Unlock the talent inside

Since 1962 the Koestler Awards have played a unique, national role in motivating prisoners, secure hospital patients and immigration detainees to take part in the arts. The Koestler Awards are simple and powerful – we reward achievement, build self-confidence and broaden horizons for some of society’s most disadvantaged and marginalised people.

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 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.

Inside: curated by Antony Gormley

Art by offenders, secure patients and detainees from the 2017 Koestler Awards

21 September – 15 November 2017
Exhibition Space, Level 1, Royal Festival Hall

Antony Gormley, the renowned artist, curated an exhibition showcasing artworks produced in the UK’s prisons, secure hospitals and immigration removal centres, and by ex-offenders in the community.

This show responded to the theme ‘Inside’, set by Gormley with input from prisoners, and aimed to get people talking about the UK’s criminal justice system.

The artworks were selected from over 7,000 pieces of fine art, design, writing and music entered to this year’s Koestler Awards.

This exhibition was supported by:

In partnership with:

Online gallery

View a selection of artworks from the show in the gallery below.

First Light in February
HM Prison Channings Wood
Watercolour and Gouache
2017
Female Officer
HM Prison Lewes
Sculpture
2017
Inside a Cell
HM Prison Lewes
Sculpture
2017
The Dream Door is Too Small
Katherine Price Hughes House
Painting
2017
Play Time
Camden and Islington Probation
Drawing
2017
Authentic HMP Collage Greetings
Camden and Islington Probation
Handmade Greeting Card
2017
Heads
HM Prison Standford Hill
Ceramics
2017
Colour Within
HM Prison Lewes
Pastel
2017
It’s Transparent in Black and White
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Styal (women’s establishment)
Mixed Media
2017
Inside my Prison; Outside my Prison Cell
HM Prison Liverpool
Drawing
2017
Cornflower Blue
HM Prison Leyhill
Needlecraft
2017
Broken Person
HM Prison Peterborough
Portrait
2017
Trapped… Inside
HM Prison Peterborough
Mixed Media
2017
Explaining my Acquired Brain Injury
St Andrew's Healthcare Northampton (secure mental health unit)
Pastel
2017