Koestler Arts Almost Home

Koestler Arts and Baltic are partnering to present a showcase of artwork made in criminal justice settings in the North East of England in spring 2025.

The showcase will present an array of fine art, design, writing and music from prisons, secure hospitals and probation services in the North East, all entered into the 2024 Koestler Awards for arts in the criminal justice system. The show features 70 works from the region, selected after a week The Koestler Arts team spent working with 6 women in the prison’s art class.

The selected works reflect the women’s viewpoint, looking outwards and forwards towards freedom and home. Many works portray movement and journeys while others depict rural landscapes, city skylines, places of worship, comfort food and pets, in recognition of what ‘home’ can mean to different people.

Feedback cards will be available in the space for visitors to write comments on their favourite pieces in the exhibition, which will be sent on to the artists. There will also be opportunities to purchase exhibited artwork from the Koestler Arts website.