2015-16
Freedom to Create supporting women-centred artist practice in prisons
A report on Year Three of a Three Year Creative Criminal Justice Programme in HMP and YOI Cornton Vale Delivered in partnership with New College Lanarkshire and Scottish Prison Service A report by Caroline Carmichael and Kevin Harrison
Funded by Creative Scotland, The Robertson Trust & The VOLANT Charitable Trust through Foundation Scotland
Artlink Central is a Registered Scottish Charity SCO 08158 www.artlinkcentral.org
Contents 1. Forward 2. Overview 3. Artlink Central’s Criminal Justice Programme 4. Background information on the women and the population at Cornton Vale 5. How we have Approached Evaluation? 6. Project outcomes and progress 7. Projects – progress and development 8. Feedback from participants, SPS and Artists See separate reports for: Year One
http://issuu.com/kevinharrison66/docs/artlink_central_freedom_to_create_y?e=0/9788925
Year Two https://issuu.com/kevinharrison66/docs/artlink_central_freedom_to_create_y_39dec3b804fd70
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Forward The Freedom to Create programme has provided a rich testing ground for developing arts led approaches to working with women in prisons. After an initial period of partnership development and learning about how to evolve a co-productive approach to creative programme development, our year two report demonstrates the reach we have been able to have across the prison establishment. All delivery was outwith the learning centre this year and we engaged more prson officers than ever before in evolving our programme. The work created has been personal and collective, and has tested approaches to working in residential blocks, in work parties and with families. We have created sited artwork in the grounds, produced screenplays and even created products with women who participated as well as exhibting work within the prison and at Dunblane Museum for the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Fesitival 2014. Recognition of our acheivements also came in the form of a secondment opportunity to Scottish Prison Service for Artlink Central to deliver an Arts Review across the service in early 2015. Artlink Central would like to thank the dedicated Scottish Prison Service officers and Education staff from New College Lanarkshire who have made Freedom to Create possible.
Kevin Harrison Director of Artlink Central
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Overview The “Freedom to Create� programme specifically aims to meet the needs of women offenders, both in terms of identifying and addressing barriers that may or may not be gendered physical, social or emotional barriers to participating in and engaging with cultural opportunity, but also which use creative approaches to exploring and addressing the wider context of the gendered nature of criminal justice establishments in a positive and co-productive way. Freedom to Create is an Artlink Central project funded by Creative Scotland, Robertson Trust, and Volant Trust through Foundation for Scotland, delivered in partnership with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and New Lanarkshire College (NCLAN) through the Criminal Justice Third Sector Framework for Partnership. Freedom to Create is a women-centred programme of high quality arts initiatives that aim, through strong partnerships, to support the wider SPS objective of encouraging desistance from crime and supporting Scottsh Government-led Offender Outcomes. Both the Angiolini Report published in April 2012 and the Corston report published in March 2007 highlight the distinct differences between Male and Female offenders and the need for a women-centred approach to rehabilitation. The reports identified that the reasons for women being in prison in general are very different to that of their male counterparts and the impact to their families can be devastating . Children of women in prison are much more likely to go into care as women are more likely to be the main carer. Although the artforms that the artists explore with the women may be similar to art work in Male units, the approach is specifically aimed to support the needs of female population at HMP Cornton Vale. -
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Artlink Central’s Criminal Justice Programme About Artlink Central Artlink Central is an arts agency working across Central Scotland, engaging artists in communities. Established in 1988 Artlink Central is a registered charity based in Stirling, with a focus on developing evidence-based practice in the following areas: - Arts and Health - Arts and Disability - Arts in Prisons and - Arts and Young People. Partnership Approach The organisation works both within institutions and in community-based settings, delivering across art forms and working closely with artists, statutory and voluntary sector agencies and with people accessing artistic programmes. Artlink Central work geographically across Central Scotland and beyond. Most of our work takes place within Forth Valley Area. We work in partnership with NHS Forth Valley, Scottish Prison Service, Stirling Council, Falkirk Council and Clackmannanshire Council and a number of Third Sector, Further and Higher Education Partners.
