Scotland's prisons celebrate 315 Koestler Awards

Individuals in custody across Scotland's prisons have secured an impressive 315 awards at this year's Koestler Arts Awards, one of the UK's most prestigious celebrations of creativity within the criminal justice system.

Established in 1962, the Koestler Arts Awards encourage people in custody and other secure settings, to engage in the arts, helping them develop skills, build confidence and support positive personal development. The awards provide a platform for participants to showcase their talents through a wide range of creative disciplines.

Working in partnership with PeoplePlus, individuals from Scotland's prisons submitted almost 1,000 entries to this year's competition, contributing to more than 7,800 submissions received nationally.

Awards are presented across 50 categories, including Fine Art, Craft and Design, Performance and Audio, Film and Animation, and Writing.
Among the successes achieved by individuals in Scotland's prisons were: 11 Platinum Awards, 13 Gold Awards, 23 Silver Awards and 36 Bronze Awards.

Entrants also received numerous Outstanding Debut, Highly Commended and Commended awards, reflecting the high standard of work submitted from across the estate.

The success highlights the positive impact of creative learning opportunities in custody, providing individuals with a means of self-expression while developing skills, confidence and aspirations for the future.