Koestler Arts’ programmes are proven to contribute to what the HM Inspectorate of Probation describes as factors supportive of desistance from crime.
The Koestler Awards encourage 3,500+ participants every year to continue creating. Respondents to our last entrant survey, told us participating in the Koestler Awards helped them improve self-confidence (85%), achievement in education (63%), ability to keep free from crime (53%), relationships with prison staff (66%) and with family (63%). A study (2017) conducted by Manchester Metropolitan University in partnership with Social Justice Solutions showed that Koestler Awards entrants demonstrated statistically higher average levels of: self-reflection; hope; resilience; and wellbeing, compared to prisoners involved in arts activities but who did not enter the Awards.
The Arts Mentoring programme provides 25-30 prison leavers each year with tools and support to continue their artistic journey post-release. According to the findings of Dr Leonidas K. Cheliotis (LSE) participants who finished mentoring were helped to “develop greater confidence in themselves and their abilities, to become more driven to achieve success, to conceptualise their present and future in ways unrelated –indeed, opposed– to crime, and to increase their expectations that future difficulties with the law could actually be avoided.” 86% of Koestler Arts mentees had desisted from reoffending 6 months after finishing the 12-months programme (based on all mentees supported from 02/2020 to 05/2023).
Evaluation is built into all our programmes; we gather feedback and statistics through annual participation surveys and monitoring forms. Koestler Arts is an active member of the National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance, and have participated in external research to enrich the whole sector. Scroll down to download these resources and the research studies mentioned above. You can find more information on the impact of art in prisons in the NCJAA Evidence Library.
Research & Reports Archive
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Inspiring Futures, 2024
Inspiring Futures Research, 2024 (National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance)
An Evaluation of the Meaning and Impact of Arts Programmes in Criminal Justice SettingThe Impact Inside, 2020
The Impact Inside Report, 2020 (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Evaluating the role of the Koestler Awards in improving prisons and prisoners, conducted by the Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) at Manchester Metropolitan University in partnership with Social Justice Solutions (SJS)Arts and culture in health and wellbeing in the criminal justice system, 2018
Arts and culture in health and wellbeing and in the criminal justice system, 2018 (Arts Council England)
Evaluating the work of the cultural sector in health and wellbeing and criminal justice, and how organisations extend the influence and benefits of culture, delivering positive social outcomes through creative engagement.The Arts of Desistance, 2014
The Arts Of Desistance Report, 2014 (Leonidas K. Cheliotis and the London School of Economics and Political Science)
An Evaluation of the Koestler Arts Mentoring Programme for prison-leavers, focusing on the the implementation and effectiveness of the scheme.
Impact Snapshot 2023-24
Have you ever wondered what a year at Koestler Arts looks like?
From inspiring thousands through the Koestler Awards, to showcasing incredible artwork in prestigious venues across the UK, scroll down to see our annual milestones from the last financial year, or download a pdf version by clicking here.
Any Questions?