This webinar brings together artists, policy makers, and campaigning organisations to consider how arts practices can inform the recovery and transformation of the prison service during and beyond COVID19. Speakers from National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, The Prison Reform Trust, and Arts Council England will contribute to a panel, which will be followed by a participatory discussion with attendees.

This webinar emerges from the Sounding Out project, a collaboration between the University of Reading, Rideout Creative Arts for Rehabilitation, and The Prison Reform Trust that explores how creative sound and audio practices might bring the voices of incarcerated people into policy making conversations. We hope to share some of the sound pieces made as part of this project at the event.

Panel of Speakers

Paula Harriot and Soruche Saajedi , Prison Reform Trust

The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) an independent UK charity working to create a just, humane and effective penal system. PRT was founded in 1981 to inform and influence public debate on prison conditions and the treatment of prisoners. They do this by inquiring into the workings of the system; informing prisoners, staff and the wider public; and by influencing Parliament, government and officials towards reform.

Simon Ruding, National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance

NCJAA aims to ensure the arts are used within the criminal justice system as a springboard for positive change. They represent a network of over 900 individuals and organisations that deliver creative interventions to support people in prison, on probation and in the community, with impressive results. NCJAA support this transformative work by providing a network and a voice for all the talented and creative people who are committed to making great art with people in the criminal justice system.

A contributor from Arts Council England

ACE are the national development agency for creativity and culture, set up in 1946, by Royal Charter, to champion and develop art and culture across the country. ACE want to grow skills, knowledge and networks to help establish the conditions in which creativity and culture can flourish across the country.

Chair, Dr Sarah Bartley, University of Reading

Sarah is the research lead for the Sounding Out Research project being run in collaboration with Prison Reform Trust and Rideout.

This research project is supported by Research England QR Strategic Priorities Fund to support rapid response policy engagement projects.