Arts Alliance Press's Posts - The Arts Alliance

New Steering Group elected and new Arts Alliance Manager in post

2012-07-30T09:51:00.000Z

We'd very much to like to welcome four new independent Arts Alliance members to the steering group meetings: Genista Dunham from HMP Highpoint, Samatha Jones and Toby Lowe from Helix Arts and Michael McNally from Deerbolt HMYOI. We'd also like to welcome Nina Champion from the Prisoners Education Trust onto the Steering Group. Thank you to everyone who voted and we look forward to an activity packed year. My name is Jessica Plant, I am the new Arts Alliance Manager and I will be updating the…

Steering Group election 2012 - Vote now!

2012-02-17T11:00:00.000Z

Hello everyone

I am delighted to announce that we have a record 22 candidates standing for election to the Steering Group of the Arts Alliance. They have each written a short piece in support of their bid, which you can download here. Please read these statements carefully. As there are 12 places on the Steering Group, each member can vote for up to 12 candidates. Please put an X next to the name of your preferred candidates on this voting form and return it to artsalliance@clinks.org before Friday 24th February. Alternatively you can simply email the names of your preferred candidates directly to that email address. You may also vote in person at the Annual Meeting on Monday 26th in Leicester.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY MEMBERS OF THE ARTS ALLIANCE ARE ENTITLED TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION.

Best wishes.

Stephen

Lemos & Crane launch report on the role of the arts in social care

2011-07-21T12:33:26.000Z

Gerrard Lemos of Lemos & Crane has published Create-ability: the changing meaning of art and artistry, which with the support of The City Bridge Trust focusses on the impact of arts with socially excluded people. Two Arts Alliance members, synergy theatre company and clean break, are featured in the report.

The report observes some of the outcomes of the arts projects visited. Including the mystery and magic of art, self-relfection, increased self-esteem, meditative thinking, reducing stigma, impact on the community through shared experience, solidarity and the fact that creativity creates art that can be enjoyed by a larger audience. The report also lists 10 good reasons to support the arts working with vulberable people. Download the full report or the summary.

Go To Jail - Live feed

2011-07-15T16:25:01.000Z

In response to what Rideout see as "the misinformation about prison life and prison reform that is a feature of much journalism" they have, for the second time, set up a mock jail in a public space for passers by to find out more about the reality of prison life. In their own words Rideout state that the project "GOTOJAIL gives members of the public a chance to 'get inside' prison life in a way that has never happened before. It involves the construction of a replica cell in an empty shop unit in a shopping centre or precinct. It is as close to a real cell in terms of size and facilities as it is possible to get". You can visit the GOTOJAIL website (http://gotojail.info) and also view a live feed of the project when it is running.

£100 million Catalyst Arts funding to support philanthropy

2011-07-05T15:15:12.000Z

The Arts Council England have announced a further £20 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the long-term resilience of arts organisations by increasing their fundraising potential. There will be several funds from which to apply. A £30 million fund will be open to individual organisations or partnerships that can develop their existing fundraising experience to plan for and source innovative match-funding arrangements from private giving. A smaller £7 million pound fund will support organisations with less experience of fundraising to develop their capacity, organisations will be able to apply for £15,000 - £25,000. A further £3 million pounds of lottery funds will be used to support practical advice on how to secure new funding. Further details on the fund are available here, Catalyst Arts, and details of how to apply will be announced in September. Also read about the new £55 million pound fund announced to help cultural organisations build endowment funds as part of the Catalyst programme.

