new blog, our director Jessica Plant shares some of what we have heard from those using the new commissioning tool for specialist or short-term education services in prisons: the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). She says: "Those working in the arts and voluntary sector are often the innovators, thinking up new ideas and approaches. But, as yet, we haven’t found many examples (though we would love to hear more of them) where the DPS has provided specifications that enable the sector to do what it does best.” If you have anything to add - including if you have not used the DPS yet - we want to hear from you. Responses will be collated and fed back anonymously to Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. Read the blog and send your feedback here
Requirements for prison education and library services
The Ministry of Justice has published a Policy Framework that details the minimum mandatory requirements that governors and prison staff must adhere to in the provision of education and library services. Alongside Clinks, we submitted a joint response to a closed consultation that informed the framework and are pleased to see it recognises that a prison library must "promote reading as a source of pleasure and provide prisoners with opportunities for wider cultural engagement." Find out more here
Website and network update
We are currently reviewing the design of our network and developing our website so we can more effectively promote and connect the growing number of people working in arts and criminal justice. We look forward to improving our website and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 30th May. Please email dora.dixon@clinks.org with any news, research, events, opportunities or blog proposals by Tuesday 21st May.
Design for inclusion
Dates throughout May and June | London | From free
Fearless Futures runs equality and leadership programmes for organisations to understand and challenge the root causes of inequalities, design for inclusion and grow new leadership for transformative change. Its courses range from breakfast workshops to three-day programmes for senior leaders. Find out more and book here
Manchester Crime and Justice Film Festival
Thursdays throughout May | Manchester | Free
Manchester Metropolitan University's Research in Arts and Humanities programme, The Manchester Crime and Justice Film Festival, uses films as the spark for discussion of crime and justice. Through four popular films, it will present research-based and practical ideas and solutions to give an alternative take on crime, justice and punishment in the 21st century. Find out more and book here
Networking and performance prison event
24th May | Hull | Free (booking essential)
Imagine If Theatre Company invites businesses with inclusive recruitment policies, recruitment agencies and organisations who support people with convictions to attend its next Networking and Performance event at HMP Hull. Booking by 20th May is essential. Find out more and book here
Facilitator training
24th May | London | £63.47
Tony Cealy’s Beyond Resistance course is arts-based training suited to facilitators and group leaders who want to acquaint themselves with the challenges involved in working with hard to reach groups within prisons, probation and pupil referral units. Find out more and book here
Othello: Remixed
25th June - 14th July | London | From £10
Shakespeare’s tragedy is remixed by Intermission Youth Theatre Company for Clapham’s Omnibus Theatre. Staged in a modern day London boxing ring, this new production reinvents Shakespeare’s warnings of manipulation, division and revenge. Find out more and book here
Ensuring the voluntary sector's role in the future of probation model
Jess Mullen, Clinks' Head of Policy and Communications, has written a blog reflecting on current proposals for the future of probation services, following the Ministry of Justice's decision to end current probation contracts early. She argues the changes currently proposed do not go far enough to ensure the voluntary sector’s role in the future model and makes five recommendations to achieve this. Read the blog here
Shared reading for people leaving prison
National reading charity, The Reader, has been funded by Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner to work alongside Suffolk Libraries to launch a new kind of Shared Reading community. Through reading aloud together, the charity hopes to drive rehabilitation for local people leaving prison, by helping them to relate better to others, think more about the future and feel more confident and safe in themselves. Find out more here
Arts leaders criticise diversity initiatives
Madani Younis, Southbank Centre’s Creative Director, has called for a “much more disruptive intervention” to improve the diversity of the arts and culture sector, rather than co-opting concerns in to conservative institutions that "get to decide what the pace of change is." ArtsProfessional has reported on the comments made during a panel at the Roundhouse London, at which theatre critic and journalist Lyn Gardner added: "the only way that change will ever happen is if people step aside." Read more here
Clean Break launch podcast series
Clean Break Theatre Company has launched its first podcast series. The series explores some of the main issues and themes from the company's co-production with Theatr Clwyd, Thick as Thieves. Created and recorded by Clean Break members, the three episodes were produced after a week's intensive workshop and follow the themes of Sisterhood, Damage and Blood. Episodes one and two are now available to download and listen. Find out more here
The Koestler Trust is hiring
The Koestler Trust is seeking a Digital and Communications Officer [Full-time, £24,500, London] to develop and implement its communications strategy and help to coordinate the charity’s messages that are disseminated publicly across its digital channels. The deadline to apply is 2nd May. Find out more here
Core funding for small charities
The Masonic Charitable Foundation has expanded its small grants policy to include running costs and other core funding expenses of small charities. The new offer awards unrestricted grants of up to £5,000 a year (over one to three years) to charities with an annual income of £500,000 or less. The current funding run closes on 31st May 2019. Find out more here
Social impact funding launched for creative organisations in North of England
Sheffield-based social enterprise Key Fund has launched a new fund (consisting of blended investments of loans and grants), which is open to creative and cultural organisations that provide a meaningful social impact in their local communities. Work could include using music sessions for young people not in education or craft workshops with former prisoners. Find out more here
How a holistic approach can support good mental health in prison
Clinks’ Whole prison, whole person report looks at how a holistic approach can support good mental health in prison and sets out the key principles and recommendations towards developing a whole prison approach to good mental health for people in contact with the criminal justice system, especially those protected under the Equality Act (2010). Read the report here
Contribution of the arts and culture industry to the UK economy
Each year Arts Council England commissions a report to showcase the contribution that arts and culture makes to the UK economy. Written by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, the latest report finds that the arts and culture industry has grown £390million in a year and now contributes £10.8billion a year to the UK economy. Read the report here
Arts Council England's ten-year strategy
Arts Council England has published a report that shares the broad range of opinions heard during a consultation on its draft strategic framework, Shaping the next ten years. The report will be followed by a proposed strategy, shared in a second open consultation in summer 2019, with the final strategy and initial delivery plan to be published in autumn 2019. 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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