SmartJustice
[North East England] 2006
This programme comprised a series of arts workshops across the North East region, linked to the SmartJustice for Young People campaign which aims to reduce crime and debate issues around custodial sentences for low level offenders.
Seven artists worked with six groups of young people, each running a series of ten workshops:
"A proportion opf the group were homeless, usually commitment is impossible in that situation yet everyone turned up to all the sessions. One of the group is now doing an educational qualification, one is in a placement as a youth worker, the camera man - a young man with a past custodial sentence - went and got a job, he is now in full time employment and has his own flat. I know that this film project was key in their achievement of those things."
Worker at SHAID (Single Homeless Action Initiative in Derwentside)
- Emily Barber (filmmaker) worked with Shaidy Characters in Stanley;
- Suzy Varty (cartoonist) worked with Brunswick young people's project;
- Jessica Johnson (actor/drama worker) worked with Cornerhouse Project in Stockton-on-Tees;
- Jane Arnfield (actor/drama worker) worked with One Step Further in Bishop Aukland;
- Alex Elliott (actor/drama worker/film-maker) worked with One Step Further and Cornerhouse Project;
- Adrian Moule (visual artist) worked with Azaad Youth Project in Middlesbrough;
- Nicola Lumley (musician) worked with Fairbridge in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The entire programme was filmed by Superkrush Productions to produce a documentary showing both the process and the work.
The programme ended with a 'grand finale' at The Sage Gateshead in October 2006, attended by over 150 young people. The keynote speaker was the Rt Hon Hilary Armstrong MP and the work and documentary were shown and celebrated.
