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.

First Impressions – portraits from prisons

Curated by Koestler Arts, at the invitation of the Prisons Mission of Churches Together in Westminster

21 March – 10 June 2018

> Click here to see a selection of the artworks in the show.

Koestler Arts and The Prisons Mission present an exhibition touring central London churches throughout 2018. The tour begins at St James’s Piccadilly, and continues to Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church and St Martins-in-the-Fields.

The Prisons Mission is an initiative of Churches Together in Westminster (CTiW) which provides support and assistance identified and needed by the multi-faith Chaplaincy Teams in prisons. It also aims to ensure that prisons while out of sight are not out of mind.

The exhibition showcases a selection of portraiture and sculpture entered into the 2017 Koestler Awards from across the UK. The artworks highlight the skills and talents of people in prisons and other secure settings and represent the strength of work that is entered into the awards scheme every year.

Project Partner:

A Head Full of Possibilities
HM Prison Isle of Wight (Albany)
John Crockett Highly Commended Award for Portrait
2017
Inside My Head
HM Prison Gartree
Bronze Award for Portrait
2017
Inside The Prison Library
Staffordshire and West Midlands Community Rehabilitation Company
First-Time Entrant Award for Portrait
2017
Female Officer
HM Prison Lewes
Bronze Award for Sculpture
2017
Heads
HM Prison Standford Hill (Sheppey Cluster)
Commended Award for Ceramics
2017
Shout It Out
Pinetree Court Hospital
Portrait
2017
Amy Jailhouse
HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Parc
Recycling or Papier Mâché
2013
Nadiya
HM Prison Ashfield
Clara Alman Platinum Award for Portrait
2017
Tooth Pick Lady - Don't Go to the Dentist in Prison!
Camden and Islington Probation Service
Portrait
2017
Inside Out
HM Prison Swaleside (Sheppey Cluster)
Portrait
2017
Dark Past Bright Future
Staffordshire & West Midlands Probation Trust
Highly Commended Award for Portrait
2017
Man in a Pad
HM Young Offender Institution Wetherby
Portrait
2017
Wishful Thinking 1 of 8
HM Prison Kirkham
Portrait
2017
Wishful Thinking 2 of 8
HM Prison Kirkham
Portrait
2017
Wishful Thinking 3 of 8
HM Prison Kirkham
Portrait
2017
Wishful Thinking 4 of 8
HM Prison Kirkham
Portrait
2017
Wishful Thinking 5 of 8
HM Prison Kirkham
Portrait
2017
Wishful Thinking 6 of 8
HM Prison Kirkham
Portrait
2017
Wishful Thinking 7 of 8
HM Prison Kirkham
Portrait
2017
Wishful Thinking 8 of 8
HM Prison Kirkham
Portrait
2017
Inside My Face of Feelings
HM Prison Lewes
Bronze Award for Portrait
2017
Andy Warhol
HM Prison Altcourse
First-Time Entrant Award for Portrait
2017
Prince Philip
Wolfson House (secure mental health unit)
Gold Award for Portrait
2017
Lemmy
HM Prison Glenochil
Gold Award for Portrait
2017
Inside, Outside, Leave Me Alone
HM Prison Glenochil
Commended Award for Painting
2017
R.I.P Mr Jones
HM Prison Full Sutton
Space Station Sixty-Five Platinum Award for Mixed Media
2017
Ageing Gracefully
The Spinney (secure mental health unit)
Commended Award for Portrait
2017
Different Faces
Fromeside Clinic
First-Time Entrant Award for Mixed Media
2017
Innocence
HM Prison Dartmoor
Commended Award for Sculpture
2017