The Arts Alliance launch conference, 5th november 2008

This high profile conference celebrated the launch of the Arts Alliance by highlighting the impact of arts practitioners working within the Criminal Justice System and the issues they face. 

140 delegates from across the arts and criminal justice sector took part in the day, which included speeches from key workers and agencies, a panel discussion and q&a session, group discussions, networking and the chance to watch some exceptional performances.

Feedback from the day has been highly supportive, confirming that those in attendence felt the aims of the day were fulfilled. 

One delegate, a prison Art Tutor, summarised the day by saying: "Thank you for putting together a very special day..It's so reconfirming to meet such a large group of people talking, acting and living out our shared values, mutual language and common goals to bring about change for the justice system throughthe arts.  The day left me feeling hopeful and re-energised once again to go back and work harder trying to promote the arts and bring about change in prison reform where I can.  It was a fantastic launch to the Arts Alliance and keep up all the valuable work that you do."

The issues raised at the conference were noted and will be fed into the work of the Arts Alliance Steering Group and the Arts Forum, who aim, together, to address and resolve the many issues faced by those working in the sector. 

the arts alliance - A DESIGN FOR THE FUTURE

Across the country, Arts Organisations and Artists are bringing the arts to offenders, using a wide variety of mediums to address a vast range of issues.

Yet beyond the diveristy of their work, each of these Project Leaders share a common ground in the challenges they face each day: difficult client groups, security regulations, and threats to funding.

We believe that there is much we can learn from one another. Previous to the inception of The Arts Alliance there was no structure in place to enable arts practitioners to do this: no means through which they could share information, offer one another advice on best practice, and collaborate over sector-wide issues.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE ARTS ALLIANCE?

The Arts Alliance is a central body whose purpose is to improve communication and broker relationships between Artists and Organisations working with the Criminal Justice Sector, offenders and ex-offenders, prison and probation staff, and relevant government personnel.

The Arts Alliance is a representative body. It provides practitioners and service users with a voice through which to influence policy, a forum in which to exchange views, and a stand on which to promote and raise the profile of the Arts in Criminal Justice Sector.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The central body of the Arts Alliance committee meets frequently to discuss issues directly affecting the sector, and those to which we can offer our expertise. Through this the work of the sector is strengthened in several ways:

1. By influencing policy and increasing political awareness of the arts as a means to engage and assist rehabilitation
2. By representing the views and needs of the sector
3. By building partnerships and brokering relationships between public bodies and voluntary organisations
4. By providing guidance, training and professional development that supports artists, organisations, and those with whom they work

OUR ROLE

Anne Peaker Centre is the secretariat to the Arts Alliance. We facilitate the committee meetings of the Alliance body, and provide administrative support. Our role is to report outcomes and deliver feedback to the wider sector, while bringing the benefits of our experience to support strategy development.

Anne Peaker Centre has stood as the Umbrella Organisation for the Arts in Criminal Justice Sector for 17 years. During this time we have built up a strong membership body, implemented new strategies, and commissioned vital research. We have developed working relationships with professionals from government, funding bodies, the probation service, arts and social inclusion groups, and research experts.

We view the facilitation of the Arts Alliance as a natural application of our strengths. It builds on what we do best: using our unique position within the sector to support, promote, and advocate to create new opportunities for rehabilitation through the arts.