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Programme Artlink Central has extensive experience of delivering cultural opportunities to offenders and has had significant success in capturing strong evaluation of work delivered. After a strong three year programme which ended in 2010, a new range of programmes has been undertaken in 2013, as outlined below: 1. Creative Practice in Prisons Evolving new programmes which support women centred practice by artists in prisons, focussing initially on HMP Cornton Vale. 2. Forthways This is a new Creative Public Service design programme, exploring how referral pathways can support offenders in prisons and living in the community, to access creative opportunities which support them to reduce chances of reoffending. 3. Scottish Prison Arts Network Supporting this new organisation as a partner and playing a strong strategic and practical role in establishing and growing this emerging network, to raise the profile and quality of arts practice / delivery in criminal justice in Scotland.
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About Cornton Vale Cornton Vale is the primary establishment in Scotland for holding female offenders on remand and those sentenced to prison by the courts. Cornton Vale provides custodial facilities for female prisoners (including young offenders) in all sentence ranges and supervision levels. It has a design capacity of 309 places, this figures includes 24 spaces within the independent living units (ILUs) adjacent to the prison grounds for appropriate women nearing the end of their sentence, and seven mother and baby spaces available inside the prison. In total, the prison has six accommodation blocks. Whilst Cornton Vale is Scotland’s only all female prison, women are also held in Edinburgh, Greenock, Grampian and Inverness.
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Evaluation Process The evaluation process has been informed by, and is a continuation of, Artlink Central’s previous work in Cornton Vale. It now also incorporates the SPS Third Sector Partnership Framework with Scottish Government Offender Outcomes embedded. A freelance evaluator is contracted to oversee the evaluation process and report on outcomes. A project-specific evaluation, in the form of this report, has been carried out by an independent evaluator. Aims of the evaluator • Establish a planning monitoring and evaluation process for all practitioners, integrated into practice with a clear focus on outcomes. • Embed Offender Outcomes within artist planning • Provide evaluation support to artists • Produce a framework and supporting documents to consolidate the evaluation process • Establish a system to gather data from three sources, in order triangulate data and produce and much more accurate evaluation to be used for future planning. framework (based on Third Sector Partnership Framework), advice for keeping diaries and a discussion on being creative in their approach.
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Outcome One Stronger partnership working & co-production in programme development Artlink Central is able to develop programmes that not only support and enable women offenders to evolve them, but which also engage all key stakeholders in the process to embed the programme within the prison hosting it and to build on the strengths and opportunities each stakeholder brings to the programme to strengthen outcomes and the impact it has and to support strong communication. This extends to creating a wider strategic network of relationships that support the programme to evolve and grow as it extends to new establishments and as future partnership and development opportunities arise 1.
Create a strong strategic plan for developing strong relationships across the criminal justice sector Appoint a development consultant to lead on the network and programme development from the outset, with the remit to evolve a clear and well researched development plan to embed the learning from the programme and with the aim of ensuring sustainability and legacy.
Jennifer Hill was appointed as Development consultant in 2013. Jennifer Hill has developed a communication strategy for the project. Scottish Prison Service offered Artlink Central a secondment to deliver a review of arts across the establishment Strengthened position and visibility within the sector Organisational support to and representation on trustee board of SPAN (Scottish Prison Arts Network) Artlink Central working in partnership to input into capacity building for new generation learning contracts from 2017. Community Criminal Justice Programme piloted successfully. Future plans are designing services that offer throughcare, social enterprise and developing future plans for the changing needs for HMP and YOI Cornton Vale
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Strong and clear management and communication structure Complete the Third Sector Criminal Justice Framework process and implement it fully through the programme. Establish a programme structure which includes effective partner engagement through named members forming a project management group, a biannual or quarterly steering group and connections to other cross working groups that are relevant to the programme.
A project steering group has been established and meetings are ongoing. The structure has supported better continuity of involvement of both education and programme staff despite numerous changes to personnel appointed to the steering group.
Co-production through participation Build in co-production approaches and offender involvement in recruitment and programme development processes
Artists worked with women to design the programme. Artists have also engaged women in projects which temporarily change or enhance their environment for example a collaborative felting project exhibited in the library. It is hoped that there will be another project within the ground in Autumn 2016
Project steering group has been resilient through change. Communication structure has extended beyond the steering group reaching 14 - 15 key staff. Increased partnership work has extended the number joint projects with University of Stirling and Craft Scotland now additional partners.
