The newsletter for arts organisations working in criminal justice.
In this month's issue...
- National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance news
- Events and training
- Arts in criminal justice news and publications
- Resources and opportunities
Arts in criminal justice network forum: Save the date
8th March | 10am | online | free
Join us for our next arts in criminal justice network forum. These forums run regularly throughout the year and are themed around important ideas and relevant developments in criminal justice. You’ll have the chance to hear from expert speakers in both practice and policy and meet others working in the field. There will also be an opportunity for Q&A. Book tickets here
NCJAA Evidence Library
We will soon be launching the latest version of our NCJAA online Evidence Library housing research and evaluation documents on the impact of arts-based projects, programmes and interventions within the criminal justice system. If you are interested in submitting a piece of research to be considered for the library, please contact info@artsincriminaljustice.org
The power of words: Anne Peaker 2022
We were delighted to welcome Ashleigh Nugent, Lady Unchained and Akemia Minott to this year’s Anne Peaker lecture to celebrate and explore the power of words. The lecture, which honours the work and legacy of arts in criminal justice pioneer Anne Peaker, took place online for the second time this year and we were overjoyed to be joined by over 100 people from around the country and beyond. Thanks goes to our brilliant speakers, as well as Hear Me Out for their uplifting soundtrack, artist Niki Gibbs for her stunning slideshow of artwork and, of course to you, the audience – for your energy, insightful questions and creative enthusiasm. See highlights of the event here
Prisons Strategy White Paper
Thank you to everybody who joined us for the arts consultation on the recent Prisons Strategy White Paper. Conversations were rich and we gathered some important responses to feed back to the Ministry of Justice. We encourage as many voluntary organisations working within the arts in the criminal justice system as possible to submit evidence before the 4th February deadline. Find out how to respond here
Time to talk: women in prison, mental health and creativity
3rd February | online | free
Join theatre company Clean Break and WISH (Women in Special Hospitals) for an event focusing on the mental health of women in prison and secure settings and the benefits of creativity on women’s wellbeing. This event will feature a panel discussion about the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of women in prison, followed by the premiere of Lara, a new digital short created by artists Deborah Bruce and Sarah Cowan, and a discussion on the value of creativity in recovery. The panel and screening will be followed by a Q&A and discussion about women’s mental health in and on release from secure settings. Book tickets here
New play tells stories of children of imprisoned parents
4th and 5th February | Liverpool | £6-£14
A new performance co-created by All Things Considered, Time Matters UK and Liverpool’s Unity Theatre shares the testimonies of some of the over 300,000 children in the UK who have had a parent sent to prison. It examines a child’s world when they are plunged into a new reality of prison visits, social workers, timed telephone calls, judgements, loss of contact and endless questions. Book tickets here
Poetry behind bars
Brenda Birungi, Founder and Creative Director of Unchained Poetry, has written a new book which is now available for pre-order. In 2008, 21-year-old Brenda got involved in a fight in a club while trying to protect her sister. Serving 11 months of her prison sentence, her life changed completely. Inside, Brenda began to write, while battling with isolation, loneliness and the fear of being deported. These notes became powerful bars of poetry, capturing first-hand the broken justice system and the racism rooted within it. Behind Bars traces how Brenda's identity was irrevocably changed during her sentencing, time in prison and release. Pre-order the book here
West Midlands police’s artist-in-residence
Artist Kay Rufai was enlisted by West Midlands police last year to be their artist in residence – thought to be a first for a police force. He spent several months taking photographs and film of officers and the young Black people they interacted with. The images were then presented to police in order to spark a conversation. The project, called Barriers to Bridges, is being funded by the Coventry City of Culture Trust and the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s office, and will be publicly displayed in February. Read more about the project here
New funds for freelancers in creative fields
Various closing dates
In light of the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, Arts Council England (ACE) has announced an additional £1.5 million investment in three art form specific funds to provide immediate support to freelancers who need it most. £200,000 will be available through the a-n The Artists Information Company fund to support artists working in all visual arts disciplines, and other self-employed professionals working in the visual arts. The Help Musicians' Financial Hardship fund will distribute £650,000 to support self-employed and unemployed professional musicians across the country. Another £650,000 will be available through the Theatre Artists Fund, which will award individual grants of £1000 for freelance professional theatre workers, from backstage workers to dancers, and from technicians to education outreach workers. Find out more here
Platinum Jubilee fund for creative community activities
Closing date varies by region
UK Community Foundations is working with Arts Council England to distribute a new fund to enable communities to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee through culture and creativity. The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund is a £5 million programme that will support community and voluntary organisations in England to develop creative and cultural activities as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. Applicants will be able to apply for grants of between £750 and £10,000 and are encouraged to partner with established artists, creatives and cultural organisations to develop their activities. Find out more and apply here
Mid-career grants for public engagement in theatre
Apply by 30th January
In Good Company (IGC), a professional development programme for theatre makers and companies in the Midlands, is looking to award a £5,000 grant to independent artists or companies who create live performance for public engagement, whether on stage or in a community setting, and consider themselves mid-career. This is a national callout, but grant awardees will be expected to engage with Midland audiences and partners if selected and be able to show a positive impact for people in the Midlands. As well as the grant, the awardee will receive two weeks rehearsal space at IGC partner venues, an opportunity to premiere the final piece at a festival and 10 days with an assistant producer. In particular, IGC is looking to fund new work that makes a statement and considers those often marginalised by the creative industries. Find out more and apply here
Calling all budding actors - 100 Mistakes: casting auditions
A feature film called ‘100 Mistakes’ is being produced by Unique Talent, a Community Interest Company working with young people between 16 - 25 years old at risk of gang involvement or reoffending. Shooting will commence in February 2022 and will tell the story of a young man in South London who turns away from gang related crime and achieves great success by launching his own business. Unique Talent are searching for up-and-coming actors and extras for the film with passion and who want to take their acting careers forward. The cast and crew will be under the direction of Adriano Chirellini who has worked with Netflix and other major television channels. For more information about the casting and auditions, please contact Jerome Sewell by emailing jerome@uniquetalent.org.uk or telephoning 020 3479 5344.
To search for more funding opportunities, check the Clinks funding portal here (only available for Clinks members).
Jobs
Musician in Residence, Changing Tunes
Head of Programme Delivery, Fine Cell Work
Learning and Engagement Manager (Young People): Maternity Cover, Synergy Theatre Project
Take a creative break: what do you get if you cross a goose with a marimba? This experiment uses machine learning to make hybrid sounds that you can make music with – have a go here
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.
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This newsletter is written monthly. Email info@artsincriminaljustice.org.uk if you wish to submit any news.
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