The Arts Alliance Annual Conference

"On the 18th of November, the Arts Alliance will be holding its Annual Conference in London and we would be delighted to welcome you there.

Download the conference programme: e-mail version programme.pdf

The Arts Alliance is supported by the Ministry of Justice, Arts Council England and the Indigo Trust and Anne Peaker Centre. It 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. " More...

The Gathering: an Update From Peter Keelan

Your Creative and Critical Input Greatly Appreciated….

Greetings all,

You may have read/scan/perused the recent document with regard an idea to hold a ‘community arts gathering’? This project is now focussed, happening, and will appreciate and benefit from your input and support.

The Gathering (Scottish word meaning ‘the coming together of clans’) will bring together the local, State, National and International Community Arts sector, to share, explore and extend existing knowledge and practice.

We are presently in the development phase, focussed on the Regional Gathering in Denmark 2011, a ‘mini’ gathering and ‘test run’ towards the inaugural international community arts event, The Gathering 2013. More...


Do put our prisoners on the stage, Mr Straw (UK)

The Justice Secretary’s diktat to limit drama in jails shackles brave prison governors. Creativity — and, yes, laughter — work

"It takes a lot to get me to a party conference. I am immune to their thrill. But needs must: last week I had five minutes’ ranting in a dank cellar in Brighton with battered Labourites; tonight the same in the Ruby Lounge in Manchester with Tories.

My brief moment is sandwiched between the performance poet Akiel Chinelo and an ex-prisoner called Jonny on the guitar. Around midnight Jonathan Aitken will spring from the wings to deliver his increasingly practised and passionate views on prison life; and less obviously, but encouragingly, the Shadow Attorney-General Ed Garnier promises to do a turn, after the children’s writer Anthony Horowitz. In Brighton Jo Brand topped the bill (“Slightly disappointed to hear Gordon Brown has denied using drugs . . . was planning to try and buy some crack off him tonight.”) She was flanked by powerful playlets, a limerick, Denise Black from Coronation Street and an ex-prisoner called Eileen with heartbreaking songs by Holloway inmates.

Why such a rolling motley cabaret? Jack Straw, that’s why..."

Read Libby Purves excellent article in full at Times Online

The Carla Bruni Foundation - France

"Cultural activities are on offer in all penitentiary establishments (In France, 194 prisons and detention centers). Concerts, film screenings, plays, street art, writing workshops and plastic arts… Artists are increasingly making it over prison walls.

Like access to health care, sport or education, access to culture is one of the priorities of prison administrations within the framework of its missions of reintegration and prevention of recidivism. Cultural activities are organized in partnership with the Ministry of Communication and Culture and with the support of local authorities, and enable detainees to develop their views of society. These activities contribute to the fight against illiteracy and enable integration of non-French speakers...."

France's first lady, Carla Bruni Sarkozy has recently inaugurated her new website in which she presents the activity of her foundation that, amongst other things, is strongly supportive of arts in prisons (the website is available in French and English).

www.carlabrunisarkozy.org/fr/culture-en-prison/

Streetwise Opera on SANe

Here's a figure to chew on, though you may find yourself choking. It comes from the US, but there are similar numbers in the UK, too. Remember those banks that were so close to collapse, so desperate and needy they held out the begging bowl and pleaded with the taxpayers for help? Well, it turns out that nine of those banks – who between them trousered $175bn of the American public's money in bailout funds – have fallen back into their old habits: last year they paid their top staff $32.6bn in bonuses.

You read that right: the number is in billions, not millions. Institutions that were so broke the government had to raid the public piggybank to help them have rewarded their employees – the geniuses who drove the world economy off a cliff – with a $32.6bn shower of cash. That includes the truly incredible $98.9m paid to Citigroup's master of the universe, Andrew Hall, along with 5,000 lucky individuals who received more than $1m each.

Read Jonathan Freedland's full article at Guardian Online

Ali Zaidi's page on SANe

Out of the Darkness

Perched on a wall, sitting in a shaft of late afternoon sun, Oliver Longden is in a reflective frame of mind. The 30-year-old is, he says, in a good place at the moment: he’s got great friends, he enjoys his job, he’s studying for a second degree . . .

“If someone had told me three years ago that I’d be here now, living the life I’m living now, I’d have laughed bitterly and ordered another drink,” Oliver admits, with a wry smile. “Life is really, really good; better than I could have ever imagined, to be honest.”

To meet Oliver now – a witty, engaging and fiercely bright man – it seems incredible that, those three short years ago, he was literally crippled by depression.

Read the article in full at The Cambridge Evening News

Geese Theatre Company honoured by the Royal Society for Public Health

Geese Theatre Company has received a prestigious award from the Royal Society of Public Health.

Professor Stephen Clift from Canterbury Christchurch College and Chair of the Awards Committee said:

“The annual ‘Arts and Health’ award was established by the RSPH and Canterbury Christ Church College in 2008. For the first year the focus of the award was research and practical programmes focused on ‘Music and Health’ and this year ‘Arts and Mental Health.’ The Award Committee decided to award Geese Theatre the practice award this year in recognition of its long-standing commitment to the education and rehabilitation of offenders and those at risk of offending – a population widely known to experience a high level of mental health difficulties. We are also impressed by the wide national reach of the project, given that Geese has worked in most if not all prisons and other criminal justice settings.”

Living With the Infidels

Developed with the full blessing of the Muslim Council, LIVING WITH THE INFIDELS centers around a bumbling, Bradford-based terror cell. Initially set on a path to martyrdom, Yorkshire's jihadi warriors discover the West isn't as bad as it seems.
www.livingwiththeinfidels.com

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