Briefing: government response to the MOJ Green Paper consultation

2011-07-01T10:13:42.000Z

Not had time to read and digest the government's response to the Green Paper? Our easy to read briefing is available online. The Government response is a fairly short document that includes little detail about how Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations are to be financed and supported. Furthermore, the response marks a retreat from some of the more radical suggestions outlined in the Green Paper earlier this year. Disappointingly, a statement in the foreword explicitly states 'we are not aiming to cut the prison population'. This has been perceived in many quarters as a u-turn on criminal justice policy and gives rise to concerns over where the missing £130 million will now be saved. Download our briefing at: Clinks Member's Briefings. If you'd like to contribute to our official response, please email Clare Hayes, Policy Officer at Clinks. You can read more about the Government's plans and the Ministry of Justice's proposed reforms here: plans outlined to reduce reoffending.

NOMS Voluntary Sector Grant Funding 2011-14

2011-06-30T14:30:00.000Z

REDUCING REOFFENDING NATIONAL VOLUNTARY SECTOR GRANT FUNDING 2011- 2014

Deadline for Expressions of Interest: 8th July 2011

Download the full tender invitation at Clinks Holding Page or download here: NOMS Grants programme.pdf

Description of Grant Funding

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) currently provides a grants programme for voluntary sector organisations working to reduce re-offending. They are now inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for a new round of grant funding from 1st October 2011. This stage is strictly for organisations to confirm the funding areas they are interested in.

The Funding Themes are as follows:

Big Society Principle - Opening up Public Services

(i) Develop the capacity of the voluntary, co-operative and Social Enterprise sector to support the NOMS Finance, Benefit and Debt Policy. 2011/2012 only - max allocation £35,000

(ii) Local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector working with Prisons in their Locality. 2011/2012 only - maximum allocation £35,000

Big Society Principle - Social Action

(i) Improving the Prison Visits Experience through the involvement of Arts Organisations. 2011/12 only - maximum allocation £35,000

(ii) Capacity Building - Restorative Justice. 2011/12 - 2013/2014 - Maximum allocation yr 1 = £100,000; yr 2 = £200,000; yr 3 = £200,000

(iii) Volunteering and Mentoring. 2011/12 - 2013/14 - Maximum allocation yr 1 = £250,000; yr 2 = £400,000; yr 3 = £250,000

Reforming Offender Management and Rehabilitation

(i) Defining Rehabilitative Outcomes and Measuring the Effectiveness of Rehabilitative Services. 2011/12 - 2013/14 - Maximum allocation yr 1= £200,000; yr 2 = £400,000; yr 3 = £100,000

Equalities Strand

(i) Supporting the Resettlement Needs of Foreign National Women held at HMP Downview and HMP Drake Hall. 2011/12 - 2013/14 - Maximum allocation yr 1 = £75,000; yr 2 = £150,000; yr 3 = £150,000

(ii) Capacity building - Organisations offering support services/interventions for older offenders. 2011/12 - 2012/13 - Maximum allocation yr 1 = £75,000; yr 2 = £150,000

(iii) Capacity building - Organisations offering support/interventions for offenders with learning disabilities/difficulties. 2011/12 - 2012/13 - Maximum allocation yr 1= £75,000; yr 2 = £150,000

The deadline for submitting EOIs to the Department is by 12 noon on 8th July 2011. Whilst the EOI process will not be used to sift, the number of EOIs received will enable us to shape the subsequent application and sifting process. The intention is to award grants in September 2011 with commencement agreed with each organisation on a case by case basis.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This email has been circulated by Clinks on behalf of NOMS. Clinks has no involvement or influence in this process. For more information and contact details please download the full tender invitation above.

Arts Alliance Development Manager - Vacancy at Clinks

2011-06-23T13:36:10.000Z

Clinks are advertising the post of Arts Alliance Development Manager. The deadline for applications is Moday 11th July. If you are interested you can view more information in out forum or visit the Clinks…

Sustainable Funding Roadshow, London

2011-06-16T13:41:24.000Z

This partnership event between LVSC and Clinks event will be taking you through the often difficult to navigate issues such as budget cuts, new and evolving government policy, uncertainty over future funding. These are challenging times for the Sector. But you are not alone! The Clinks Sustainable Funding Road Show, delivered in partnership with LVSC, is here to help. For VCS organisations working in criminal justice, this will provide:

