Our Mission
Koestler Arts is the UK’s best-known prison arts charity. We encourage people in the criminal justice system to change their lives by participating in the arts. We share their artworks with the public, so people can witness this diverse range of voices, stories and talent.
We aim to:
- Help prisoners, secure patients and detainees lead more positive lives by motivating them to participate and achieve in the arts.
- Increase public awareness and understanding of the arts by people in the criminal justice system.
- Be a dynamic, responsive organisation which achieves excellent quality and value for money.
Our Work
We inspire participation in the arts in the criminal justice system through Awards and Feedback, Mentoring, Sales, Exhibitions and Events. We increase public awareness of the potential of people in the criminal justice system through Exhibitions and Events, Publications and contributing to research.
Our small team is based just outside HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs in west London. We partner with organisations across the UK to develop ambitious, innovative programmes that maximise resources and expertise.
We work across the UK’s criminal justice and secure systems. Including custodial settings (prisons, young offenders institutions, medium and high secure hospitals, secure children’s homes and immigration centres), and people in the community (on probation, engaged with youth offending teams, and on community sentences).
We work with many partner organisations including; arts venues, museums and galleries; other organisations encouraging arts and education in secure settings; young offenders teams; probation services; and charities supporting victims of crime.