NCJAA BLOGS
Our blog aims to present opinion-based pieces from our network. We want to hear what you’re doing in prisons or community settings – whether this is an arts intervention, research or perhaps a question or problem you have been facing or a good practice example you would like to highlight. Email artsalliance@clinks.org if you have a proposal for a blog post.
Anne Peaker Lecture 2024: Inspiring Futures
Anne Peaker Anne Peaker was a pioneer of arts for, and by, people in the criminal justice system. Our annual lecture honours her work and legacy, which forms the basis of the […]
Best practice in working with people with mental health problems on probation: what the evidence tells us
In this evidence review, Professor Charlie Brooker, honorary professor at Royal Holloway, University of London and Dr Coral Sirdifield, Senior Research Associate at the University of Lincoln, look at: The […]
Creating Roots for well-being through art
This blog is guest written by Mark Jones. Mark is Director at Higher Plain and Visiting Professor of Criminology at University South Wales Contributing Authors with links to individual blogs [...]
Inspiring Futures Online Exhibition
Inspiring Futures has been an ambitious programme of work led by the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) delivered over 3 years. The Inspiring Futures project was a unique collaboration […]
NCJAA presents Inspire and the Inspiring Futures project online virtual exhibition
Here at the NCJAA our aim is to ensure the arts are used within the criminal justice system as a springboard for positive change. Against the backdrop of a volatile […]
The Anne Peaker Lecture 2023
Here at the NCJAA our aim is to ensure the arts are used within the criminal justice system as a springboard for positive change. Against the backdrop of a volatile […]
Introducing Sarah Hartley as NCJAA Co-Chair as Simon Ruding steps down
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance is thrilled to introduce Sarah Hartley as the newly appointed Co-Chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, commencing January 2023. Sarah has worked [...]
Perspectives of arts organisations on the commissioning of prison-based arts projects through the Dynamic Purchasing System
This blog has been guest written by three leaders of small specialist arts organisations that work in prisons in England and Wales The shift from partnership working and collaboration with […]
Inspiring Futures: showcasing project outcomes
Inspiring Futures is an ambitious programme of work led by the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA). It is a unique partnership of eight leading arts organisations providing creative work [...]
Meet our new NCJAA Manager
We’re thrilled to introduce Lorraine Maher who joined the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance as the new NCJAA Manager to lead our team for the next year. Lorraine joined the [...]
Announcing Lady Unchained as NCJAA Co-Chair as Anna Hermmann steps down
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance is delighted to announce Brenda Birungi aka Lady Unchained has been appointed as Co-Chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance in July 2022. [...]
Liz and David’s mentoring story
Whilst applications come in for the 2022 scheme, we talked to mentor Liz, a theatre practitioner, and her mentee David, a prison officer, about what they got out of the scheme.
Making It Up: parents in prison connecting through stories
Give a Book workshop leader David Kendall joins us in this guest blog to share the importance of storytelling and how, over lockdown, the project has been keeping prisoners connected [...]
The 2021 Creativity in Youth Justice Symposium
Bridging the gap in creativity and youth justice Having delivered arts activity in youth justice settings for over a decade, Xavier Fiddes has seen the sector go from strength to [...]
Adapting group music sessions for lockdown at HMP Pentonville
In normal times, the occupational therapy team at HMP Pentonville run a comprehensive group work service, including a wide range of arts activities – but Covid-19 has meant having to […]
Scoping arts in criminal justice across Buckinghamshire
In October 2019, the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) embarked on a year-long local practice development project to scope arts in criminal justice settings in Buckinghamshire. Funded by the […]
Creative writing at HMP Guys Marsh
Ella Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Bath Spa University, writes about her experience coordinating a creative writing course last year at HMP Guys Marsh. She shares an extract from [...]
Continuing collaboration during the Covid-19 crisis
Alison Frater, Chair of the NCJAA, reflects on her conversations with arts practitioners and prison staff, and what their responses to the crisis tell us about the critical value of […]
How the current Covid-19 crisis is impacting arts in criminal justice
In this blog, National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) Director Jessica Plant reflects on how the current Covid-19 crisis is affecting our network, the impact on arts in criminal justice […]
Releasing your mind from prison
Listen to Dawn Harrison’s episode of the Crime and Consequence podcast: ‘Releasing your mind from prison’. Dawn Harrison is a Senior Interventions Coordinator for Changing Lives, a charity in the […]
Why we need more black artists working in prisons
In this blog, Daniel Anderson talks about how the arts saved his life and how he thinks it can improve the lives of other black people in contact with the […]
Gareth Malone’s The Choir at Aylesbury – how far we have come
Jessica Plant, Director of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, reflects on the impact of Gareth Malone’s work at HMYOI Aylesbury and pays tribute to the hard work of pioneering […]
Stories of the incarcerated – learning from the USA
Dr Lorraine Gamman, Director of the Design Against Crime Research Centre at University of the Arts London, reviews two works of art from the USA that tell stories of people […]
Man Up and talk
In this blog post, No Place Production’s John Burns writes about his theatre company’s new prison project, ‘Man Up’ (not to be confused with Safe Ground’s excellent programme of the […]
John and Daisy’s mentoring story
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance’s (NCJAA) professional mentoring scheme provides opportunities for early career arts in criminal justice practitioners to get support and guidance from experts within the field. […]
My role as Development Officer – one year on
This summer marked the end of my first year at the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) as the new Development Officer. Whilst I have spent the majority of my […]
How you can give a boost to arts in criminal justice
Arts Council England is consulting on the final draft of its 10-year strategy. This blog by Will Downs, Clinks’ Policy Officer, sets out the key aspects of the strategy and […]
Four months in, how are arts organisations finding the new prison education commissioning tool?
