Inspiring Futures: Footprints
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Criminology
Abstract
The transformative potential of the arts for men and women in the criminal justice system is well-known to those working in the field yet there are significant challenges to capturing fully and systematically the multiple effects of arts participation. The ability to demonstrate impact is critical for arts organisations whose income is dependent on grants and commissions, particularly in a time of economic austerity. Many existing impact studies have been small-scale evaluations of individual projects in single arts disciplines with short follow-up timescales. Their findings frequently point to positive short-term effects but less is known about the collective and distinct contribution of the arts in criminal justice in the longer-term, for example, to social integration after imprisonment, to desistance from crime, and more broadly to quality of life and the artistic community. There are also important questions about what constitutes robust evidence of arts impact and about the relationship between arts practice and research evaluation. These are the issues that this project will address. The University of Cambridge and the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) will work in partnership with 8 organisations from different arts disciplines which engage with different groups of offenders and ex-offenders in prison and in the community across the UK: Geese Theatre; Clean Break; Good Vibrations; Only Connect; Synergy; The Irene Taylor Trust; Open Clasp; Helix Arts, and the Koestler Trust. Through this collaboration, this project will develop a theoretically informed understanding of the contribution of the performing arts in criminal justice and a technically innovative and sustainable participatory evaluation research methodology. Through these activities it aims to facilitate the expansion and embedding of arts initiatives in criminal justice settings and realise the beneficial potential of the arts for people in the criminal justice system.
Planned Impact
A central goal of this project is to develop and facilitate the implementation of an innovative evaluation methodology for arts interventions in criminal justice and other educational and welfare settings. Through the Institute of Criminology's (IOC's) contact with practitioners in prisons and probation and its research collaboration with the NCJAA we aim to maximise the potential for the research to change the landscape of the arts in criminal justice and more broadly across educational and social welfare sectors.
a) Partner arts organisations: the arts organisations participating in the NCJAA 'Inspiring Futures' initiative will be given access to the research instruments including the digital app to adapt and roll-out in their own programmes. In addition, the NCJAA and IOC will facilitate a knowledge exchange event to share learning from the evaluation as part of a 1-day project conference. Overall, the arts organisations participating in Inspiring Futures will benefit from a far more wide-ranging, comparative and detailed evaluation of their work than before, helping them to understand their impact on the participants they reach. Their evaluation skills and resources will be increased: they will be part of a cutting-edge arts impact evaluation community using a theoretically informed evaluation approach with access to an innovative digital research resource
b) Arts organisations, criminal justice policy makers and practitioners: one of the NCJAA's key roles is to act as a conduit between its members and local and national policy-makers including the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and criminal justice managers. Working with the NCJAA will help the IOC to ensure that its research findings reach these stakeholders and commissioners, leaving them better informed about the impact of arts projects in the criminal justice system and with a better understanding of how such interventions might be used most successfully. As well as increasing understanding and knowledge, these outcomes will help arts organisations to clarify their case for support and resources to key stakeholders and commissioners.
c) People in or at risk of involvement in the criminal justice system: users of the arts programmes will be collaborators in the development and piloting of the evaluation methodology which will facilitate the development of their personal and social skills. In the longer term, the project aims to be of general benefit to people in the criminal justice system, providing them with access to arts interventions and supporting their desistance journey.The aim is that the findings of this research will make it easier - at a national and local policy level - for arts organisations to reach and work with people in or at risk of involvement in the criminal justice system and to benefit them in the long term.
d) The project conference will be publicised to policy makers and practitioners involved in arts evaluations in education, youth and therapeutic and other social welfare settings. The conference audience will learn about the wider potential of the participatory methodology and the use of digital technology in social science evaluations and will have access to the project's online materials and training resources.
e) Staff in criminal justice settings, families of people in the criminal justice system and the general public will gain further insights into the transformative potential of the arts in criminal justice which may serve to change attitudes and (re)generate social bonds and networks.
a) Partner arts organisations: the arts organisations participating in the NCJAA 'Inspiring Futures' initiative will be given access to the research instruments including the digital app to adapt and roll-out in their own programmes. In addition, the NCJAA and IOC will facilitate a knowledge exchange event to share learning from the evaluation as part of a 1-day project conference. Overall, the arts organisations participating in Inspiring Futures will benefit from a far more wide-ranging, comparative and detailed evaluation of their work than before, helping them to understand their impact on the participants they reach. Their evaluation skills and resources will be increased: they will be part of a cutting-edge arts impact evaluation community using a theoretically informed evaluation approach with access to an innovative digital research resource
b) Arts organisations, criminal justice policy makers and practitioners: one of the NCJAA's key roles is to act as a conduit between its members and local and national policy-makers including the Ministry of Justice and Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) and criminal justice managers. Working with the NCJAA will help the IOC to ensure that its research findings reach these stakeholders and commissioners, leaving them better informed about the impact of arts projects in the criminal justice system and with a better understanding of how such interventions might be used most successfully. As well as increasing understanding and knowledge, these outcomes will help arts organisations to clarify their case for support and resources to key stakeholders and commissioners.
