About Arts in Corrections

The arts and creative expression can be a powerful tool in supporting the rehabilitation process of prisoners and their re-integration back into the community on release.

Arts Access Aotearoa receives funding from Ara Poutama Aotearoa Department of Corrections to provide an Arts in Corrections Advisory Service. There are 18 prisons from Invercargill through to Northland, and a remand centre in New Plymouth. In addition, Community Corrections manages approximately 30,000 offenders in the community.

Through this service, the Arts in Corrections Advisor: 

• works with artists, community educators and groups so they can deliver effective arts programmes, workshops and residencies in prisons and in Community Corrections
• facilitates three regional Arts in Corrections Networks
• supports Corrections staff to design and implement effective arts plans for each prison
• supports Corrections staff and volunteers so they can design and deliver effective arts projects, activities and events in prisons and in Community Corrections
• provides advice and links supporting released prisoners to continue art-making in the community.

This section features news updates, events, opportunities and arts activities in prisons around the country. It outlines and profiles the community of people, groups and organisations using the arts to support rehabilitation and reintegration. It also provides research, guidelines and information about the role of the arts in Corrections facilities, both in New Zealand and internationally.

Join the Arts in Corrections Network

The national Arts in Corrections Network, facilitated by Arts Access Aotearoa, includes artists and writers, Corrections staff and volunteers, Community Corrections staff, academics, and people in the wider community interested in arts and social justice. The Arts in Corrections Advisor facilitates regional hui of the Arts in Corrections Network in the following regions:

• Arts in Corrections Northern Network – from Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland to Cape Reinga
• Arts in Corrections Central Network – from the Waikato through to Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui Wellington
• ·    Arts in Corrections Southern Network – all of Te Waipounamu South Island.
  
  

For more information about the location of the prisons, regional offices, special treatment units and Community Corrections offices, visit the Department of Corrections website. 

Neil Wallace is the Arts in Corrections Advisor, Arts Access Aotearoa. He works Monday to Thursday. For information, advice and opportunities, please contact Neil (T: 04 802 4349 E: aic@artsaccess.org.nz). Also contact Neil to join the Arts in Corrections Network

Newsletter highlights

Every second month, we distribute Toi Whakaora Arts in Corrections, an e-newsletter highlighting news stories, profiles, research and resources.

Sign up to receive your bi-monthly Toi Whakaora Arts in Corrections e-newsletter.

Download Toi Whakaora Arts in Corrections 

• Read the August 2024 issue
• Read the June 2024 issue

• Read the April 2024 issue
• Read the February 2024 issue
• Read the December 2023 issue
• Read the October 2023 issue