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Here you'll find listings for forthcoming projects run by arts organisations working with ex-prisoners, and national events you might find interesting. Unfortunately, we can't list all the community projects you can access. Please check your local arts venues, community centres and adult education facilities for more information on local arts projects and training. |
NEWS - DCMS AMATEUR ARTS SURVEY
From Friday 1st February the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s first ever national survey of amateur arts groups in England went live. The Voluntary Arts Network (VAN) has urged all voluntary arts and crafts groups in England to take part in the survey, by going to www.artsurvey.org.uk and following the on-screen instructions. The survey will help focus attention on the wealth of amateur and voluntary arts opportunities enjoyed by millions of people across the country every day - often with little publicity. The research has the potential to be very useful for arts groups, who will be able to refer to the findings when applying for funding, and for policy-makers, who can use it to look at how amateur arts groups could be better supported. The results will be published in the summer. As a thank-you for completing the survey you will be entered into a free prize draw. Three respondents will be selected at random and receive £150 for their group. Complete the survey at www.artsurvey.org.uk
RESOURCES - GET INTO THEATRE
A unique new Arts Council England funded website has been created for young people that lifts the lid on the huge variety of careers available in the Theatre industry. Part of the Young People's Participatory Theatre project (YPPT), www.getintotheatre.org is aimed at young people aged 14 and over. It features over 140 case studies of people working in the full range of careers in the Theatre industry, from set design to fight directing, rigging to public relations, programming to marketing. Other features include a CV clinic, expert panel and regularly posted work experience and participatory opportunities. If you are interested in receiving print publicity for the website (postcards and business cards) please contact helen.love@artscouncil.org.uk .
RESOURCES - THE PHOTOVOICE MANUAL
The PhotoVoice Manual is a guide to designing and running participatory photography projects. This 130pp A5 spiral-bound book has been produced in response to the many enquiries received at PhotoVoice requesting advice on how to set up and run participatory photography projects. The manual is targeted at existing practitioners of participatory photography as well as photographers, community arts practitioners, NGO’s and freelance project facilitators who are interested in gaining new insights and tips into how to empower marginalised groups through photography. The manual also includes a DVD showcasing slideshows and digital stories from PhotoVoice projects as well as a downloadable PDF exhibition. For more information and to order the manual please contact April Coetzee, Projects Manager, PhotoVoice, 94 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4RH. T: 020 7033 3878, F: 020 7739 8942. E: april@photovoice.org W: www.photovoice.org
TRAINING - ARTS AWARD ADVISOR TRAINING
Arts Award is a national qualification that recognises how young people develop as artists, arts practitioners and arts leaders. Young people aged between 11-25 can achieve Arts Awards at levels 1, 2 and 3 on the national qualifications framework. Arts Award centres are organisations which support young people to develop their arts activities, including arts centres, theatres, schools, colleges, youth projects, voluntary clubs or community groups. Every centre must employ or be associated with at least one trained Arts Award adviser. Arts Award advisers should have at least two years full-time or three years part-time experience of work with young people and complete a one-day adviser training course. Training courses are run regularly in every English region. Further information and all upcoming Arts Award training dates can be found at: http://www.artsaward.org.uk/course_search/?script=profile_search
TRAINING - GEESE THEATRE INFORMATION DAY
11th April, 2pm, Birmingham
To support the increasing interest in the company’s work Geese regularly host Information Sessions at their base in Birmingham. Over the course of an afternoon participants are offered an explanation of the company’s work through discussion and a seminar session with a Senior Company Member. In more detail, the session may cover: History and development of Geese; some of the theories which underpin the work; the different contexts in which Geese work; masks and their role in Geese's work. In addition, individuals will be offered an opportunity to ask more specific questions pertaining to their own studies, interest or area of research. To reserve a place or for more information please email: mailbox@geese.co.uk or visit www.geese.co.uk
TRAINING - GEESE THEATRE TRAINING – ‘THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL’
11th - 13th June, Birmingham
£300 (tuition only)
