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 and publications
- Resources and opportunities
We launched the guide to enabling creativity
Thanks to all who joined us on 17th June to launch the guide for prison staff to enabling creativity in a restricted regime. We heard from expert guest speakers on the theatre, music and art projects they've carried out throughout the pandemic in criminal justice settings, and how what they've learnt continues to influence their work going forward. We also heard audience perspectives on the role for technology in arts and criminal justice and the importance of making connections between prison staff and arts providers. As one participant put it, "There are so many creative people here with the same vision - it's really uplifting." You can read the guide here. Read a Twitter thread of the event highlights here
Clinks CEO Anne Fox on compassionate leave
The thoughts of the Clinks team and the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance are with Anne Fox, Clinks’ Chief Executive Officer who is currently on compassionate leave after a family bereavement. In line with Clinks’ Acting in Absence policy and following discussion between the Senior Management Team, Chair and trustees it has been agreed that Directors Chris Stacey, Director of Support and Development; Jess Mullen, Director of Influence and Communications; and Victoria Sadler, Director of Corporate Services – will act-up in their respective roles to continue to lead the organisation towards its strategic objectives during this time. Chris and Jess will take on the additional positions of acting Co-Chief Executives and work with members, funders and stakeholders in the government to ensure that Clinks continues to support a vibrant, independent and resilient voluntary sector into Covid-19 recovery and the new criminal justice landscape brought about by the imminent probation reforms. If you wish to send condolences to Anne she can be reached on Twitter @AnneFoxThoughts or we invite you to add a message to an online condolence book Clinks has set up here
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
We will be sending our next newsletter on Thursday 29th July. Please email info@artsincriminaljustice.org.uk with any news, research, events, opportunities or blog proposals by Tuesday 20th July.
Making connections: prisoner art in Palestine and the UK
1st July | online | free
What connects prisoner art in the UK and Palestine? This international research roundtable facilitated by academics from Bath Spa University and Al Quds University will bring together organisations and individuals who facilitate or have experience of practising the creative arts in a prison setting. The discussion will aim to identify and explore the links that might exist between prisoners in Palestine and the UK and the art that they create, share best practice, and find avenues for collaboration between organisations. Find out more and sign up here
Talk: white privilege and art therapy in the UK
1st July | online | free
Join Iniva (the Institute of International Visual Arts) to explore the question, ‘White privilege and art therapy in the UK: are we doing the work?'. The talk aims to provide opportunities to consider the importance of asking who holds the power, how privilege is felt, and how this impacts art therapy practice. In conversation with art therapists, the discussion will look at how those working within art therapy can help to recognise and address these imbalances. The talk will be followed by a Q&A and audience discussion. Find out more and book here
Workshop: creating from Clean Break's archives
19th July | online | £10
Multimedia performance artist and facilitator for theatre company Clean Break Paula Varjack will lead this workshop exploring how to creatively engage with Clean Break's archives to make new performance material. Responding to archival objects from the 'I am a theatre': 40 Years of Clean Break exhibition, the workshop will share elements of Paula's facilitation process with Clean Break Members, to create individual responses inspired by the objects. Participants will be invited to devise and share their own responses in the workshop. Clean Break’s other July events include a range of talks, exhibitions and screenings. Find out more and book here
Training: stories of lived experience
20th July – 19th September | online | £950
The Forgiveness Project’s course ‘Working with stories of lived experience – the transformative power of storytelling’ explores approaches and perspectives relating to forgiveness, restorative narratives, shame and resilience. It also offers tools and techniques to build participants’ knowledge and practice of the use of storytelling in their work. In addition, it offers new and innovative approaches to working with individuals and groups, in order to support participants to develop resilience and empathetic relationships with clients and colleagues. The course is 28 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours – with a certificate available on request. Find out more and register here
Clinks survey: your experiences of new probation model
The deadline to contribute to Clinks’ research on the voluntary sector’s experience of the new probation model is coming up soon. The new probation model, due to be introduced in June 2021, has a clear policy intention to involve the voluntary sector in the delivery of rehabilitation and resettlement services. Clinks has launched a survey to understand your experience so far of the commissioning of these services. Voluntary organisations, including arts organisations, are invited to share your views, including perspectives from organisations who chose not to qualify onto the Dynamic Framework or bid for contracts; organisations who chose to engage but were unsuccessful at some point in the process; and those who won contracts. Your responses and additional case studies will be used to create an in-depth report which will reflect the voluntary sector's experiences and detail lessons learnt that can be used to inform future commissioning processes. The deadline is 2nd July and the survey takes around 15 minutes to complete. Take the survey here
Blog: researching the impact of arts in criminal justice
In this blog for prison music charity Good Vibrations, researcher Laura Caulfield talks about her experience of investigating the impact of art programmes in criminal justice settings. To mark her twentieth year working as a researcher in forensic psychology and criminal justice, she reflects on her journey so far, how research into arts and criminal justice has made an impact, and thinks about what the future might hold. Good Vibrations' ongoing guest blog series by a range of experts, including those with lived experience of imprisonment and their families, explores creative approaches to transforming the criminal justice system. Read the blog here
Small Charity Week: Clinks chats to Unlock Drama and more