Outcome Two Reduced inequalities for women offenders in prisons The programme specifically aims to meet the needs of women offenders, both in terms of identifying and addressing barriers that may or may not be gendered physical, social or emotional barriers to participating in and engaging with cultural opportunity, but also which use creative approaches to exploring and addressing the wider context of the gendered nature of criminal justice establishments in a positive and co-productive way. 1.
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Access audit and exploratory work of needs of women carried out Artists explore, identify and begin to address barriers to participation that may or may not be gendered or gender specific through initial consultation and creative engagement. This will include exploring how cultural activity itself can be gendered, as well as the social and physical environment. Artists will extend some of this exploration into working with women in other prison settings. A strong evaluation practice will be embedded from the outset and will use the audit to create benchmarks where possible for measuring the success of the programme.
Year three projects evolved and developed from the findings of year one and year two. Projects were developed in close partnership with SPS, New College Lanarkshire and the women.
Equalities focussed programme developed Artists evolve specific programmes to meet the needs of women offenders. This could be about creating more opportunities for women to create work that encourages family contact, or about exploring art forms that may have gendered associations or ones which women may traditionally not access. It may extend to particular issues relevant to women offenders such as domestic violence, bereavement or substance misuse. In addition to an overall outcome around women in general and groups of women with specific barriers, we will have a person-centred outcome approach so that we are not over generalising and so that the programme evolves around individuals, recognising where women may also have multiple barriers due to disability, age, health,orientation, race, religion and others.
The artists have taken the learning from year one and two to develop a programme tailored to HMP Cornton Vale
Co-productive processes piloted One initiative will explore the artists working with women on conceptualising the physical and social design of a woman centred prison, as a possible process to engage offenders in an asset based approach in the consultation on the building of future prisons for women.
The proposed large women only Greenock facility was cancelled and as a result some proposed work around this move will now not take place.
Artists were asked to keep diaries or submit planning/ monitoring and evaluation forms based on Third Sector Framework. Offender outcomes were considered throughout this process. Where appropriate pre and post programme questionnaires were completed by participants alongside artists’ views and comments. Communication, planning and development with SPS and Education were ongoing.
All the work undertaken by the artists has been personcentred and inclusive. Artists have worked with a broad range of women including women with mental health issues and or disabilities. Working in small groups allowed one to one support when required. A family day took place in April with Actor Tam Dean Burns
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Outcome Three Creative Practice evolving, embedded and valued within criminal justice Artlink Central will develop a peer learning network of artists that will support and nurture practice development with the aim of establishing a strong base of knowledge, learning and a framework for quality social practice in a criminal justice context of working with women. The artists will be tasked with their own learning, sharing practice with each other and with other stakeholders such as the women themselves, prison, healthcare and learning centre staff. Artlink Central will also share practice via the Scottish Prison Arts Network and Artworks Scotland. Where possible there will be connections with other relevant projects such as the new placement scheme for Glasgow School of Art students.
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Artists as Peer Learning Network Artists will be contracted to deliver programmes that support practice development and will be expected to share their learning through a range of informal and formal mechanisms
Artists continued to work in HMP Cornton Vale in year three. Artists have shared their work through partnership meetings and engaging in SPAN events. Two artists also worked as mentors for SPAN pilot mentoring project supporting other artist who wish to work in the Arts and Criminal Justice field. One of the lead artists supported a partnership project with Craft Scotland ‘meet the maker’
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Artist Practice to be Outcomes Focussed Artists will be expected to take an outcomes based approach to all the work they do and programme proposals will have artistic and offender outcomes embedded within their scope.
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Dissemination of Learning Artlink Central will disseminate practice to the wider arts and criminal justice community through a range of mechanisms and partnerships including STIR, SPAN and Artworks Scotland, where possible and relevant.
Artist have engaged in planning, monitoring and evaluation (with offender outcomes embedded). Their programmes reflect the learning from year one and two
Dessemination of Learning took place through: Span network events Span mentoring programme Scottish Prison Arts review Koestler Awards Case Study by King’s College London Case study on social enterprises by Senscot Presentations for Senscot, Access all Areas Conference
Outcome Four Increased participation in creative opportunities by women offenders Artlink Central will deliver a participatory creative arts programme to women offenders predominantly with HMP Cornton Vale with gradual extension to women who have now been moved to other prison settings. The programme will be delivered in partnership with Motherwell College and Scottish Prison Service Staff across blocks and in the learning centre. The programme will be designed in consultation with women offenders and will reach different groups of vulnerable women, increasing their access to arts and learning opportunities and supporting improvement in wellbeing. The programme will investigate gender specific issues within criminal justice as well as exploring the relationship between different art forms and gender in this context to increase and widen women’s engagement, participation in and outputs possible from creative practice with women offenders.
