Koestler Arts

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Koestler Arts

The UK's leading prison arts charity.
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Our work harnesses the uniquely transformative power of the arts to help individuals learn the skills and gain the confidence to live creative, positive and productive lives. Each year we receive more than 7,000 entries from over 3,500 entrants in criminal justice settings across the UK in 52 categories. More than 2,000 Awards are granted by over 100 esteemed judges, and each year culminates in a curated exhibition at Southbank Centre which showcases the incredible power of the arts to transform lives. Throughout the year, we also hold exhibition programmes across the UK, involving local groups and artists to shape the content, as well as running outreach projects to support people after release through arts mentoring and employment opportunities.

09/10/2026

Tag a friend who's very fragile ☠️

The arts team are hard at work bringing our curators' vision to life in the brand new Undercroft space, and it's our first time away from our usual home on the Spirit Level. We thought we'd give you a little sneak peek into how it's shaping up 👀

You'll be able to see it in its full glory very soon. Rock, Paper, Scissors opens 16 October at Southbank Centre. Free to visit Tuesday to Sunday, 12-8pm.

07/10/2026

Meet the curators of Rock, Paper, Scissors 👋

After curation, the young curators from Parental Imprisonment Collective and Pact - Prison Advice & Care Trust sent us this group self-portrait on a card, and we loved it so much it's going in the show too. See if you can spot it on the wall when you visit!

You'll hear more from them very soon on our socials, so keep your eyes peeled 👀

Rock, Paper, Scissors | Southbank Centre, 16 October - 29 November, free entry 📅

30/09/2026

"When I was really unwell and struggling to understand what had happened and where I was, I found poetry was the only thing that I could digest and relate to. The metaphor and imagery grounded me and spoke to me, and helped me find a voice within the chaos."

In September's , a Koestler mentee shares advice on how to start with blackout poetry, with a freeing and accessible exercise.

You can download the sheet, and previous sheets, here: https://koestlerarts.org.uk/get-inspired/art-aid/

[Artwork: Untitled, Clayfields House Secure Unit, Believe in Now Under 25s Special Award for Poem, 2023]

29/09/2026

In case you missed it: new music, created by people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and inspired by artworks in Rock, Paper, Scissors, is coming to Southbank Centre this November. The host is none other than Joelle Taylor, T.S. Eliot Prize winner and former curator of our national exhibition ❤️

Inner Rhythm is an evening of live and recorded music and poetry, with a Q&A and panel discussion, presented in partnership with The Irene Taylor Trust 'Music in Prisons'. Singer-songwriter Izo FitzRoy worked with the Irene Taylor Trust and Royal Academy of Music to co-produce the new piece, which will be performed live with the Woolf Quartet alongside the artworks that inspired it. Visit the exhibition beforehand and see if you can guess which pieces made it into the music 👀

Purcell Room, Southbank Centre
Friday 20 November, 7.30pm
Tickets from £16: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/inner-rhythm-music-from-the-criminal-justice-system/

22/09/2026

New here? 👋

The Koestler Awards are the UK's biggest awards scheme for work made in criminal justice settings. You can enter if you're in a prison, young offender institution, secure hospital, secure children's home or immigration removal centre, or if you're supervised in the community on probation. There are 53 categories to enter, from watercolour to songwriting.

Post-release, some entrants go on to work one-to-one with experienced professionals through our mentoring scheme, and every year entries from across the Awards (winners or not) are chosen for our national exhibition. This year it's Rock, Paper, Scissors, opening at Southbank Centre on 16 October.

Have a look at these photos to see what judging looked like in 2026 👆

19/09/2026

Throwback 📸 to Iron Owl, a favourite from our Southbank Centre exhibition in 2025.

Family runs through much of the art we receive, and sometimes, works are explicitly noted by the artist as having been made for a loved one. Family is also at the heart of our next exhibition: Rock, Paper, Scissors, curated by young people with lived experience of a parent or caregiver's imprisonment, opens at Southbank Centre on 16 October.

[Artwork: Iron Owl, HM Prison Dovegate, Jackie Roscoe Memorial Outstanding Debut Award for Sculpture, 2025]

16/09/2026

Our curators love a brainstorm 🧠

When selecting works for our upcoming 2026 exhibition at Southbank Centre, "Rock, Paper, Scissors", the young curators from Parental Imprisonment Collective and Prison Advice and Care Trust pooled their thoughts together on a board in our offices. See if you can spot the Post-It with the exhibition title 👀

Look out for more from curation in the lead up to our exhibition - opens 16 October!

12/09/2026

Earlier this week we welcomed teams of volunteers from AtkinsRéalis for two feedback writing days, reading, viewing, and responding to work entered into this year's Koestler Awards by people in prisons, secure hospitals and other secure settings across the UK.

One volunteer was struck by a pencil portrait: "It had an incredible depth and presence... it almost felt as though the subject was looking directly at the viewer." Another was moved by a short story written by a young person. A tour of our building, stacked floor to ceiling with entries, gave the group a sense of just how much outstanding creative work is submitted to us every year.

Feedback writing days are one of the most direct ways for volunteers to connect with the artists behind the work. Anyone visiting our upcoming exhibition at the Southbank Centre will also be able to write feedback to entrants directly.

Thank you to everyone from AtkinsRéalis who gave their time.

11/09/2026

Entrants aged 18 and under can enter the Koestler Awards at any point in the year. Entrants get a response within 6 weeks of entry, with guaranteed feedback and the chance to receive extra Fast Feedback awards.

In our latest blog, Miriam, our Young People's Coordinator, wrote about the work sent in year-round by young people and the importance of the feedback they receive - read it here: https://ow.ly/wsBP50ZMF7q

[Artwork: The Collaged Human, Atkinson Secure Children's Home, 18 and Under Fast Feedback Award and Under 25s Award for Mixed Media, 2026 | Stallion, HM Young Offender Institution Polmont, Highly Commended Award for Printmaking, 2026 | Frog, HM Prison Long Lartin, Commended Award for Pastel, 2026 | Root Vegetables, HM Prison Frankland, Commended Award for Themed Category: Roots, 2026]

01/09/2026

The 2026 Koestler Awards results are here - a colossal achievement 🏟️

Congratulations to everyone who took part this year: the artists who shared their creativity, and the staff, judges, families, and friends who supported them along the way. More than 7,800 pieces were entered into the Awards this year - that's more entries, and entrants, than 2025.

Whether Award-winning or not, every participant will receive a certificate later this year to recognise their outstanding contribution. See the full list of winners here: https://koestlerarts.org.uk/get-involved/koestler-awards/

[Artwork: The Arena, HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Parc, Commended Award for Matchstick Model, 2026]

Address

Koestler Arts Centre, 170 Du Cane Road
London
W120TX

Telephone

+442087400333

Website

https://www.koestlerarts.org.uk/

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