In 2020, a grant of £75,000 was awarded to construction a new building for a charity supporting prisoners and ex-offenders in West London.

Organisation

Koestler Arts is the UK’s best-known prison arts charity. Through awards, mentoring and outreach, it plays a unique national role in encouraging offenders, secure psychiatric patients and detainees to take part in the arts, often transforming their lives. The Trust then brings prison arts to the public through exhibitions, publications, and events. These activities help to raise self-awareness and develop skills and self-discipline. These improvements in turn bring benefits to their families and communities, and to the staff who work in prisons and other establishments.

Construction project

Koestler Trust had outgrown its current premises and applied to The foundation for support to build premises using shipping containers which would provide increased, accessible, environmentally controllable enhanced facilities and exhibition space. Importantly, since the structure would demountable, it could be moved should the organisation need to leave their current site in the future. A grant of £75,000 was granted towards the new building.

Image: Dreaming, by Lee Cutter. Ink on Paper. Image courtesy of Koestler Arts.