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Increase Participation Artlink Central will deliver a programme of creative opportunity to a minimum of 100 women in year one, delivered by professional artists in prisons, predominantly HMP Cornton Vale.
65 individual participants took part in Artlink Central projects in year three April 2015 - March 2016. Some women took part in more than one project. One planned project has been postponed until Aug 2016 due to one of the artists needing to withdraw from the programme temporarily to undergo surgery. An additional project was scheduled with Craft Scotland support.
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Reduce Barriers to Participation Artlink Central will meet access requirements of target groups and report on improvement in access to learning and wellbeing for these groups, as well as set specific areas of investigation.
Embedded in artist practice and project development.
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Embed Creativity Artlink Central will develop participatory programmes with artists and women offenders that create meaningful dialogue and learning about the role creativity can play in women offenders’ lives and in criminal justice provision for women.
Embedded in artist practice and project development. All artists have evolved their programmes in response to dialogue with staff and participants.
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Freedom to Create Programme Progress and development Year three of the programme has focussed on building on the initial learning and development from year one and two as well as responding to direct approaches for creative projects from various areas of prison. Drama and visual arts continued to work separately with Jeremy Weller continuing to work with the women in Wallace house. A planned project for the grounds of Cornton Vale has been postponed as one of the Artists had to withdraw to undergo surgery and is still recovering. Craft was a significant focus in year three with a very successful feltmaking partnership project taking place in the Learning Centre. Craft as an artform has proven to very successfully engage the women over the three years of the Freedom to Create programme and this led to a Partnership project being developed with Craft Scotland to bring a ‘Meet your Maker’ programme to the women of Cornton Vale. This has allowed women to work with makers at the top end of the craft industry in Scotland and raise aspirations and awareness about craft and a pride in making. This project was supported and guided by our Freedom to Create lead artist and Frances Douglas and in partnership with New College Lanarkshire.
Night Drama and the Screenplay ‘The Iron Inn’ 20 participants. Jeremy Weller continued his work with Wallace house in year three continuing to build on drama skills whilst also continuing to mentor one participant to help her re-edit her screenplay to be approved by SPS whilst also guiding her on how to work with other women to produce and direct her screenplay. There is currently not enough funding for the work to be filmed but the screenplay was entered for a Koestler Award where it gained a national first entrants award and a Scottish award. The writer/mentee was given permission to attend the exhibition in Edinburgh to receive her award. She was also introduced to a drama group who support people who have been released from prison. It is hoped she will access this group on her release which is in the near future.
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Feltmaking
Artist Frances Douglas in partnership with North Lanarkshire College tutor Rosemary Taylor 31 participants This programme aimed to build on existing partnerships and offer the women of HMP Cornton Vale an opportunity to learn about felt making and enhance and develop techniques over a six week period. The women would learn simple techniques of making images to more advanced detailed images and 3D pieces which could be combined to make jewellery and artwork. Feltmaking is a very accessible craft which allows participants of all abilities to create something of a high quality. Many of the participants expressed that they felt it was very relaxing and therapeutic. They found it very social and enjoyed sharing their ideas and discussing the work. Participants who had a low attention span were able to achieve beautiful items using simple techniques and expressed pride in their achievements. Other participants were able to explore techniques in greater detail and were able to achieve much finer detail. Due to the nature of the prison environment there is always a great deal of uncertainty of who will be attending classes, women are often liberated on short notice, have court days or visits and many women join half way through a project. The accessibility of this art form and the quality of the partnership the project was able to adapt to the needs of the women at their different stages of involvement and all women were able to complete at least one piece but most were involved in several pieces. In week two, a small group of more vulnerable women were invited from the blocks to take part in a taster session. Six women attended these sessions, three in the morning and three in the afternoon. It was difficult to get these women to focus but they all made a small image. Over the six weeks the women learned a variety of techniques, making simple images and most advancing to more complex and detailed images and 3D beads and flowers. Work was used to make jewellery, artwork and felt books. After some discussion with the women the group decided to create some larger collaborative pieces incorporating the different techniques in their final week. This was very social and inclusive, with the women enjoying working as a team and sharing ideas. Two artworks titled “Meadow Flowers” and “Under the sea” were created and are now framed and are displayed in HMP Cornton Vale library.
