Developing the Arts

“Experts on the Ground” is our professional learning programme for creative practitioners and professionals who support young people - see below for more information on the two programmes we have delivered during 2009 and 2010.

We are always looking at new ways of developing our arts based approaches, exploring new ways of engaging and of course sharing our experiences with as wide an audience as possible.  We are keen to  ‘spread the word’ and encourage others to use creative practice within the criminal justice sector.  This takes many forms – through conferences, publications, membership of wider groups and our on going brokerage role.

We are members of the Arts Alliance (www.artsalliance.org.uk) which is supported by the Ministry of Justice and the Monument Trust. The Arts Alliance is made up of arts organisations that work in the criminal justice sector, delivering arts programmes in prisons, probation settings, detention centres, secure hospitals and the community.

Our Chair, Lord Blair, chaired the recent launch at the South bank Centre in London of a report by New Philanthropy Capital entitled ‘ Unlocking Value: The economic benefit of the arts in criminal justice’.  Download a copy .

We continue to explore, support and evaluate a number of different arts projects in the future. In collaboration with the many creative agents and organisations we work closely with, we continue to champion innovative and challenging ways of employing the arts to inspire and transform – as a positive healing tool.