Arts Access AotearoaA growing wave of interest in Arts in Corrections is spreading across the motu, with more artists stepping forward to contribute and more prisons opening their doors to creative programmes.
I believe there’s increased awareness that the arts are not just a nice-to-have but are a powerful tool in the journey of rehabilitation and reconnection.
That awareness and energy is encouraging. But if we want it to be meaningful and enduring, we need to support it properly. Working in a prison environment requires more than good intentions. It calls for preparation, cultural grounding, strong ethics, and a deep understanding of what it means to work in a system that is complex, pressured – and very human.
An online course for Arts in Corrections educators
That’s why Arts Access Aotearoa has created a course for Arts in Corrections educators. It's a ten-week online training programme, which I facilitate. It is free and open to artists and educators serious about delivering safe, culturally respectful and effective programmes in Corrections settings.
Each session runs for 1.5 hours via Zoom, and the weekly time is chosen by the group through a poll before the course begins. This enables a mix of people from across the country and across artforms to learn together.
At the centre of the course is Te Ara ki Runga The Path Up, our national best-practice guide for Arts in Corrections. The course brings this guide to life and adds further layers.
Over ten weeks, participants develop and complete a real-world programme proposal that is tailored to the Corrections environment. The proposal can be used to apply for funding or initiate discussions with prison sites.
The course content includes:
- Understanding Corrections structures, values and operational realities
- Working safely and ethically with people in prison
- Trauma-informed and culturally grounded practice
- Curriculum development
- Writing learning outcomes and developing assessment methods
- Lesson planning and practical delivery strategies.
The course also provides a supportive peer environment, a place to ask questions, and space to think deeply about the responsibility and potential of this work.
Who should register?
I am now seeking expressions of interest for the next Arts in Corrections educators course. This intake is limited to 25 people. To register, artists must email me directly with:
- a current CV
- a short letter explaining who you are and why you want to deliver an Arts in Corrections programme.
This letter does not need to be formal. It just needs to be honest. I want to know what brings someone to this kaupapa and what kind of impact they hope to have.
The people who come through this course come from all walks of life. Some have lived experience of incarceration, others bring decades of creative teaching practice, and many are somewhere in between. What they share is a commitment to doing the work well, and a recognition that this space deserves care and rigour.
How does funding work?
Alongside the Arts in Corrections educators course, I want to make sure artists know about the funding pathway that supports local arts delivery: the Creative Communities Scheme (CCS).
This Scheme is a small-grants fund administered by all 67 territorial local authorities and funded by Creative New Zealand. It is designed to support community-led arts projects that increase access and participation.
Creative New Zealand has confirmed that prison-based arts programmes and projects are eligible for CCS support. The Scheme can be used to fund a wide range of arts activity, including artist fees, materials, travel, administration costs and exhibition costs.
However, it is important to note that Corrections staff cannot apply on behalf of the artists or groups.
Creative New Zealand recommends a minimum pay rate of $30 an hour, and each local council sets its own priorities and funding cycles. If an artist encounters confusion about eligibility, Creative New Zealand has offered to speak directly with councils to provide clarity and support. Please get in touch with me and I will liaise with Creative New Zealand.
Read more about the Creative Communities Scheme
A clear pathway from intent to delivery
The Arts in Corrections educators course and the CCS are two parts of the same picture. One equips artists to design and deliver safe, effective programmes. The other provides a way to resource that work. Together, they form a clear pathway from intent to delivery and impact.
If you are an artist considering this work, or a Corrections staff member working with someone who might be a good fit, please let me know. There is no single model for what makes an excellent Arts in Corrections educator but there are clear steps we can take to ensure they are well-prepared.
Let’s take those steps together.
If you have any questions about this work please get in touch with Neil Wallace (E: neil.wallace@artsaccess.org.nz T: 04 802 4349).
