The newsletter for arts organisations working in criminal justice.
In this month's issue..
September 2024 - March 2025 | online | free
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) is excited to revive its writing development training programme for individuals and organisations delivering arts-based services and projects in the criminal justice system. Working in partnership with the Royal Literary Fund (RLF), a programme of free digital workshops is being held throughout 2024/25 to teach vital writing development skills to those working in criminal justice for reports, case studies, funding applications, editing and proofreading, complaints, and reflective writing. Visit the NCJAA website for information about the workshop programme
Evidence call-out: NCJAA influencing campaign
This autumn, the NCJAA will be launching a campaign aimed at highlighting and promoting the incredible work and evidence base around the arts in criminal justice. To do this, we need your support and are asking the network to collaborate on an evidence-gathering mission. You can get involved by sending us any practice evaluations, research, or case studies of the work you/your organisation has been involved in. We are particularly interested in evidence that links to the following themes or resettlement pathways:
- Employment
- Education
- Reducing reoffending
- Maintaining family ties
- Drug and alcohol treatment
- Health and wellbeing
- Youth justice
- Women
- Race and justice
If you are interested in sharing your work or have any questions about the campaign, please contact artsalliance@clinks.org
Standard Determinate Sentences (SDS) briefing
The House of Commons Library has published a briefing on the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Requisite and Minimum Custodial Periods) Order 2024, addressing the increasing pressure on prison capacities in England and Wales. The briefing sets out the proposed aims of the order and provides broader context.
The proposed order aims to reduce the automatic release point for certain Standard Determinate Sentences (SDS) from 50% to 40%. However, serious offences like violent crimes, sexual offences, and those linked to domestic violence will be excluded to maintain stringent release conditions. This change could reduce the prison population by up to 6,200 places. Despite these efforts, the prison population is projected to grow significantly, necessitating further strategic planning to manage overcrowding and ensure public safety effectively. Read the briefing here or read this Clinks blog.
NCJAA Member Spotlight – Odd Arts
“Transforming lives with creative arts that challenge and inspire”, Odd Arts specialise in delivering theatre-based programmes that change attitudes and behaviours, and enable people to understand the world and themselves differently. All their work is restorative, anti-racist, trauma informed, strengths based, non-violent-communication led, and considerate of the environment. Watch this video and visit their website to get involved and find out more about what they do.
Congratulations to Catrina McHugh MBE
Everyone at the NCJAA and Clinks wants to send huge congratulations to Catrina McHugh MBE of Open Clasp. Last month, Catrina received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters from Newcastle University in recognition of her creative leadership of the Open Clasp team, whose mission is to place theatre at the heart of transforming the lives of disadvantaged women and girls. Open Clasp are valued NCJAA network members and Catrina brings her expertise to the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3 Arts Seat. Read more about Open Clasp and Catrina’s award here.
MAGNIFY at the New Diorama Theatre
31 August | London | from £6 (bursary tickets available)
MAGNIFY is an exciting sharing of original work devised and performed by a cast of Kestrel actors. Created from scratch over a two-week process, MAGNIFY is the end result of a creative collaboration between writer Simon Longman (Royal Court, Paines Plough) and the acting company.
Kestrel employs professionals to work creatively within the criminal justice system, facilitating original pieces of work, mostly theatre and film. Kestrel aims to empower people with experience of the criminal justice system to express themselves in a non judgemental, collaborative and enabling environment. They aim to help those taking part develop greater self confidence, mutual respect, and resilience. By realising their creative potential, they support them to produce work of the highest standard. Book your tickets here
Mycelial – Open Clasp in association with Northern Stage
various dates | various locations
Written by Catrina McHugh MBE, Directed by Laura Lindow and co-created with sex work activists, Mycelial tell the story of an underground community of sex workers scattered across the globe and rooted in their fight for justice, stand together, deciding enough is enough. Twelve powerful activists are connected by invisible threads that build the strength and power they need to make change above ground.
“Mycelial is underpinned by our co-creator’s principle in ‘nothing about us without us’. Their voices are centre stage, Open Clasp are the scaffolding. It’s a play about being queer, money, borders and a revolution. Mycelial celebrates the strength and humanity of sex work activists who can’t walk by injustice.”