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Meet the Maker
Artlink Central in partnership with Craft Scotland and New College Lanarkshire 14 participants Artlink Central were delighted to include a Meet the Maker project as part of our Freedom to Create project, after initially working with Craft Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland on a Stirling Castle based programme in 2014. Craft as an art form has proven to be a very effective way of engaging many women in prison into a creative learning experience. They enjoy making beautiful functional objects which can be given as gifts to their families and friends. They also enjoy the social experience of crafts, sitting and working together and sharing ideas. The Meet the Maker project has been a huge success with seven women returning every week to learn new skills and new women joining the group through the duration. This project was supported and guided by our Freedom to Create lead artist Frances Douglas in partnership with New College Lanarkshire and gave five makers the opportunity to share their skills and creative processes with women learners, whilst also sharing how they run their craft businesses and offering participants the chance to create pieces themselves with quality materials. All makers were supported through a half day induction process led by Artlink Central to prepare their session plans, familiarise themselves with the staff, supporting artists, environment and equipment and to offer a structured discussion on delivering creative activity in prisons, as none had worked in a prison before. Textiles - Sewing and construction Amy Britton ran the first session showing the women step by step techniques of how to construct a high quality lined zip purse. She gave each participant a handout with steps for them to follow and then presented them with a variety of beautiful fabrics, for both the exterior and interior of the purse and encouraged them to be creative in designing their own piece. The artist also showed them how they could embellish their design with applique and other simple techniques. Each women produced at least one completed purse for herself. Most of the women made more than one item, adapting the pattern to make washbags, makeup bags and pencil cases. Many women made gifts for family, friends and staff. The women were extremely proud of the items they made. One participant who is usually difficult to engage and can be disruptive was absorbed in the activity and made three pieces which she proudly showed to staff and other participants. Jewellery making Jewellery maker, Roberta Poderzoli began her session with a discussion about jewellery around the world and in the importance of jewellery to different cultures . She then went on teach them the art of quilling paper beads. They started with very simple beads and as they mastered different techniques, Roberta introduced new ways of adapting what they had learned. This meant each woman could work at her own pace and allowed for individual creativity. The beads were used to make rings, earring and bracelets threaded with beautiful threads and ribbons. All of the women exceeded their own and staff expectations, creating beautiful items of an extremely high quality. 18
Isabelle Moore, a furniture maker began her session talking about her work and brought in a prototype of one of her designs, a rocking stool and invited the women to try it. She then went on to teach the women how to make Kumihimo bracelets using a foam disc and a mixture of beautiful cord, threads and string. Isabelle uses this woven braid technique in her furniture making. The women picked up the braiding techniques quickly with some women expanding the amounts of threads they used. Once they mastered the technique the women were creative about the way they chose to use it in making their bracelets. The women also engaged Isabelle in a conversation on how you can make a living making crafts and how to price items according to the quality of materials. At the end of the session Isabelle showed the women a slideshow of some of her work and how she used the Kumihimo braiding technique in her furniture making. Other makers were Teena Gould who introduced the group to ceramics and they worked on a piece that is likely to be installed in a garden setting later in the year, whilst the final maker Ellie Hodesdon who runs a printing studio, worked with the women to produce simple motifs for canvas bags with screen printing techniques. The outcome was a positive experience for all involved, a supportive introduction for the makers to working in a prison setting, enhanced craft provision in the prison and work women were proud to produce as gifts for family or for themselves. For Artlink Central this has been our second involvement in a Meet Your Make scheme and we are keen to build on this introduction within prisons exploring possibilities for further collaboration with Craft Scotland in the Future. the techniques. Again this was a technical workshop and extra support was on hand from lead Artist Frances Douglas and NCL Art teacher Rosemary Taylor when needed.