This three-day course is open to anyone who is interested in or has experience of working with offenders and young people at risk of offending. No previous drama experience is necessary, however a willingness to actively explore new methods of working is an essential requirement. The course will invite participants to experience and practise a variety of drama based methods for use in groupwork. The focus will be on exploring some of the basic principles behind the company’s use of drama with offenders, offering workers effective and widely applicable techniques in order to: Cross over the ‘wall’ and explore with the offender their experience of the world; assist the offender in identifying patterns of behaviour and exploring new strategies for change; identify and assist in the development of interpersonal skills; create an environment where safe and relevant experiential learning can take place. Particular attention will be paid to how workers might integrate drama based methods into a cognitive behavioural approach, in accordance with current evidence based practice. For more information and a booking form please go to: http://www.geese.co.uk/HTML/other-side.html
To contact Geese direct please email: mailbox@geese.co.uk
or call: 0121 449 6222 / Fax: 0121 449 1333. Please note Geese have now moved – their new address is: Geese Theatre Company, Woodbridge House, 9 Woodbridge Road, Birmingham B13 8EH
RESEARCH - THE GRIFFIN SOCIETY
The Griffins Society is a charity that supports research into the resettlement needs of women and girls in the justice system. They know there are many innovative projects in the country and important work is being done with female offenders and women / girls at risk of becoming involved in the justice system. They aim to support these projects and their workers by offering practitioners the chance to do part-time research into their own concerns or ideas about the resettlement needs of women and girls. Fellowships are part-time and last one year from October 2008. Academic support is provided by the London School of Economics but projects do not need to be based near London, and £3,000 in research expenses is given to the successful candidates. The Programme is aimed at practitioners and is intended to support 'bottom up' research agendas arising from the experiences and observations of people who work with women on a day-to-day basis - applicants do not need any research experience but must have enquiring minds. Previous Fellows' work has been supported by the National Probation Service, The Women and Young People's Group (Prison Service), the Women's Policy Team (MoJ), the London Resettlement Team (Govt Office for London), etc. Where possible, we develop Fellows' recommendations into practical projects - lead either by the Griffins Society and/or other statutory agencies or VCS organisations. More information about the Fellowships can be found on the website, along with previous Fellows' research findings etc: http://www.thegriffinssociety.org/fell.html
NEWS - MUSIC IN PRISONS
Inside Time, the national newspaper for prisoners, reports in its February issue on some of the great projects taking place in prisons involving music. Billy Bragg’s Jail Guitar Doors project has been livening up the music workshops in HMP Pentonville through providing them with the instruments his charity raises money to buy. Bragg’s work is supported by Prisons Minister David Hanson, who hopes to aid Jail Guitar Door’s work to extend outside of London and the South East to the North West soon. Inside Time also reports that Irish singer/songwriter Foy Vance has been undergoing a mini – tour of establishments in which he performed a mix of blues, funk and soul. He now hopes to continue to work within prisons, to ‘do music workshops, encouraging people to get as much as they can out of music, help them to write songs and then develop them based on their experiences of life’. For more information on Jail Guitar Doors go to: www.jailguitardoors.com
TRAINING - A CREATIVE APPROACH TO WORKING WITH JUVENILE AND YOUNG OFFENDERS
17th April, 9.45am - 4pm, Paddington Arts, London
This ‘Using the Arts with juvenile and young offenders’ training course provides an overview of delivering the arts to young people known to the criminal justice system, including those within the community and those within the secure estate. Participants will examine the issues that need to be considered when planning a project with juvenile and young offenders, highlighting the practical and safety issues associated with working in a secure unit, including appropriate behaviour, security and CRB legislation guidelines. The course will identify the skills needed to successfully implement an arts based project with these young people and understand the importance of good partnerships with prison education staff and youth offending teams. A professional trainer with specialist experience in using the arts with juvenile and young offenders will be delivering the course. Artswork provides continual support towards the professional development of each trainer, guaranteeing courses remain relevant and informative, enabling us to deliver quality training. Each of the participants will receive a certificate of attendance and a free copy of the Artsplan Using the Arts with Juvenile and Young Offenders guidelines, a useful resource for anyone working in this area. The guidelines can also be purchased by those not taking part in the Using the Arts with Juvenile and Young Offenders training and are priced at just £7.50 including free postage and packaging. Full members of ENYAN (English National Youth Arts Network) also receive a 10% discount on all Artsplan publications and training courses. For more information on how to make a booking, or to order the ‘Using the Arts with juvenile and young offenders guidelines’ please contact Lisa Douglas, Artsplan Development Manager (Acting) on artsplan@artswork.org.uk or call 023 8063 0960.
