The Evidence Library, 2011
This document is part of the work of the Arts Alliance to build the case for the arts in criminal justice. The Arts Alliance workplan for 2010-11 included a core strand entitled the ‘Making the Case for the Arts’, with three pieces of work identified. 1) The Evidence Library, produced by Angus McLewin Associates, to research evidence on the effectiveness of arts organisations in the Criminal Justice Sector and to assess the viability of providing an online catalogue of research. 2) A guide for Arts Organisations in demonstrating their effectiveness, produced by Charities Evaluation Services to support quality monitoring and evaluation practice throughout the sector, and 3) Building the economic case for the Arts, undertaken by New Philanthropy Capital to research the cost effectiveness of the arts in Criminal Justice.


Download The Evidence Library

The report is divided into two sections to enable a clear distinction between the evidence collated and the recommendations made. Part One provides a compilation of just over 60 research and evaluation documents that arts-based organisations and agencies have undertaken to support their programmes of work across the key sectors of the CJS.

It lists them with their title, date, authors, availability and accompanying brief descriptions of objectives and focus. This is complemented by brief information on the University and research links, cross-referencing key arts-based evaluations, other relevant research and publications and some contact details.

What really works? Arts with offenders, 2010
AMA was commissioned to research and write this ‘taster’ brochure for the Arts Alliance. It provided a snapshot of the huge variety of arts initiatives taking place in the British Criminal Justice System, together with findings from research and the experiences of participants and staff who know the benefits that art offers offenders in their rehabilitation.

http://artsalliance.ning.com/page/publications-1

Artworks: a brief guide to using the Arts in the Criminal Justice System, 2009
Compiled and co- edited by Clive Hopwood from Writers in Prison Network, Angus McLewin Associates (AMA) and Jo Tilley-Riley from Music in Prisons, this publication was produced to show how the arts work across and within some of the key pathways for reducing re-offending identified by NOMS: ETE; Health, Drugs and Alcohol; Children and Families; and Attitudes, Thinking and Behaviour.

Arts and Young People at Risk Of Offending - Yorkshire Directory, Arts Council England, October 2006
AMA researched and produced this directory, commissioned by Arts Council England, Yorkshire in order to provide clear and accessible information on a range of arts organisations and practitioners who work with young people at risk of offending in Yorkshire and the Humber.

This Directory is a result of Arts Council England Yorkshire’s commitment to the role of the arts in addressing the issues for young people at risk of offending. It has grown out of the initial mapping of this specialist area of provision across the nine regions in 2004, which informed Arts Council England’s national strategy on young people at risk of offending, published in 2005.

AMA researched all the relevant arts organisations in the Yorkshire region, conducting in-depth telephone interviews and questionnaires to compile this document that has over information on over 50 organisations.

The Directory is primarily aimed as a practical publication for the range of agencies that work with young people at risk. It can help identify key and relevant artists and organisations with experience and expertise across the areas of early interventions, sentences and progression routes to other mainstream provision.

The Directory initially lists the artists and arts organisations within the geographical areas of the Yorkshire region. It then lists them according to artforms and finally their individual entries are listed alphabetically. Download it from Yorkshire and Humber YOTS and Juvenile Secure Estate website (1.3 Mb – 129 pages)
http://www.yhyots.org.uk

Check the links on the map for more information on how each YOT is working with the arts to reduce youth offending.
http://www.yhyots.org.uk

What’s the point? Using drama to engage young people at risk, Arts Council England (June 2006)
AMA was asked to edit this publication, which summarises the findings of a case study research into a drama-based Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP) programme. The programme was delivered as part of the wider ‘Arts Enrichment Programme’, designed to be used in conjunction with the PLUS strategy. The overall aim of the project was to stimulate the use of the arts in PAYP regionally and nationally through research, evaluation and dissemination of a demonstration project delivering an Arts Enrichment Programme through PAYP with young people at risk.

What’s the Point assesses the overall effectiveness of the drama programme in engaging socially excluded young people and enhancing the skills they need to re-engage in education or training. It evaluates attitudinal shifts of participants to key workers and other adults, focusing particularly on communication and group work skills.

The findings highlight the positive contribution that drama can have in developing emotional literacy, raising aspirations, building self-esteem and creating an effective bond between key workers and young people. The report also makes a series of recommendations for best practice in arts based projects with young people at risk.
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk

Positive Pointers for Artists: using the arts to engage young people at risk, Arts Council England (June 2006)
AMA worked with the Social Inclusion Officer for Arts Council England, North West region, to produce a short and accessible guide to the practical and professional issues involved in working with young people at risk.
This six page document provides a useful reference for artists and arts organisations working with young people at risk. Drawing on lessons from What's The Point?, practical advice is offered to artists regarding project planning, evaluation and evidence, resources and support, preparation and partnerships.
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk

Time Well Spent, Irene Taylor Trust (Music in Prisons), (December 2005)
AMA worked with ITT Music in Prisons to produce this meta analysis of the lessons learned from six years of project evaluations, in an easily accessible style and format.Time Well Spent gives a sense of the learning and the journeys made by the participants, the creative team, the prison regime and the researchers.



It follows the journey of all projects from the excitement of the initial idea or invitation; the - work of planning and preparation; the building of relationships and trust; the stages of working together creatively; the sheer energy needed to stay with difficulties and challenges; the fears and exhilaration of performances; and finally the reflections, learning and striving for further opportunities and sustainability.

Time Well Spent is divided into three sections:

• Section 1 gives the framework and background to the work, the research and evaluation criteria and the funding of the Irene Taylor Trust (Music in Prisons) programmes.
  
• Section 2 follows the almost chronological course of the projects, highlighting the range of experiences and insights of those involved. It reflects the evidence from the in-depth evaluations, as well as identifying the key factors and issues.
  
• Section 3 provides additional information on the Irene Taylor Trust (Music in Prisons) and its resources. 

http://www.musicinprisons.org.uk

Doing the arts justice: a review of research literature, practice and theory, Arts Council England (2005)
Angus McLewin co-edited this review, researched by Jenny Hughes, with Dr.Andrew Miles, as first part of the REACTT programme, which he instigated during his time at the Unit for the Arts and Offenders (now the Anne Peaker Centre). The Research into Arts and Criminal Justice
Think Tank (REACTT), brought together senior representatives from the Department of Media, Culture and Sport, Arts Council England, the Home Office, and the Offenders’ Learning and Skills Unit at the DfES, to establish partnership research in the arts and criminal justice sectorThis review was commissioned by Arts Council England, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Offenders’ Learning and Skills Unit at the Department for Education and Skills. It examines the effectiveness of the arts in criminal justice settings, particularly the use of arts in the prevention of crime, in custodial and community sentencing, and resettlement.
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk

MAILOUT: New Opportunities, Old Dilemmas (Feb/March 2004)
New Audiences support enabled some piloting of projects feeding into long-term strategies. Angus McLewin of the Unit for Arts and Offenders looks back on a training project for artists working in the criminal justice sector.
http://www.takingpartinthearts.com/content.php?content=175

Prison Theatre: Practices and Perspectives Ed. By James Thompson, Jessica Kingsley, London (1998)
Chapter 3 - Treading on Tails: Telling all Stories.
Pauline Gladstone and Angus McLewin debate the issues behind developing and producing drama for, by and with participants in prison and ex-offender contexts.
http://www.jkp.com