Writer of Mycelial and Artistic Director, Catrina McHugh MBE
Why gender matters in the criminal justice system: 2-part workshop
23 & 24 September | online | from £95
Is your organisation part of the Clinks Women’s Network? Do you have frontline staff or volunteers who are new to working or volunteering in your organisation and want to increase their understanding of why gender matters for women in the criminal justice system? If so, join us for this two-part entry-level workshop that aims to develop understanding of women’s gendered experience of the criminal justice system and raise awareness of ‘a whole system approach’. Book your place here
Navigating the criminal justice system workshop
26 September | online | from £75
Are you new to working or volunteering in the criminal justice system? Do you have volunteers or staff members who want to increase their understanding of the criminal justice system? The criminal justice system as a whole can be quite daunting to understand because of both its size and complexity. This three- hour workshop aims to increase awareness of and provide opportunity for voluntary sector staff and volunteers to explore and discuss how the criminal justice system is organised, the complexities within it, and how it works. Book your place here
Training and events at Clean Break
Join Clean Break this Autumn for a series of training and events. Throughout October, this award-winning women’s theatre organisation will be facilitating four one-day workshops to support and develop your creative practice. Find out more and book here
Role play training: Synergy Theatre Project
Synergy Theatre Project delivers bespoke role play training utilising experienced ex-prisoner actor facilitators to train criminal justice sector professionals. Their lived experience is invaluable, bringing unique insight and authenticity to training, offering participants the opportunity to test and develop their skills with service users before entering the working environment. If you are interested in finding out more, please contact esther@synergytheatreproject.co.uk
Skills training for young people
Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) are a community interest company that offers free, short-term work experience placements for young people (aged 14-24) that are not in/are at risk of becoming disengaged with employment, education or training. They have an upcoming project in September in Gateshead at the community football club offering work experience and training for young people. The young people will focus on widening participation and promotion of female football, improving the disabled parking facility, improving access for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and people with prams/buggies at the football club.
If your organisation is interested in registering young people in the Gateshead area for the project, then please contact Hazel Okeefe. The project runs 16-27 September. Visit VIY's YouTube channel for more of a flavour of their work.
North East Investment Grant
Creative UK have introduced a new round of Culture and Creative Investment Programme grants. These grants are designed to support freelancers and small and medium enterprises working in the culture and creative sector based in Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside. Grants of up to £8,000 are available. Find out more, including eligibility criteria here.
Fine Cell Work – Summer Sample Sale
Do not miss out on picking up something lovely during the sale! Fine Cell Work’s annual sale is a unique opportunity to purchase one-off production samples, slight seconds and end-of-line designs at a saving on their typical prices, whilst finding a home for their stitchers' work and providing support for their programmes in-prison and post-release. View the sale here
Calling young aspiring artists and musicians in London
The Irene Taylor trust are providing a free opportunity for you to take part in their Making Tracks project this September! Over five days you will be supported by professional musicians creating original music together to be recorded and put on SoundCloud, with the project culminating in a performance. You do not need prior musical experience and instruments and equipment will be provided. Find out more, including eligibility criteria here.
Vacancies
National Delivery Lead – Beating Time
Musician-in-Residence, HMP Ashfield – Changing Tunes
Musician-in-Residence, HMP Featherstone and Midland Activity Hubs – Changing Tunes
Sales Manager – Clean Break
Development Manager – Clean Break
Multiple vacancies – Shannon Trust
Creative Producer – Helix Arts
Want to post a vacancy?
Clinks members can post job and volunteer vacancies on our Jobs Board for free.
Full instructions for uploading a vacancy can be found here.
For assistance, email membership@clinks.org
Take a creative break
Treat yourself to a creative writing getaway in the idyllic North Yorkshire countryside from as little as £45. Writers’ Retreat will cater to your every need and offer the perfect environment to help you relax and create.
Want to include something in the next newsletter?
The next NCJAA newsletter will be sent on Thursday 31 October. If you have any news, opportunities or events relating to art organisations or projects within the criminal justice system that you would like included, please submit your information via our online form by Monday 21 October.
-----------------------------------------------------------
This newsletter is bi-monthly. Email artsalliance@clinks.org if you wish to submit any news.
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance is embedded in Clinks.
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 4502 6774
Click here to manage your subscriptions. For assistance, email info@clinks.org