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Participant Feedback The feedback from the women has been very positive with them expressing that they would like to do more. The following are a small sample of quotes from women during Year Three Freedom to Create projects. “My daughters didn’t believe I made the purse, they were so impressed. I can’t wait to show them the jewellery. I’m going to make these with my girls. They’ll love it.” – Meet the Maker “I didn’t stay when they made the purses but then I realised how good it was so I came back. It’s been great” – Meet the Maker “I’ve really enjoyed all the different things you can do. It’s been great” – Meet the Maker “I’m buying myself a sewing machine the minute I get out” – Meet the Maker “It’s very therapeutic and relaxing, takes your mind off things” - Felt Making “I never knew that I could write and it is funny how one person with a talent could spot the same talent in me. I always knew that I loved drama, but never had the confidence to display my own.” - Drama A small sample of participants also filled out pre and post project questionnaires. 28 women completed pre-project questionnaires with the following responses. 23 post project questionnaires were completed with the following responses: The women were asked to rate the artist and the project from 1-5 (1 being very poor and 5 being excellent. 17 women rated both the artist and the project 5 and the rest rated it 4. The two women who responded that that they didn’t know or didn’t feel anything or were disappointed responded positively to everything else and rated the course very highly. Partner Feedback Feedback and support from SPS New College Lanarkshire have been very positive. The following is feedback from artists and partners during a partnership development day in November 2015. Projects that were very visible such as the drawing tent and knit and natter had a huge impact on the entire prison and encouraged discussions. It gave women an opportunity to engage with Artlink Central and learn more about what the artists have to offer. It also engaged staff and supported partnership working. Carefully planned intensive targeted projects with small groups of women had a very positive impact on individual women allowing them to explore creative techniques in more depth. Projects which were planned with and supported by key SPS staff and education were the most successful as the staff could encourage and support the women when the artist weren’t there. They also could direct women to the project who would benefit the most. It is very important that work is celebrated and displayed. Projects which had exhibitions, performances or where the artwork was shared to a bigger audience were identified as the most powerful and had a greater impact on the women. Communication and strong partnerships have been the key to project successes. 20
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Pre and Post Project Evaluation
A small sample of participants also filled out pre and post project questionnaires. 71% of respondants has taken part in prison education programmes or projects previously. The women were asked about their experience of accessing arts programmes or education.
The two women who responded that that they didn’t know or didn’t feel anything or were disappointed responded positively to everything else and rated the course very highly. The women were asked to rate the artist and the project from 1-5 (1 being very poor and 5 being excellent. 17 women rated both the artist and the project 5 and the rest rated it 4. 22
28 Women completed pre- project forms and 23 post project questionnaires. These attempted to review changes against a baseline for the women. The feedback indicates women wanted to increase their self-esteem and confidence through participating and had strong expectations that the project would offer this benefit. It also evidences that those expectations were exceeded, with a strong impact on self-esteem and confidence for the majority of women taking part.
Additonal Feedback from Partners Feedback and support from SPS New College Lanarkshire have been very positive. The following is feedback from artists and partners during a partnership development day in November 2015. • Projects that were very visible such as the drawing tent and knit and natter had a huge impact on the entire prison and encouraged discussions. It gave women an opportunity to engage with Artlink Central and learn more about what the artists have to offer. It also engaged staff and supported partnership working. • Carefully planned intensive targeted projects with small groups of women had a very positive impact on individual women allowing them to explore creative techniques in more depth. • Projects which were planned with and supported by key SPS staff and education were the most successful as the staff could encourage and support the women when the artist weren’t there. They also could direct women to the project who would benefit the most. • It is very important that work is celebrated and displayed. Projects which had exhibitions, performances or where the artwork was shared to a bigger audience were identified as the most powerful and had a greater impact on the women. • Communication and strong partnerships have been the key to project successes.