c) People in or at risk of involvement in the criminal justice system: users of the arts programmes will be collaborators in the development and piloting of the evaluation methodology which will facilitate the development of their personal and social skills. In the longer term, the project aims to be of general benefit to people in the criminal justice system, providing them with access to arts interventions and supporting their desistance journey.The aim is that the findings of this research will make it easier - at a national and local policy level - for arts organisations to reach and work with people in or at risk of involvement in the criminal justice system and to benefit them in the long term.
d) The project conference will be publicised to policy makers and practitioners involved in arts evaluations in education, youth and therapeutic and other social welfare settings. The conference audience will learn about the wider potential of the participatory methodology and the use of digital technology in social science evaluations and will have access to the project's online materials and training resources.
e) Staff in criminal justice settings, families of people in the criminal justice system and the general public will gain further insights into the transformative potential of the arts in criminal justice which may serve to change attitudes and (re)generate social bonds and networks.
Description | The preliminary findings (unpublished) have been used by the 7 arts organisations involved in the research to shape future provision by those organisations in prisons and in the community. We are involved in a whole day event in London with the organisations on 21 March 2023 to showcase what the organisations have achieved. We will be using this event to gather public views on the activities and research. |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Partnership with the Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (CLINKS) |
Organisation | Clinks |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | We are working closely with 8 arts organisations (music and drama) who are working with people in prison or ex-prisoners in the community. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners are allowing us to evaluate their work with prisoners or ex-prisoners in the community. |
Impact | None yet. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Title | Developed an app to evaluate Inspiring Futures |
Description | This is an app to facilitate participant evaluations of the arts programmes in which they are involved |
Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | We are currently piloting this app |
Description | Dec 2021, Porto: Seminar attendance and research presentation at 4-day Social Impact of Making Music Research Seminar (Seminar theme: 'Music in detention'). |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | To attend and present initial findings at a 4-day Social Impact of Making Music Research Seminar (Seminar theme: 'Music in detention'). Outcomes: the workshop prompted increased interest in subject areas. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.if.crim.cam.ac.uk/ |
Description | European Society of Criminology 2021 conference - poster at European Society of Criminology Conference (online) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Poster and discussion about the research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.if.crim.cam.ac.uk |
Description | European Society of Criminology Conference September 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation on music and drama in prisons, links with desistance. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Inspiring Futures Website Blog |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Blog created by Sarah Doxat-Pratt (Research Associate) to generate interest in Inspiring Futures research programme |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.if.crim.cam.ac.uk/blogs |
Description | Inspiring Futures. Participation in the University of Cambridge Festival of Ideas public engagement outreach/activity. Participated in a panel of speakers regarding the importance of the arts in relation to desistance from offending. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Participated in a panel discussion about the potential importance of the arts for people in prison and ex-prisoners supervised in the community post sentence. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | May 2021: Contributor for New Philanthropy Capital (Think Tank) 'Criminal Justice System Mapping' workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | Contributor for New Philanthropy Capital (Think Tank) 'Criminal Justice System Mapping' workshop: part of NPC's Beyond Bars programme seeking to understand funding in CJS and how that funding maps to need, aiming to help funders, public sector agencies and charities better support those in the system. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.if.crim.cam.ac.uk/ |
Description | Nottingham University Lecture - Music Department Colloquia (18 October 2022) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Lecture given in Colloquia series hosted by the Music Department. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Nov 2021, Paris - conference paper - SIMM conference 'The social and cultural commitment of the musician'. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Paper title: The experience and multi-faceted role of music practitioners working in probation settings. Intended purpose: sharing research ideas and initial findings. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.if.crim.cam.ac.uk/ |
Description | Oct-Nov 2021 (Paris) - Sarah Doxatt-Pratt (Research Associate) attended seminar & research presentation: Social Impact of Making Music Research Seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Sarah Doxatt-Pratt (Research Associate) attended a seminar & presented research: Social Impact of Making Music Research Seminar. (Seminar theme: 'Social and cultural actions of musicians - Enhancing the dialogue between practitioners and researchers'). |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.if.crim.cam.ac.uk |
Description | Signposting prison partners (e.g. HMP Norwich) to other Arts in CJS organisations after the success of the Lullaby Project |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Signposting HMPPS staff to IF/ Arts in CJS organisations, after inquiries to the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge. (I.e., extending awareness of benefits of arts in Criminal Justice System (CJS) to new audiences) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.if.crim.cam.ac.uk/ |
Description | Talk to Ely Life Long Learners (Adult Education) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | As part of course on crime and criminal justice |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |