Koestler Arts
Anyone in custody in a UK prison, young offender institution, secure training centre, secure children's home, immigration removal centre, or high or medium security psychiatric hospital or unit (including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man). Any current client of the National Probation Service or a Community Rehabilitation Company, a Youth Offending Service, the Scottish Criminal Justice Social Work Service or their equivalents elsewhere in the UK. Any UK citizen currently in a prison overseas (must submit via Prisoners Abroad). Entrants may enter as an individual or as a group.
The Koestler Awards are given annually for original work in 52 art forms, including creative writing, drawing, fashion, graphic design, music, painting, photography and woodwork. Many of the awards carry cash prizes from £20–£100, which is paid into the ‘private cash’ of prisoners. Koestler Arts also offers to sell visual artwork on behalf of entrants.
You may send up to five entries of visual art, writing or music to the Koestler Arts Centre at the address below before the annual Spring deadline. Every artwork must come with a Koestler entry form for the current year, countersigned by an authorised member of staff. Koestler Arts sends entry forms to Education Departments in all establishments every December. The forms may also be downloaded from Koestler Arts' website or requested by post, phone or email.
December: entry forms available. April: deadline for entries. June: judging of entries. August: Awards results announced. October: certificates and prize money sent out. December: money from sales sent out. January–March: unsold entries from previous year returned.
Response to all letters within a month, usually sooner.
The Koestler Awards attract over 7,000 entries from over 3,500 entrants every year. Awards entrants may also apply for a Koestler mentor to support them to develop their arts practice in the community.
Koestler Arts
168a Du Cane Road
London
W12 0TX
0208 740 0333
info@koestlerarts.org.uk