NEWS - OCJR PILOT SCHEME
OCJR (the Office for Criminal Justice Reform), has launched a pilot scheme to determine how those from black and minority ethnic communities experience every aspect of the criminal justice system (CJS). The pilot was launched this month to seven Local Criminal Justice Boards (LCJBs) throughout England and Wales. It aims to support CJS agencies throughout England and Wales in improving the ways in which they collect data about people's experiences. Sharing best practice and finding solutions for gathering information will also be integral to the scheme. For more information, contact Jane Becker by email: jane.becker@cjs.gsi.gov.uk
NEWS - STORYBOOK DADS NOMINATED FOR GUARDIAN PUBLIC SERVICE AWARDS
The Prison Service has five finalists in this year's prestigious Guardian Public Service Awards. The Guardian Public Services Awards is now its fourth year. Its aim is to highlight the often unsung and inspirational work that is involved in delivering public services. Included in nominations for the Children's Services category is HMP Dartmoor for Storybook Dads which enables parents in prison to keep in contact with their children through recording stories for them onto CDs. More information on the awards can be found at: www.society.guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawards For further information on Storybook Dads go to: http://www.storybookdads.co.uk/indexnext.htm
NEWS - NEW ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND CHIEF EXEC ANNOUNCED
Alan Davey, director of culture at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, has been appointed new chief executive of Arts Council England. He will take up the post in early 2008 and will succeed Peter Hewitt, who will have been in the job for ten years when he steps down next year. Davey, 46, has been director of culture at the DCMS since 2003, having worked in the department as head of the arts division since 2001. More: www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/18331/davey-appointed-ace-chief-exec (Source: The Stage)
NEWS - ART OFFICIALLY GOOD FOR YOU
Arts Industry Magazine reported this week that researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University have found art to ‘help people increase their capacity for coping, and well-being amongst those who are ill, depressed or isolated’. Their study lasted three years and was Treasury funded, and found that arts initiatives also have a positive impact on those working in the healthcare professions.
NEWS - VOICE-net
Clemencia Echeverri is a Columbian artist working on video installation, sound, and interactive applications for the web. For some time now she has been engaged with research related to prisons with the support of the Arts Council, London. The research has been based on a process that she has held with inmates in four prisons in England. She conducted workshops and encounters with groups of prisoners. From the collected sound material and with additional experience, she developed a video installation and a web application called VOICE-net. The idea is to make this material freely available aiming to bridge links between the world inside prisons with the outside communities and with organizations supporting prisoners and underprivileged communities, their families, and also the art world interested on this on-line technical explorations. To download the complete material go to: http://www.quiasma.org/clemenciaecheverri/voznet/ Clamencia’s complete website is at: www.quiasma.org/clemenciaecheverri
EVENTS/TRAINING - FREE PROFESSIONAL CARDBOARD CITIZENS WORKSHOPS
London
Tuesdays: Writing for Performance 6:15 – 8:15pm; Contemporary Dance 6:15 – 8:15pm
Wednesdays: Theatre Skills 1, 6:15 – 8:15pm; Singing 6:15 – 8:15pm
Thursdays: Circus Skills 3pm - 5pm; Theatre Skills 2, 6:15 – 8:15pm
Fridays: Music-making 3pm – 5pm
Everyone over 18 can attend. For more information or to join the Cardboard Citizens Membership scheme, please call Lucy on 020 7247 7747 or email lucy@cardboardcitizens.org.uk
NEWS - SHOCK: THE MARK STEVENS STORY
In this newly released novel based on real life events, the main character, journalist David Blake, discovers a discarded manuscript written by Mark Stevens, a convicted criminal. Always looking for a new story, Blake reads the handwritten script and uncovers a dramatic account of life in British prisons, including the enclosed world of sex offender units. Mark Stevens, a gay, Buddhist businessman and writer, relates the anger, the violence, the isolation and the relationships between prisoners, contrasting the reality of their incarceration with the oppression, neglect and threats from authority figures whose work it should be to rehabilitate prisoners and prevent their re-offending. Blake realizes that he has been given a unique insight into prison life and pursues his investigation to track down Mark Stevens and uncover the truth of the manuscript. This is a unique story, with its accurate revelations of offenders and of their lives in the secret world behind bars. Being an accurate account, SHOCK is as controversial as it is heartbreaking, and as humorous as it is serious. The book is presently only available for purchase at http://www.lulu.com/content/1052595 where a full description and preview of text is available.
(Release Source: Tilliam Art)
NEWS - MUSIC IN PRISONS
Music in Prisons (The Irene Taylor Trust) has recently completed a successful music and photography project with two groups of inmates at Frankland and Low Newton prison in County Durham. Following performances within the prison, the project was transformed into an installation by photographer Lizzie Coombes, entitled ‘Where I’m Coming From’, which was on public display at The Sage, Gateshead for two weeks. This exhibition enabled visitors to The Sage to ‘glimpse into the lives and aspirations of men and women currently serving time in prisons in the North East’ (Music in Prisons Summer Newsletter), and was incredibly well received. Music in Prisons now hopes the strong relationships built and the experienced gained will enable the local musicians involved and The Sage Gateshead to better engage with the musical needs of prisoners in the North East in the future. You can keep up to date with Music in Prisons at their new website: www.musicinprisons.org.uk
RESOURCES - THE HANDBOOK FOR ARTISTS
A reminder that the revised and revamped ‘Handbook for Artists’, produced by Anne Peaker Centre in conjunction with Chris Johnston of Rideout, is now available. The book is an invaluable tool for all practitioners working with offenders and ex-offenders, offering guidance on best practice and detailed case studies of successful projects. Positive feedback has been flooding in since it was made available earlier in the year, proving that it provides a definitive overview of:
· the case for the arts within criminal justice settings
· the workings of the criminal justice system
· the tradition of arts practice within the criminal justice system
· artists' roles and responsibilities when working within the criminal justice system
The Handbook is available at a cost of £19.99 to members of Anne Peaker Centre and £24.99 to non-members. For more information or to place an order contact: info@apcentre.org.uk For further publications available from Anne Peaker Centre go to http://www.apcentre.org.uk/site/apc_publications.htm
NEWS - OFFENDER MANAGEMENT BILL
The Offender Management Bill has been the subject of extensive debate in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. There have been a number of amendments to the Bill which have now been accepted by the government, and it has had its final reading in the House of Lords. Further details and responses to it can be found at the National Association of Probation Officers’ (NAPO) website: www.napo.org.uk
NEWS - WOMEN & THE CJS
The Fawcett Society campaigns for better treatment of women victims, offenders, and practitioners. The government must address the damage caused by imprisoning women, according to a report published by the Fawcett Society's commission on women and the criminal justice system. Commission chairman Baroness Corston said: "We need a radical new approach that will properly rehabilitate women - not more futile stays in prison." (Source: ePolitix Morning Bulletin, Wednesday 25th July) On Wednesday 25th July, David Hanson – Minister of State - spoke to the Fawcett Society about how the Ministry of Justice can best treat women in the Criminal Justice System. View the speech on the MoJ website at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/sp250707a.htm