To celebrate the small and specialist organisations working in the criminal justice system during Small Charity Week (14th-19th June), Clinks took the chance to speak to Unlock Drama, Sussex Pathways and Belong: making justice happen about their work during the pandemic. These organisations were awarded Covid-19 response grants during the pandemic which Clinks distributed on behalf of The Ministry of Justice, Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. The grant programme targeted small organisations with annual income under £500,000. The video includes Unlock Drama facilitators talking about their issue-based theatre workshops in HMYOI Swinfen Hall and HMYOI Brinsford. Watch the video here
Refugee Week 2021: songs from immigration detention
Music charity Hear Me Out have released a new song for Refugee Week (14th - 20th June). The song, ‘Never Give Up’, was created by people in an immigration detention centre in Dover. 'Never Give Up', was then performed by choirs across the country. Find out more and watch the music video here
Influencing policy: videos and case studies
Have you ever wondered how you can influence government thinking on criminal justice policy? Clinks has published three case studies and video recordings to support you to strengthen your voice and develop your criminal justice policy influencing skills. Find out about Unlock’s ‘strategic litigation’ approach of using the law to create change, Prison Reform Trust’s strategy for influencing policy with a particular focus on Indeterminate Public Protection sentences, and learn about Clinks’ approach to policy influencing. These resources were developed as part of Clinks’ Stronger Voice project funded by Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, which kicked off earlier this year with a series of expert seminars focused on helping the voluntary sector working in criminal justice develop a unified and influential voice, at both a national and regional level. Read more here
Share your experience of imprisonment and musical activities
Help inform research into group music-making in prison and the relationships that come with it by taking part in an informal interview. People with experience of taking part in, or leading, musical activities in prison in England and Wales are encouraged to share their experience to inform an ongoing research project. For more information contact Holly on mc20hj@leeds.ac.uk
Funding for youth-focused arts organisations
Apply by 2nd July or 27th August
Grants up to £20,000 are available from Ragdoll Foundation for arts, cultural and youth-focused organisations working with children and young people in the UK through the arts, artists and creative media. Proposals are invited for creative and innovative approaches. The Foundation is interested in projects that will capture and develop the imagination of children and allow their voices to be heard. Projects should place children and young people at the heart of the creative process. The Small Grants Programme deadline is 2nd July 2021 for projects beginning no earlier than September 2021, and 27th August for projects beginning no earlier than November 2021. Find out more and apply here
Celebrate your achievements in encouraging desistance from crime
Apply by 15th July
There are just a few weeks left to nominate your work for a Howard League for Penal Reform Community Award. The awards recognise projects and organisations whose work and practice are delivered above and beyond normal service delivery, showcasing the most successful community projects across the country which are encouraging desistance from crime. The awards present an opportunity to promote and celebrate your achievements and for your work to be recognised and celebrated nationally. Winners’ work will be promoted following the awards through open days or ‘in conversation’ events so that people all round the country can learn about what you are doing. Winners will be announced on 21st October 2021. Further information can be found here
Grants for community groups facilitating change
Apply by 18th July
One-off grants between £1,000 and £10,000 are available to community groups in the UK from the Boost Choose Now Change Lives Programme for projects or activities that will facilitate change and benefit local people. The grants will be managed by Groundwork, a specialist charity working locally and nationally to transform lives in the UK's most disadvantaged communities, and will help groups make a difference in their local areas, truly facilitating change that will benefit communities for years to come. Community sports clubs, community action groups, youth work, music groups and food banks are invited to apply. Find out more and apply here
Grants for charities working on social and economic disadvantage
Apply by 20th July
Grants of up to £25,000 are available from the Steel Charitable Trust to registered charities in the UK working in the areas of arts and heritage, education, environment, health, or social and economic disadvantage. Applicants may apply for support towards capital projects, specific projects, research programmes or core costs. Find out more and apply here
Funding for widening engagement in arts in Wales
Apply by 23rd July
The Arts Council of Wales wants to fund ideas which encourage the creation of new networks, and which strengthen existing networking opportunities. It is particularly interested in initiatives which focus on promoting and strengthening diversity and inclusion throughout the arts sector, and on widening engagement with diverse communities. This might include networks which focus on supporting diverse voices across the arts sector to make themselves heard. Arts Council Wales is particularly interested in supporting networks from Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent communities and/or racially minoritised people. Funds of up to £2000 per project are available. Find out more and apply here
To search for more funding opportunities, check the Clinks funding portal here (only available for Clinks members).
Jobs
Creative Practitioner, Odd Arts
‘In Our Words' Project Manager, Odd Arts
Want to include your organisation’s opportunity in the next newsletter?
If you’d like us to feature your job or volunteer post in our newsletter, please get in touch with us on info@artsincriminaljustice.org.uk and post your vacancy to the Clinks jobs board here. We are only able to share vacancies posted to the Clinks jobs board.
-----------------------------------------------------------
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.
Get involved Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter | Follow NCJAA on Twitter
Contact us www.clinks.org | www.artsincriminaljustice.org.uk | info@clinks.org | 020 7383 0966
Click here to manage your subscriptions. For assistance, email info@clinks.org
© Clinks, 2021
Registered office: Block C, 5th Floor, Tavistock House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JJ
Registered charity: 1074546 | Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales: 356217