LONDON.- Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP today opened Re:Form, the UK’s annual national showcase of arts by prisoners, offenders on community sentences, secure psychiatric patients and immigration detainees. Produced by the prison arts charity, the Koestler Trust and Southbank Centre, the exhibition runs from 1 October to 29 November 2015.

This year’s exhibition has been curated by the Southbank Centre and Koestler Trust teams, selecting from over 8,400 entries to this year’s Koestler Awards for arts in criminal justice. The selection includes works awarded Koestler Awards by judges including Jeremy Deller, Hot Chip, Speech Debelle and poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy. The works cover fine art, design, literature, music and applied arts and provide a unique snapshot of the creative achievements of prisoners, secure patients and detainees across the UK.

Speaking at the opening Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, said: “The Koestler Trust provides an opportunity for prisoners not to be defined by their worst moments, but to use art and creativity to encourage the better angels of their nature. We can see how they have explored a future of possibility and hope through the beautiful art and poetry on display in this exhibition at Southbank Centre."

Shan Maclennan, Deputy Artistic Director, Southbank Centre, said: ”Southbank Centre's relationship with the Koestler Trust and in particular our long association with the Art by Offenders exhibition and events is deeply cherished. We believe that everyone can be creative, whatever their background and whatever their personal story. Looking at the exceptional work which this competition never fails to produce is proof of this belief. Exploring the many entries together creates unlikely connections between people which remind us of our common humanity whatever our circumstances. We are very proud to be part of such an endeavour."

Sally Taylor, Chief Executive, Koestler Trust, said: "The Koestler Trust is delighted once again to be working with the Southbank Centre to showcase outstanding work from our annual awards. This is a unique opportunity for the public to see and respond to work which would not normally be available to them, and to form their own views about it. Importantly there is also the opportunity to send their thoughts to the artists themselves through the exhibition’s Visitors’ Feedback cards and Awards."

To present the exhibition to the public, ex-offenders have been specially recruited, trained and employed by the Koestler Trust as exhibition hosts. They will work alongside Southbank Centre staff to invigilate the exhibition and welcome visitors throughout the exhibition run. As well as gaining unique work experience and new skills, the ex-offender hosts will deepen visitors’ engagement with the exhibition, enabling everyone to hear first-hand how the arts reflect and enrich the lives of people in secure and criminal justice settings. They will run free tours: Mon – