The newsletter for arts organisations working in criminal justice.
In this month's issue...
Supporting arts in criminal justice through Covid-19
As the Covid-19 crisis evolves and continues to challenge our sector’s norms and resilience, artists and organisations are adapting and innovating to meet the challenge. "Collaboration is key to sector survival" says Dr Alison Frater (NCJAA Chair), in her blog reflecting on the arts and criminal justice sector's response to the crisis so far. The easing of the lockdown in prisons and probation is likely to be slow, read this blog from Jess Mullen, Clinks’ Director of Policy and Influence to learn more. Read this newsletter to learn about new grants available and how you can vote in our Steering Group elections.
NCJAA Steering Group elections – voting opens today
Voting for the new NCJAA Steering Group members opens today, after a short delay caused by Covid-19. Thank you to everyone who has put themselves forward. The Steering Group represents the NCJAA network, meeting a minimum of four times a year to shape priorities and direction for the NCJAA. This year, we have actively sought applications to the Steering Group from people with a range of backgrounds to ensure a range of regions, settings and art forms are represented. Please take a few moments to vote for the applicants that you want to join our steering group. Voting will close at midday on Friday, 12th June and we will introduce the new steering group at our annual meeting on 23rd June (more information below). Vote here
Mapping arts in criminal justice
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance’s (NCJAA’s) ongoing mapping process will help us to support the sustainability of the sector through this crisis, and promote the critical importance of creative activities for people in prison during lockdown and beyond. Please continue to get in touch with us with information about how you are adapting and the challenges you face, at info@artsincriminaljustice.org.uk.
New funding available: Covid-19 response grants
Voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system can apply now for grant funding to support their vital work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Clinks is pleased to be distributing £275,000 on behalf of Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice in recognition of the continued challenges presented to voluntary organisations at this time. Organisations with an annual income of less than £500,000 can apply for an average grant size of £3,000 - £5,000. Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis - organisations will receive feedback, be told the decision within 10 days, and if successful, receive payment two weeks later. The NCJAA encourages organisations delivering creative activities to apply. Find out more and apply here
Covid-19 update from HMPPS and MoJ third sector taskforce
Prisons and Probation Minister Lucy Frazer, QC, has commissioned a third sector taskforce, to make sure that the sector’s work is co-ordinated and integrated into the government’s broader response to Covid-19. Diane Caddle and Phil Douglas, Joint Chairs of the new Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) third sector taskforce have recently written a blog explaining the taskforce’s purpose and focus. Read it here
The impact of Covid-19 on charities
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee (which is responsible for civil society), has published its report on the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on charities. The Committee found that the £750 million support package from the government is not enough to meet the voluntary sector’s needs. Clinks raised concerns to the Committee about this funding being restricted to charities responding directly to Covid-19. The Committee has taken this concern on board and recommended that additional funding be secured for voluntary organisations facing financial pressures, even if they are not directly involved in the frontline response to Covid-19. The Committee also shares the sector’s concerns about the transparency of the funding. Read the report here
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 25th June. Please email info@artsincriminaljustice.org.uk with any news, research, events, opportunities or blog proposals by Tuesday 16th June.
NCJAA annual meeting
Tuesday 23rd June 15:00 – 17:00 | Online | Free
Join us for the NCJAA 2020 annual meeting. On the three month anniversary of the day the country went into lockdown, we will be asking 'What does the arts in criminal justice sector need to survive and thrive through Covid-19 and beyond?' We will be reflecting on the impact of the crisis and ongoing challenges, as well as celebrating the resilience and innovation that has characterised the sector’s response so far. We also look back on the highlights of the NCJAA's work in 2019/20 and sector's achievements. We are excited to be joined by Andrea Hadley-Johnson, Artistic Programme Manager, and Dr Martin Glyn, Writer in Residence at the National Justice Museum, who will speak about the museum’s Constraint Restraint exhibition, which explores ideas of constraint through historic objects and contemporary art, and their ‘Letters of Constraint’ project, developed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Register here
Making all the difference – Clinks virtual annual conference 2020
Monday 29th June, 09:30 – 18:00 | Online | Free
Voluntary organisations working in the criminal justice system are riding a wave of uncertainty and it’s perilous for the people they support. At this conference, delegates will look to the horizon together and plot the best course. The conference will take place in two parts, the first on 29th June, the second in September 2020. Part one will be dedicated to considering how to manage voluntary organisations in criminal justice during the Covid-19 crisis, support staff and service users. Keynote speaker Karl Wilding, CEO of NCVO, will share his thoughts on the role of voluntary organisations in the context of Covid-19. Find more information and book your place here
What Now for Theatre of the Oppressed?
