It’s #KoestlerAwards deadline day!

The Koestler Arts Centre is full with boxes – and check out the protective pooches keeping an eye on them all for us 🐶🐾

Huge thank you to everyone who has entered, and to all the staff in establishments for helping the artwork reach us ✨

Reports show that 2 out of 5 ex-prisoners in England and Wales will reoffend within a year.

Our Arts Mentoring scheme supports people through the difficult transition from custody to community, helping them re-skill & rebuild their lives free from crime.
bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0…

Koestler Arts Gary Mansfield Hand on heart your awards gave me such hope. I now see myself as more than an ‘ex prisoner’ That matters and should be an opportunity offered to all when the time is right as part of an individuals #rehabilitation

Seeing the person, not the crime means #ChangeCanHappen 🤝

I can trace my decision to pursue a writing career from the feedback I received after entering the Koestler prize in 2020. They bring hope into darkness, and change lives.

Have you read our latest blog?📑

Last month we invited former Koestler mentee, Chris, to join us on prison visits, to meet with people who may be interested in arts mentoring upon release.

Chris shares why he thinks these visits are so important - koestlerarts.org.uk/blog/the-impac…

🎨 HMP Grampian learners have been busy creating their entries for the 2024 Koestler Arts Awards. An in-house exhibition was held prior to submission that showcased over 120 creative entries, which highlighted the hard work and creativity shown by learners.

Have you listened in to our Radio 4 Appeal yet?

Artist @mizogart shares Charlotte's story about how Koestler Arts mentoring helped her find hope for a crime free future after prison.

Please listen in, share and donate if you can! We need your support ❤️
bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…

Not long until our BBC Radio 4 Appeal airs, to raise money for our arts mentoring scheme! Tune in to Radio 4 on Sunday 7 April at 7.54am & 9.25pm to hear the appeal live, or listen online.

We hope you’ll listen, share and donate if you can💗

🔗bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…
#r4appeal

Will you be tuning in to our BBC Radio 4 Appeal this Sunday? ✨

@mizogart shares why he is a big supporter of our work, and why he’d love for you to get involved in our appeal to raise money for our Arts Mentoring scheme 🎨

youtube.com/watch?v=V6zQSB…

💬“Sometimes getting started can be the hardest part of creative writing.”

This bank holiday, why not have a go at our April #ArtAid task, set by Koestler mentee Christian, to help you write interesting dialogue!

🔗koestlerarts.org.uk/get-inspired/a…

We love this eggcelent handmade card from the Koestler Awards archive 💗🐰

Our Director of Arts was delighted to present at this interesting event yesterday, and share more about our work!

Interesting to hear from other guest speakers and organisations who are promoting creativity within marginalised groups.

Thank you Law and Humanities Journal for the invite😃

Check out these incredible pieces entered into our Fast Feedback scheme by very talented young artists🎨

Those aged 18 and under (under secure supervision) can enter the Awards at any time of the year, and will receive prizes and feedback within 4 weeks✨
koestlerarts.org.uk/get-involved/k…

Only 3 weeks until the 2024 Koestler Awards deadline!

😀𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿:
Anyone in custody or on probation in the UK, any UK citizen in prison overseas. There are 52 categories so there’s something for everyone!

📅Deadline: 12 April 2024
🔗ow.ly/7muU50QZrX6

We’re delighted to share that trustee and artist Gary Mansfield will present a BBC Radio 4 Charity Appeal on behalf of Koestler Arts this April, raising money for our Arts Mentoring scheme!

The appeal will be broadcast on Sunday Sunday 7 & Thursday 11 April
🔗koestlerarts.org.uk/support-us/rad…

Can you guess what we were working on with our trustee Gary Mansfield at the BBC last week?

All will be revealed soon…

A huge thanks to Unlocked Graduates for having us at the Unlocked Graduates Conference last week ✨

Our Arts Coordinator, Emma, had the opportunity to meet with lots of grads, and give out Awards posters and our creative Art Aid activity sheets for them to share on prison wings🎨

Thank you to the artist who sent us this lovely card, which has been on display & brightening up our office for the past few weeks!✨

There's now only one month until the 2024 Koestler Awards deadline - we can't wait to see even more incredible artwork!
🔗koestlerarts.org.uk/get-involved

𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 I Jeremy Deller and John Costi will co-curate our 2024 UK exhibition of art by people in custodial settings at Southbank Centre!🎨

📅 Dates announced soon
📍 Royal Festival Hall, London
🔗More details - koestlerarts.org.uk/exhibitions/20…