Support Creative Arts in the Criminal Justice System

We deeply regret the cuts by Arts Council England to the Writers in Prison Network. WIPN delivers creative arts activities across the prison estate, as part of the rehabilitation of offenders. A residency costs £20,000 p.a. to deliver. It costs an average of £47,000 p.a. to keep someone in prison. If just one prisoner stops reoffending as a result of working with a writer that’s £47K saved for the taxpayer every year. Arts Council England cut three of the six arts in criminal justice organisations. West Midlands ACE alone cut two out of its three. We wish to protest that this neither represents a balanced portfolio nor does it contribute to the government’s rehabilitation revolution. We strongly urge you to find alternative ways to fund this invaluable and award-winning scheme… for all our sakes.