Up to date information on the current funding
Up to date information on the current policy environment
Consideration and discussion of what this means for you

The topics that will be covered incude:

Improving income-generation and exploring your funding potential
The current commissioning landscape
How to initiate and improve partnership working
Exploring Payment by Results and other finance models
Measuring your impact to promote your work
Innovative ways to reduce costs
Presentations, Workshops, Facilitated networking, Surgeries

Firther events in the North West, North East, Ease and West Midlands will be announced soon and One-to-one surgeries with specialist advisors on income-generation, business planning and partnership working, are available if booked in advance on a first-come, first-served basis.

For further information and to book a place at this event

Something Brilliant - a creative resource for practitioners

2011-06-15T14:47:55.000Z

Thames Valley Partnership (TVP) have announced the launch of ‘Something Brilliant’ – an addition to the Thames Valley Partnership’s website.

‘Something Brilliant’ is a creative resource for all artists and support workers who work with (or who are planning to work with) vulnerable groups. On the website you will find ideas for running practical sessions, example evaluation forms, lists of resources, photographs and some case studies. The range of resouces will continue to expand so get in touch with Thames Valley Partnership if you have anything you would like to add.

The ‘Something Brilliant’ website can be accessed via the TVP home page or at www.thamesvalleypartnership.org.uk/somethingbrilliant

Review of Offender Learning Published

2011-05-25T17:21:22.000Z

A joint report from the Department for Business Innovation & Skills and the Ministry oj Justice outlines plans to break the cycle of reoffending by giving offenders better access to skills that employers demand. Under the reforms, there will be greater emphasis on the results that education and training in prison delivers.

Prisons Minister Crispin Blunt said:

'Previous investment in offender learning lacked adequate links with employment outcomes on release from prison and was commissioned too remotely from the prisons in which the training is delivered.

'This review will ensure that learning supports work in prison and employment on release, both of which are key elements of our efforts to rehabilitate offenders'.

The review does mention the role of the arts in being used to 'motivate and engage learners' where otherwise they would remain outside of the education system. They add that 'Engagement in the arts with the possibility of fresh vision, or at least a glimpse of a different life, often provokes, inspires and delights'. The report futhermore acknowledges an action for the forthcoming year to support art services 'for long term prisoners and those for whom an immediate focus on work is unrealistic'. Download the report here: REVIEW: making prisons work skills for rehabilitation or here: Ministry of Justice website

Beautiful Sentence

2011-05-23T12:32:13.000Z

Arts Alliance member Leah Thorn has sent us a video of her work as a Writer in Residence at HMP Bronzefield. Along with a new book called 'release' that she is publishing through New Leaf Books. We have posted up the video below or you can see it in the videos section here: Beautiful Sentence. If you want to share the video further it can be found on Vimeo. Please leave comments to let us know what you think.

Beautiful Sentence from Suzanne Cohen on Vimeo.

Arts In Prison: two service users needed for Parliamentary meeting

2011-05-20T16:30:06.000Z

The Arts Alliance in partnership with the Prison Reform Trust is hosting a meeting with Parliamentarians on the issue of Arts in Prison at a special meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Penal Affairs. We are looking for two former service users from Arts Alliance members who are willing and able to speak to a small gathering of Parliamentarians for no more than 10 minutes about their experiences of arts in prison. The Arts Alliance can cover all expenses and cover any loss of earnings for attending the meeting. Please contact nathan.dick@clinks.org if you would like to nominate a service user from your organisation or call on 07891 293 093 with any further questions. You can read more about the event here.

