The annual Koestler Awards exhibition opens today at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London, with part of the money raised through the sale of the art works going to Victim Support to help people affected by crime.
The exhibition showcases artworks by prisoners, offenders on community sentences, secure psychiatric patients and immigration detainees. This year’s exhibition ‘We Are All Human’ is curated by writer, dub poet and musician Benjamin Zephaniah, exploring the themes of time and the natural environment. We Are All Human is free to attend and will run from 15 September to 13 November 2016.
Art works from the exhibition and Koestler Awards will also be on sale, with 25% of the proceeds being donated to Victim Support to help people affected by crime. The Koestler Pop-up Art Shop will be selling merchandise art by entrants to the Koestler Awards on the Spirit Level at the Royal Festival Hall. If you’re interested in buying artwork on display at the exhibition, you can also contact the Koestler Trust on 0208 740 0333.
Benjamin Zephaniah will open the exhibition on Thursday 15 September with a performance and panel discussion, giving visitors a view behind the scenes of the exhibition.
“Every bit of artwork in the exhibition has meaning, everything is relevant to the person who’s created it. We are all human, it’s a really simple truth, even if people are going through difficult times we are all trying to survive.” Benjamin Zephaniah
Exhibition information
Location: Spirit Level, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London SE1 8XX
Opening times: 10am-11pm daily
Dates: 15 September – 13 November 2016
Entry fee: FREE