Friday 29th May and Friday 5th June, 14:00 (further dates tbc)| Online| Free
Cardboard Citizens is hosting a series of live online conversations, examining how Theatre of the Oppressed can inform a brighter path following the Covid-19 pandemic. Adrian Jackson, Cardboard Citizens’ Artistic Director, will be in conversation with practitioners all over the globe, offering fascinating insights into theatre’s role in responding to the crisis. Cardboard Citizens is the UK’s leading Theatre of the Oppressed theatre company, creating theatre with and for people experiencing homelessness in London and around the UK. See more here
Free digital tool to help develop online exhibitions
Available Now | Online | Free
The cultural education charity Art UK has unveiled a digital tool to help people develop online exhibitions. The tool is free to use and allows users to create exhibitions drawn from Art UK’s online collection. Find more information here
Government appoints Neil Mendoza to lead Britain’s cultural recovery from Covid-19 pandemic
The Culture Secretary has appointed Neil Mendoza as the new Commissioner for Cultural Recovery and Renewal, to lead a new taskforce, set up to aid the cultural sector's recovery from coronavirus. A former banker, Mr Mendoza has built a successful career across the financial and cultural sectors. Read more here
Arts Council England launch survey on the impact of Covid-19
To support its work with the government and ensure different voices are heard, Darren Henley, CEO of the Arts Council England invites people to carry out a survey to measure the impact of Covid-19 on the arts and cultural sector across the country. Please complete the survey here
Life Behind Bards
An anthology of poetry, Life Behind Bards, by a collective of working class writers, is this year’s Saboteur Award for “Best Collaborative Work”. Described as "jaw-droppingly good" by Blue Nib Magazine, the project focuses on each poet's personal experience with crime and poverty, and how they have all at some time faced difficulty in accessing the arts. The collective hope that the project will provide other poets and writers from similar backgrounds with an assurance that writing is accessible, and that their stories are worthy of telling. The project’s producers are now looking to deliver performances of the work directly in to prisons via live-streaming technology. See more here
Supporting wellbeing through creativity in prisons
Earlier this year, Novus staff at HMP Liverpool partnered with a researcher from Liverpool John Moores University on the Labyrinth project, a creative project to support learners’ health and wellbeing. At HMP Liverpool, the men involved produced a wide variety of work, from a figure in a yoga pose to song lyrics and poetry to contribute to the Labyrinth. The men and their families then worked together to create the actual Labyrinth during a family day at the prison. The project also ran at HMP Thorn Cross and HMP Buckley Hall, and the Labyrinth team hope to showcase the work from all three sites externally, later this year. Read more here
Vacancy: Chair of Trustees at Odd Arts
Odd Arts is a Manchester based charity, delivering innovative and creative programmes, across all art forms, with vulnerable and excluded groups. The charity is looking for a passionate and experienced individual to become their Chair of Trustees at a time of real challenge, growth and excitement. The deadline for applications is 1st June 2020. See more information about the role and details for how to apply here
Lockdown Dramas
Synergy Theatre Project has launched a short stage play competition, open to prisoners and ex-prisoners in England and Wales. They’re looking for original scripts in response to the Covid-19 lockdown. Scripts should be 10 minutes long with no more than four characters. No writing experience is needed to take part, just a story to tell. Winning plays will be performed as script-in-hand readings by professional actors and cash prizes will also be awarded (first: £150, second: £100, third: £75 and highly commended: £50). Deadline for submissions is 30th June 2020. Send submissions to: info@synergytheatreproject.co.uk or: Synergy Theatre Project, 3Space International House, 6 Canterbury Crescent, London SW9 7QD. See more here
Call Outs
Contributions to in-cell learning packs
Alongside other learning activity to support prisoners at this time, the Head of Education Quality for HMPPS is coordinating resources to be uploaded onto the HMPPS intranet (Quantum), to be used as part of in-cell learning packs during Covid-19. If you have any appropriate resources which you would like to make freely available to establishments across the prison estate at this time, please email Aashna.nithianandan@justice.gov.uk and amelia.townend@justice.gov.uk. Quantum also contains a link to the Prisoner Learning Alliance In-Cell Activity Hub, which contains creative, unique resources contributed by organisations and individuals for PEF providers and prison staff to download and print. View the hub here
Request for creative resources for men at HMP Gartree
The Library Supervisor at HMP Gartree is looking for resources and art materials to provide to the men in the prison during lockdown. If you are able to contribute, please contact maryanne.niblett@leics.gov.uk
New funding available: Coronavirus Community Support Fund
On 22nd May, the government’s new Coronavirus Community Support Fund opened for applications. This is a £200m fund aimed primarily at small to medium organisations in England. It has two key objectives – to increase community support to vulnerable people and to reduce temporary closures of essential charities and social enterprises. See more and apply here
Writing packs connecting families
The national charities Pact and the Shannon Trust have partnered on a project to connect prisoners with their families during the Covid-19 pandemic. Writing packs have been designed and created to help connect prisoners with their families. Each gift pack contains a simple guide on how to write letters to adults and children, writing paper and envelopes. The packs are being distributed to people who might find writing letters challenging. The packs are being offered free of charge to 20,000 prisoners across England and Wales with a view to creating and distributing more in the near future. Explore the resources available here
In-cell creative learning packs available
In response to Covid-19, Junction 42 has created an in-cell creative arts curriculum, and is producing and distributing creative in-cell learning packs to prison establishments across the country. Each pack focuses on a different technique including quilling cards, sketching, pad art, photo-frame making, calligraphy cards and match-stick modelling. There are six different skills already developed, with another five in the pipeline; this allows for prisons to sign up individuals to this creative curriculum, and for participants to get a different pack each week. If you want to know more or are interested in purchasing these packs, please contact info@junction42.org. You can find a PDF with images of the packs, finished projects and a breakdown of the contents for security purposes here
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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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