Role of the Probation Service - House of Commons Justice Select Committee

2011-05-20T08:30:00.000Z

On Wednesday 18th May several voluntary sector representatives gave evidence to the Justice Select Committee’s enquiry on the Role of the Probation Service. This covers some very interesting discussion abou the role of NOMS, how commissioning might work for smaller voluntary sector organisations and what the role of the voluntary sector organisation is in the rehabilitation of offenders. In attendance was Clive Martin, Director of Clinks, Rob Smith, Chief Executive from YSS, Chris Wright, Director of Operations from Catch22 and Andrew Neilson, Assistant Director for Public Affairs and Policy from The Howard League . You can watch the video now on www.parliament.uk

Changes to Member profiles!

2011-05-18T15:15:12.000Z

The Arts Alliance has recently updated the questions on your profile to keep better track of what our members do and where they are from. In order to help us do this we need all members to update your profile information. This will onlt take a minute and will help us keep better track of who we are reaching and what they are doing. Click…

Griffins Society Fellowship Programme Launched

2011-05-11T12:00:00.000Z

Do you want to undertake a research project about a Women's issue that concerns you? If you have a strong interest in Women offenders the The Griffin's Society are offering research fellowships that allow you to conduct research alongside your employment with academic support from the London School of Economics. Fellowships last one year and you must be able to study and write to a 'near degree level'.

For more information download the following PDF advert (Griffins fellowship programme advert 2011-12.pdf ) or visit www.thegriffinssociety.org.

Deadline: 27th May 2011

What do you think of the Arts Alliance website?

2011-05-10T13:35:10.000Z

We want to know what you, the Arts Alliance membership, think of our website. We want to know what you like about it, what you don't like, how you use it, and how you'd like to see it change in the future. This includes helping us to think through whether or not to stay with the current website or to develop a new one altogether.

With your input the Arts Alliance will develop a website that meets your needs. Please answer these short questions to help inform our future direction.

The deadline for completing this survey is Friday 31st May 2011.

Complete the survey HERE

Job Opportunities at Writers In Prison Network

2011-05-10T10:30:00.000Z

The Writers In Prison Network, funded by Arts Council England and the National Offender Management Service are looking to employ five new writers in residence. The opportunities are available in HMP Brixton, HMP Dartmoor, HMP Moorland, HMP Wandsworth and HMP Whatton. If you're interested in applying to become a writer in residence then please send a large (A4) SAE (66p stamp) to Writers in Prison Network Ltd, P.O. Box 7, Welshpool, SY21 0WB or email wipn@btinternet.com for more information.

The Deadline for applications is 27th May 2011

Please download the official WIPN advert here: WIPN advert.pdf

Signposting ex-prisoners to arts in the community

2011-04-21T08:30:00.000Z

Arts Alliance members Music in Prisons are calling for Information to help update its Music Out handbook. This handbook is designed to help signpost ex-prisoners towards musical and arts opportunities in the community. If you would like your organisation included in the handbook then please contact rasal@musicinprisons.org.uk for further information.

Ministry of Justice staff to volunteer

2011-04-20T13:49:31.000Z

Ministry of Justice staff in the Voluntary Sector, and Criminal Justice Women's policy teams are on the look out for volunteering opportunities within the criminal justice sector in the run up to Volunteers Week 1 - 7 June. The team, based at the Ministry's HQ in central London are available for a day. So if you have an opportunity, the team would love to hear from you. Contact the team to enquire - click here or email james.smith@justice.gsi.gov.uk.

Economic Downturn Survey - Have your say!

2011-04-11T11:00:00.000Z

The Arts Alliance Steering Group in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, Arts Council England, DBIS, DCMS and other partners have created this online survey to track the effect of the economic downturn on arts organisations. We have designed the survey to capture all of the potential difficulties you may be facing as well as the creative responses and solutions you may be formulating.The results will help the Arts Alliance to campaign for more funding where needed and find out what support you need. In the current climate it is absolutely vital that we know what you're experienceing and what you need.

You can access the survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ArtsAllianceEconomicDownturn or just click here

The survey does not require you to add your personal details and in any case the reponses will be fully anonymised. We are keen that all members complete the survey and if you have any networks that you can circulate the survey too we would be grateful for your support in getting it out as far and as wide as possible.

