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Since 1997, when tackling social exclusion became a high priority for government, Arts Council England (ACE) has set out to promote and demonstrate the role of the arts in inclusion, writes Nikki Crane. Inclusion, as the word suggests, means ?for all?, but the harder to reach groups are clear targets for funding, as are ways of working that help address exclusion directly. Sadly, it is too easy (and much more comfortable for some) for this work to become detached from everything else that is happening in the arts and for inclusion to be something we only do ?to? the excluded.
The arguments for embedding this work in the mainstream ? and by that I mean in our institutions, policies, the mainstream of arts provision ? are well rehearsed, but although steps are being taken to close the gap, we are acutely aware of how far we still have to go to make this happen. Most urgently, however, we need a radical shift in thinking to prevent the predictable dichotomies, for example, between inclusion and excellence, inclusion and education, nurture and rigour. Hierarchies are so quickly established in this field and moving between them can be a bruising experience.

One of the most important steps forward in recent months has been the establishment of national networking groups focusing on social inclusion, bringing renewed impetus to common goals. Our first task is to produce a national social inclusion framework to set out our approach to this work. This addresses two of our current priorities ? arts and health, and arts and the criminal justice system. To support the development of strategies in these areas, we are undertaking a mapping exercise to gain a snapshot of social inclusion activity and to identify potential areas for development. This is essential if we are to build on what is already working, as well as seeking out new collaborations and untapped opportunities. Lara Dose from The National Network for the Arts in Health and Angus Mclewin (formerly of the Unit for Arts and Offenders and now freelance) will be helping us undertake this work. These national bodies, working across sectors, are crucial to the development of social inclusion activity and in building the all-important evidence base for the work.

On the Criminal Justice front, the strategy will focus on taking forward the partnership between ACE and the Youth Justice Board, focusing on juveniles (under 18s). However, it will also set priorities across the whole cycle of offending, encompassing work in prevention through intervention (custody and community orders) and onto resettlement. In particular, we are interested in demonstrating the role of the arts as a catalyst for re-engagement with learning; in the pressing professional development needs of artists working in these contexts; and the ongoing priority of building the evidence base for this work in order to make our case more powerfully.

On the arts and health agenda, Meli Hatzihrysidis has been seconded to us from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for a year. In the spirit of pooling resources and more joined-up working, this is an important initiative. Within the arts and health strategy, three main areas are under consideration ? Public Health, Arts in the Healthcare Environment, and Arts and Medical Humanities (this is an interdisciplinary endeavour which focuses on the study of medicine and the value of the humanitarian approach to the medical profession for their own well-being and that of their patients). Most immediately we are involved in drawing up a response to the Government?s white paper ?Improving Public Health?. All arts organisations delivering within the arts and health field are being encouraged to respond to this.

Nikki Crane is Head of Inclusion at Arts Council England. t: 020 7973 6781;
e: nikki.crane@artscouncil.org.uk.

The arts and health and arts and criminal justice strategies will be launched in January 2005. The social inclusion framework will be posted on the ACE website in July 2004.