National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance

‘The I and the We’: Koestler Arts annual exhibition
2021-10-29 - 2021-12-05 | Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX
29th October – 5th December | London | free This year’s Koestler Arts UK exhibition is back in Level 1 of Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. Curated by artist Camille Walala and her sister, curator Sarah Ihler-Meyer, ‘The I and the We’ will showcase 200 pieces of art, music and writing from the 2021 Koestler Awards. Expect quirky artworks made of found materials, works full of humour and joy, as well as pieces reflecting on loss, relationships and prison life, all created during the pandemic. The exhibition will be presented to the public by ex-prisoner exhibition hosts who will lead tours and answer questions about the artwork and criminal justice system. Image courtesy of Koestler Trust

My Old Man: new play from imagine if
2021-11-07 - 2021-12-02 | Various – UK, Various, United Kingdom
7th November – 2nd December | various UK venues | various ticket prices Theatre company imagine if’s latest production My Old Man follows the trials and tribulations of Michał, an old, blind, Polish soldier, in this funny and heartfelt production. A spin-off of imagine if’s 2019 production Jadek, which toured to theatres, prisons and community venues, the production explores themes of intergenerational relationships, post-traumatic stress disorder and family ties. When Michał Piwowarski’s granddaughter, Tasha, finally moves out, Michał’s whole world changes: the school dinner lady becomes his favourite person, a new neighbour moves onto the street and he has to face his biggest battle yet.
Image courtesy of Imagine If Theatre

Training: Working creatively with women in the criminal justice system
2021-11-15 - 2021-12-01 | Online
15th November – 1st December | online | £240, bursaries available This online course provides an insight into theatre company Clean Break’s work for theatre artists, group work practitioners and applied theatre students who are passionate about women’s experiences and interested in theatre practice in prisons, criminal justice, and community settings. Taking place over six three-hour sessions, the course will be led by Clean Break facilitators and artists; Clean Break Members (women with lived experience of the criminal justice system or risk of entering it) will also join and contribute their reflections. Through interactive exercises, group work and discussion, participants will consider best practice when working in women-only settings; learn ideas for facilitating workshops in criminal justice settings; and explore next steps in pursuing this field as a career.
Image courtesy of Clean Break, credit Tracey Anderson

Exhibition: Restricted views - creative outlooks
2021-12-01 - 2021-12-13 | Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
1st-13th December | Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool An innovative photography project by Novus learners from HMP Risley and HMP Thorn Cross is being showcased at Liverpool’s Open Eye Gallery.
Titled Restricted Views – Creative Outlooks, the exhibition will display the programme of work created during the project, reflecting the photographic collaboration between artists Hafsah Naib and Simon Bray and Novus learners.
Combining the skills of socially engaged photographers with the life experiences of both learners within prison settings and their families, the programme explored how photography and creativity can be used as a tool for self-expression, to enhance family relationships, an as a way of learning new skills.
Image courtesy of Novus

Arts in criminal justice network forum: access to prisons
2021-12-13 11:00 - 13:00 (Europe/London) | Online
13th December | 11:00-13:00 | online | free The impacts of regime restrictions brought in under Covid-19 are still being felt in prisons and continue to cause widespread disruption to arts provision. Where practitioners have gained access, they are increasingly faced with additional challenges that impact their work.
At the forum, we will be joined by Good Vibrations Executive Director Katy Haigh and Only Connect CEO Simon Pellew sharing how they have approached issues of access to deliver projects in prisons during the Covid-19 pandemic. Also joining us will be Clean Break’s Joint Artistic Director, Anna Herrmann and Geese Theatre Company’s Artistic Director/CEO Andy Watson to lead discussion on some of the wider access and safeguarding issues practitioners are faced with.
There will also be opportunity for discussion – in particular, we’d like to hear your experiences around prison access to inform our policy influencing work and help us advocate on your behalf.
The arts and criminal justice network forum is a space for network-led discussion, and we welcome all arts-based organisations, freelancers and prison-based practitioners currently working in the criminal justice system.
The NCJAA will chair the conversation, but please note that this will be a network-led discussion. We particularly welcome arts in criminal justice freelancers, practitioners and anyone else seeking to connect with others in the sector to give and gain support.
Please register if you would like to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing all information required to join the meeting, including a password.
We’re committed to making everything we do accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs please let us know when you book and we’ll do our best to meet them.
If you have any questions about the meetings, please email info@artsincriminaljustice.org.uk. If you experience any issues with booking, please contact events@clinks.org.