The deadline is 9th May at 5pm, so please have your responses in by then. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Arts Alliance on national Prison Radio

2011-04-07T10:27:50.000Z

Arts Alliance members the Prison Radio Association invited Nathan Dick, Arts Alliance Manager, to come to their Radio Station in HMP Brixton to talk to Prisoners about the role of Arts in Criminal Justice. Nathan was interviewed by prisoners at Brixton about what arts services are available, why they are important and what budget cuts meant to our members, the Criminal Justice System and the prisoners themselves. The show will be braodcast accross the Prison estate through National Prison Radio on Monday 11th April on the Porridge Breakfast show between 7 and 8am. We are grateful to the Prison Radio Association for giving us the opportunity to appear and hope that some of you tune in to listen. Find out more about National Prison Radio here: Prison Radio Association

Prisons competition outcome

2011-03-31T15:20:56.000Z

Today Secretary of State for Justice, Kenneth Clarke, announced the result of a competitive process for four prisons. Read the full press release here.

The outcome for the four prisons:

HMP Birmingham will be run by G4S
HMP Buckley Hall will be run by HM Prison Service
HMP Doncaster will be run by Serco
Featherstone 2 will be run by G4S

The new contracts for HMPs Birmingham, Buckley Hall and HMP Doncaster will be effective from October 2011 and from April 2012 for Featherstone 2.

HMP Doncaster has been annouced as a pilot to test out a payment by results prison whereby 10% of the contract price will be payable subject to the establishment reducing the one-year reconviction rates by 5% bor more for offenders leaving HMP Doncaster.

There has been discontent amongst staff at HMP Birmingham where the Prison will be changing hands from Public Sector management to Private Sector management in the shape of G4S. This has been voiced in an article published by the BBC where the Prison Officers Association (POA) are considering what action to take but have not ruled out industrial action. Read the full BBC News article here.

Evaluation tender released by Clean Break

2011-03-31T09:16:55.000Z

Clean Break are looking to contract an evaluator or researcher with experience of evaluating arts project in criminal justice settings with a particular interest in the experience of women offenders. The contract runs from May – December 2011, with the final report due in January 2012. The deadline for applications is Friday 15^th April 2011. Download the tender document here.

Arts Counil England announces National Portfolio Organisations

2011-03-30T12:38:14.000Z

The Arts Council England have announced their funding decisions for the new National portfolio of arts organisations which replaces the previous RFO (Regularly Funded Organisations) status which supported many Arts organisations in Criminal Justice. To see who has been funded you can download the excel spreadsheet here or we have uploaded it (see the bottom of this post). In addition they have given a brief summary of the national portfolio here as well as a map of where national portfolio organisations are located, download it here.

It is reassuring to see some Arts Alliance members listed as having received funding such as Helix Arts, TiPP, Clean Break Theatre Company, Dance4 and Geese Theatre Company. Of course we send our conratulations out to all those who received funding, but we say that with the full realisation that many did not receive funding and know that the almost a third of former RFOs did not receive funding as part of this National Portfolio. In addition we know that:

There is a 14.9% reduction in the grant aid provided by the Arts Council England
The new portfolio consists of 154 fewer organisations than the existing regular funding portfolio
110 non-RFOs were granted new funding
The Lottery will fund a further £10.5 million a year targeted at work with children and young people as well as an £18 million fund to support touring.
The Arts Council England expressed regret as good applications had to be turned down, including 206 existing regularly funded organisations

Resource: Excel Spreadsheet of National Portfolio Organisations

ARTS ALLIANCE STEERING GROUP 2011 – 2012

2011-03-15T11:35:50.000Z

We are pleased to announce that the Arts Alliance Steering Group is decided for 2011-12 with 12 nominations received and a maximum of 12 members elected to the steering group. No voting was required due to the number of nominations received. According to the Arts Alliance constitution all members will serve on the steering group for one year and step down allowing for new nominations in early 2012. Potential for co-opting members to the steering group to fills gaps in expertise will be considered at the first steering group meeting.

