A new exhibition by the UK’s best-known prison arts charity Koestler Arts showcases artwork, music and writing made in criminal justice settings in the North East of England.
Almost Home has been co-curated by women at HM Prison & Young Offender Institution Low Newton. Whereas previous Koestler Arts exhibitions have been curated by art icons including Grayson Perry RA, Turner Prize-winner Jeremy Deller and acclaimed poet Benjamin Zephaniah, Almost Home saw the role handed to four female prisoners.
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They selected 70 artworks from among 300 submissions, every one of them made by someone in prison, a young offender institution, secure hospital, or under supervision in the community.
One co-curator comments: “What stood out to me was the raw talent of prisoners. The pain and hope expressed through their artwork. I was very inspired.”
The artwork pictured above, Fresh Start, provides a wonderful and essential message for the cover of the Big Issue magazine this week. It’s by a detainee at HM Prison and Young Offender Institution Low Newton. It received the Tom Barnard Highly Commended Award for Calligraphy, 2024.
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