This campaign has now closed
Each year visitors to Koestler Arts' free exhibitions get a rare glimpse into the human stories and creative talents of prisoners, secure patients, and others in the criminal justice system; a critical step to building communities that support rehabilitation.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
The crisis of the prison system reached a state of emergency in 2024. Changing the public culture that surrounds prisons is key to addressing its problems. However, with almost no opportunities to learn about the human side or the positive things that happen on the inside, many people forget or are indifferent towards prisoners. We believe art can change lives on the inside; it can also play a role on the outside, building more empathetic, supportive communities.
Solution
Koestler Arts’ free exhibitions of art by people in secure settings across the UK, as well as British prisoners abroad, allow hundreds of men, women and young people to share something positive, their talents and their stories with our audiences. Thousands of visitors every year tell us how these shows help them gain an understanding of the prison system and to see a more humane side of those within it. Their feedback also fuels our beneficiaries' motivation to continue creating.
