You’ve just finished running a brilliant arts programme. The participants were engaged, their confidence grew and their creative work was extraordinary. Now comes the part many Arts in Corrections educators dread: reporting. 

How do you show the value of your programme to Corrections staff, funders and other stakeholders? And how do you do it in a way that honours your mahi and respects participants’ privacy?

Reporting doesn’t have to be intimidating. With a few clear steps, you can turn your programme outcomes into a story of transformation that aligns with Ara Poutama Aotearoa Department of Corrections' Hōkai Rangi Strategy.

Start with clear goals

The foundation of any good report is clarity. Before your programme begins, ask yourself:

• What do I want participants to achieve? e.g. improved confidence, stronger cultural connections, new creative skills.
• How will I measure success? e.g. feedback forms, completed projects, participation rates.
• Do my goals align with any or all of the six pou of the Hōkai Rangi Strategy? If so, which ones?

Setting these goals at the start makes it much easier to track progress and report on your outcomes.

Collect data that tells a story

Good reporting combines hard numbers with heartfelt stories. Here’s how to gather both:

• Quantitative data: Track attendance, completion rates and any measurable skills gained: e.g. participants learning to write a song or perform a haka.
• Qualitative data: Capture participant feedback, observe changes in behaviour, and document creative outputs like artwork or performances.

Always work with Corrections staff to ensure your record-keeping aligns with their policies and protects participants’ privacy.

 Respecting privacy

Privacy is non-negotiable. When sharing outcomes:

• anonymise participant data for external reporting (e.g. within an NGO)
• seek consent before sharing any creative work or recordings of that work
• ensure any data collected is securely stored and only shared with relevant stakeholders.

How to structure your report

Keep it simple, clear and engaging:

1. Introduction: Briefly outline the programme and its goals.
2. Methods: Explain how you delivered the programme and gathered data.
3. Findings: Share your quantitative metrics and qualitative insights. Use visuals like charts or images (with consent) to bring the data to life.
4. Conclusion: Summarise the impact of the programme and suggest next steps.

Aligning with the Hōkai Rangi pou

To make your report resonate, link it to the strategy’s pou. For example:

• highlight how your programme supported healing (Humanising and Healing)
• share examples of participants reconnecting with their whakapapa (Whakapapa).
• document how the arts strengthened family ties (Whānau).

Refer to the article Refreshed Hōkai Rangi Strategy sets a powerful course and its description of the six pou.

Final thoughts

Reporting isn’t just about ticking a box. It’s about celebrating the impact of your mahi and showing how it aligns with the transformative goals of Hōkai Rangi. By sharing your programme’s story, you can inspire others, secure support and ensure arts programming continues to play a vital role in Corrections facilities.

The arts change lives. Your teaching can help change lives. Make sure the world knows it.