This group will provide advice, guidance and support to Clinks and the Arts Alliance Manager in the development of the Arts Alliance network and programme of work. Download the Arts Alliance Steering Group Members list here: Arts Alliance Steering Group 2011-2012

Breaking the Cycle - Arts Alliance response the the green paper

2011-03-10T10:39:17.000Z

The Arts Alliance have responded to the Ministry of Justice's green paper and we have posted it up here for you to read. We would also be very interested if people would post up their responses to the green paper by commenting on this blog or even making comments on our response.

Read the full response here: Breaking the Cycle - Arts Alliance Response

This response is intended to be read in conjunction with Clink's wider sector response to the green paper: read the Clinks response here.

National Meeting - register now

2011-02-09T14:00:00.000Z

The Arts Alliance invites you to a day of discussion, debate, performance and collaboration.

16 March 2011

Event details: bookings

Flyer: download now

What is the event?

After a year of building our membership we want to celebrate by involving you in shaping the future of arts in criminal justice. You will be informing what the Arts Alliance should do over the next year to support, sustain and lobby for the sector.

As our annual meeting of members this is a great opportunity to network and meet other similar minds and explore future partnerships and opportunities.

This free event is kindly sponsored by The Monument Trust, Arts Council England and the Ministry of Justice. The Arts Alliance is proud to be hosting the event in collaboration with the Koestler Trust’s North West regional exhibition (sponsored by The Co-operative) and kindly hosted by the Novas Scarman Contemporary Urban Centre.

This special event will include:

Talks from key Arts Alliance partners
Open debate and discussion led by you
Commissions from Arts Alliance members
Elect the new Arts Alliance Steering Group
Networking reception
Late night debate hosted by the Koester Trust

Want to Join the Arts Alliance Steering Group?

If you would like to nominate yourself to sit on the Arts Alliance steering group please email: Nathan Dick. Please submit your nomination by 25th February. The steering group will voted for and elected at the event.

Want to be commissioned to perform at the event?

We have 2 commissions available on the themes of 'the future of arts in criminal justice' or 'the impact of art for offenders'. The commission will be performed at the event you can see a PDF of the space available HERE and we are looking for 500 word submissions to Nathan Dick to be received before midnight 18th February. The sum available for each commission is £500. The piece to be performed should be no longer than 40 minutes including any question and answer sessions.

Young offenders exhibit at the National Gallery

2011-02-03T11:47:42.000Z

This is an advert for a great article in the Guardian published on 1st February looking into the HMYOI Feltham arts project that has been delivered in partnership with the National Gallery. With contributions from Pat Jones at Prisoner Education Trust, Gill Jenkins from Kensington and Chelsea College, John Costi a former service user and Arts Alliance chair Tim Robertson from the Koeslter Trust. An interesting article which you can READ HERE.

Arts Alliance Annual Meeting

2011-01-31T11:30:00.000Z

The Arts Alliance will be hosting it's annual meeting at the Contemporary Urban Centre in Liverpool alongside the North West Regional Koester Trust Exhibition of Art by Offenders and Secure Detainees. The event is free and is our way of thanking and including the vast amount of Arts Alliance supporters we have recruited over the last year. Nt only that but the event will be a way to inform our future work and meet other members.

This special event will include:

Informing the future of the Arts Alliance
Talks from Arts Alliance members
Inspirational performances from members
Drinks reception and networking
Electing the new Steering Group for 2011/12

Space is limited to 60 delegates so please book ASAP to ensure a place. To book your free place please email hazel.alcraft@clinks.org.

A limited number of Travel bursaries are available on a first come first served basis - please state in your email if you would like to apply for one. See futher event details here.