Our director, Jessica Plant, shares what we have heard from those using the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) and reflects on what the new commissioning process might mean for arts delivery […]
Hear her: women’s voices through poetry
Last month National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance chair, Alison Frater, attended the launch of a new London centre for women who have been through the criminal justice system or experienced […]
Young people in the criminal justice system – how can the arts respond?
First Class Legacy’s Nathan Dennis shares his highlights from the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance annual conference 2019. It’s amazing what happens when you take the time out to stop, […]
Macbeth in HMP Gartree
Rowan MacKenzie reflects on the process of rehearsing and performing an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in a prison and what it may mean for the nine men involved. I began […]
University and prison partnerships: how film allowed women to be authors of their own representation
Lindsay Morgan (Edinburgh Napier University’s Arts and Creative Industries Placement Officer), talks about the placement programmes run at HMP Edinburgh and HMP Polmont. She shares the latest outcome of the […]
Penned Up at HMP Downview
Written as an address to himself, in this blog David Kendall reflects on how he measures the success of a two week arts and literature festival at HMP Downview. Penned […]
Learning through laughter – an interview with Keith Palmer, director of The Comedy School
The Comedy School has offered high quality arts experiences for people within and outside of the criminal justice system for 20 years and is the only the only organisation of […]
Reflections on art and violence
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) is part of the Monument Fellowship. Every year the Fellowship produces a themed body of work that relates to criminal justice. This year […]
Shakespeare leading the way in tackling youth crime
I am now in the second month of my post as Development Officer for the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA). My work history is richly filled with experiences of […]
Art for a social purpose: Art for All
On a baking sunlit July Friday, 50 people met in the beautiful gardens of Watts Gallery Artists’ Village to discuss the work of museums and galleries in prisons. The talking […]
Not So Broken Dreams
For eight lunch time shows in August men from HMP Springhill will be performing their play Broken Dreams at The Royal Court Theatre, London in collaboration with Kestrel Theatre Company. […]
Key Change
Following our blog post in October, we are delighted to share with you Open Clasp‘s critically-acclaimed ‘Key Change’, screening here until 10 December to mark the UN’s 16 Days of Activism […]
Hidden from praise
Arts enable people to experience creativity in a way that transforms lives; even a single performance can change your life forever. At a conference organised by North East Prisoner Family […]
MakeRight bags – changing lives by design
MakeRight is a collection of anti-theft bags designed by participants of a project at HMP Thameside, London and HMP Kilmarnock, near Glasgow. The collection takes its name from the MakeRight […]
Changing Tunes: responding to a changing landscape
On 12th July, Clinks launched their annual State of the Sector report for 2017. Every year, Clinks surveys voluntary sector organisations working in the criminal justice system to collect information […]
Collaboration makes a bigger noise: women, theatre and criminal justice
This blog post sees Chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA), Alison Frater, reflect on an event that focused on women in the criminal justice system organised by […]
Learning from experience: the impact of the NCJAA’s professional mentoring scheme
Marnie Forbes-Eldridge is the Associate Director of Prime Theatre. In 2016, she applied to be a mentee as part of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance’s professional mentoring scheme. In […]
The Monkey: a Synergy Theatre Production at Theatre 503
On Wednesday 15th March, National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance Communications Officer Kate Davey went to see Synergy Theatre Project’s production of The Monkey at Theatre503. In this blog post, she […]
A new narrative
In this blog, Chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) Alison Frater, looks back at this year’s Annual Meeting, which took place at the National Theatre in London […]
Shutter stories: prison life behind the lens
In this blog post, Chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, Alison Frater, talks about our 2016 Anne Peaker lecture. The event took place in December last year, with […]
Open Clasp performance of Key Change at the Houses of Parliament
In this blog post, Chair of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance Alison Frater talks about a collaborative event at the Houses of Parliament on 25th October. The event, hosted […]
Prison arts in Scotland – by Kate Davey
On 11th May, I travelled to Glasgow in preparation for the Scottish Prison Arts Network (SPAN): Skill Share Session and Glasgow Museums: Insight Café, which were taking place the following day. On the 11th itself I visited Citizens Theatre, the principal producing theatre in the west of Scotland. Additionally, the theatre has a fantastic learning department which is committed to enhancing the lives of all kinds of people in Glasgow and beyond.
Singing the same tune: arts in criminal justice settings championed across government departments – By Alison Frater and Jessica Plant
Unlocking Potential – a review of education in prison, the much-anticipated report by Dame Sally Coates, was published on Wednesday 18th May as a prelude to the Queen’s speech, which announced new freedoms for prison governors to reform jails in England.
Reaching out with art from death row in San Quentin, California – By Nicola White
“Art is the journey of a free soul”
Alev Oguz, Turkish Artist
The aim of the Art Reach project is to give men on death row in the United States the opportunity to express themselves with their own art, something all human beings should be free to do.
Diversity, arts and criminal justice: Bringing people together – by Alison Frater
Increasing diversity, increasing artistic excellence. At the National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice (NAACJ) event ‘Diversity, arts and criminal justice: bringing people together,’ delegates started with the outcome: diversity increases the value of arts. Diversity brings texture, richness, vibrancy and meaning. Widening participation can contribute towards offsetting bias, ending intolerance, and increasing audience size.
Anthony Navarro, Drifting Memories. Image courtesy of Nicola White, Art of San Quentin