Creativity and Transition: exploring social reintegration and rehabilitation into the ‘everyday’
This session is sponsored by the Geographies of Justice Research Group and the Social and Cultural Geography Research Group.
Organizers: Agatha Herman (University of Plymouth) and Kim Ward (University of Cardiff).
Session outline:
Adjusting to ‘civilian’ life can be a challenge whether, within the UK context, you’re one of the 170,000 offenders released each year to the probation service or one of the 20,000 currently leaving the British armed forces annually. Employment, relationships, finances, mental health, housing… all can become issues for those returning to ‘civilian’ spaces. Considering the numbers and needs of those transitioning out of military or carceral institutions, particularly against the contemporary backdrop of austerity, highlights the necessity of effective and sustainable reintegration and rehabilitation for economic, social, political and moral reasons. However, individuals worldwide and outside of these particular spaces can also struggle with exclusion from the ‘everyday’.
This session explores in particular how creative practices can support the reintegration and rehabilitation of those who, in the broadest sense, have become separated from everyday social spaces, practices and communities. In particular we are looking to explore innovative and resourceful methods of engaging with those in transition, as well as the creative methods that can be used to connect with, and support, reintegration and rehabilitation experiences. Contributions are welcome from a range of areas across and beyond geography, including engagements from outside academia.
Potential questions/topics for discussion include:
· Can creativity be inclusive?
· Theatre, music and arts-based projects
· Social responsibility towards veterans?
· Social exclusion, substance abuse and homelessness
· Mental health
· Carceral spaces
· Creative methodologies to engage with social exclusion
· Challenges of working in disciplinary environments
· Performing rehabilitation
Please send abstracts of no more than 250 words to Agatha Herman (agatha.herman@plymouth.ac.uk) and Kim Ward (K.J.Ward@exeter.ac.uk) by Tuesday 5th February 2013.