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Sharing practice and dissemination of practice to the wider arts and criminal justice community A key feature to Freedom to create has been the sharing of practice. Over the three years of the programme artist have share their work through SPAN events, development days with partners and external case studies and reports. This was most evident in year three with the year commencing with the launch of the SPS Arts Review written by Jenifer Hill who was on secondment from Artlink Central’s Freedom to Create Programme. Kings College London also published a case study about the Freedom to Create as party of their research “The Art of Partnership” (https://www.kcl.ac.uk/cultural/culturalenquiries/ partnership/Case-Study-Freedom-to-Create.pdf). The Full report on “The Art of Partnership” can be found here. Exhibiting work to the public Year Three was the first year that the Freedom to Create entered work into Koestler Awards. The support and feedback from the Koestler awards was very supportive. The screenplay “The Iron Inn” was awarded a national first entrant award and a Scottish award. Illuminate from year two also received a Scottish award. Both were exhibited at Summerhall in Edinburgh in Nov 2015. The author of The Iron Inn was given permission to attend the award ceremony in Edinburgh to receive her award. Sharing Learning within the project partnership Each year of the project the Freedom to Create team shared experiences and project development with SPS and Education through development days. It was an opportunity to celebrate success and discuss challenges and plans for the future where all voices in the partnership could be heard. Experience and practice was also shared through a wider network through SPAN (Scottish Prison Arts Network) Artlink Central’s Freedom to Create team were guest speakers at the SPAN network event in Nov 2016 where they shared the development of Freedom to Create over the three years and seeing evaluation through different perspectives i.e. SPS, Education, Artists and participants. The event was attended by professionals across all levels of the sector including SPS, Colleges and Arts organisations who work in criminal justice. Sharing learning via the Scottish Prison Arts Network Two of Freedom to Create’s lead artists also were chosen to become mentors for SPAN’s pilot mentoring programme. The mentoring programme aimed to expand opportunities for SPAN members to develop professional skills and knowledge in the field of arts and criminal justice through a one to one mentoring relationship and provide professional development opportunities for the Scottish Prison Arts Network with a view to sharing skills and knowledge evolving a community of practice in the arts and criminal justice sector amongst mentors and mentees. Artist Frances Douglas took part in the pilot project mentoring Lisa Ballantyne a reader in residence at Stirling Libraries and novelist. Lisa was working in Cornton Vale on a creative writing project and Frances’ experience as a Freedom to Create artist was invaluable. Artist Jeremy Weller also took part in the project mentoring Sarah Short, a recent graduate and comedienne. Sarah also had a placement in Barlinnie Prison with the Citizens Theatre. She went on to gain employment in the sector. Both artists shared their skills and experience helping the SPAN pilot project to succeed in its first year. 25
Extract from ‘An Artist and An Inmate’ “If this was 6 years ago and I was attending fob this thing we are doing, this way of writing and talking and building up my confidence, would have helped me to engage more with the program. whilst in the program you need to write about some of the most traumatic times in your life and be able to read it out in public to the group, with out your voice cracking and tears running down your face, felt to me impossible. If I had the confidence I have now because of our work, then to be able to speak out loud in front of people would have been amazing. Working with you hasn’t just been about having a laugh with drama, it’s been teaching me to bring out bits of my personality that i felt I needed to hide. It’s taught me not to judge other people when they’re telling you something they have hidden for years, because you know what not is like to be in their position. I’m not sure what this is for, all the work that we’ve done together…at the end of the day, I’m just one prisoner with many different views and bloody opinions, most of which are forced on me by experiences which in the moment I had little or no choice in or power over …but I think I have given you some little look into the problems we every day in here. I am not sure if any of this will ever be heard or even whether that matters… but, I loved writing with you and even now, doing this just speaking into that camera…its crazy…I have not thanked you, but I do thank you and am grateful to you for letting me say my truth…”
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Freedom to Create Director - Kevin Harrison Partnership & Development - Jennifer Hill Evaluation - Caroline Carmichael Performing Arts - Jeremy Weller Visual Arts - Frances Douglas Visual Arts - Catherine Sargeant Exhibition - Sarah Pearson Finance - David McQuatt Administration - Robin Anderson Thanks to Nikki Cameron, Rosemary Taylor and Kirsten Sams from New College Lanarkshire
Thanks to Pauline McGuigan, Carol Ann Murray and all staff at HMP YOI Cornton Vale Thanks to staff and support from Craft Scotland Fiona Logue, Jo Scott and Natasha McLaughlin Makers : Amy Britton, Roberta Pederzoli, Isabelle Moore, Teena Gould and Ellie Hodesdon Thanks to Tam Dean Burn and colleagues. Special thank you to the women of HMP and YOI Cornton Vale
Supported by Creative Scotland, The Volant Trust funded through Foundation Scotland and The Robertson Trust
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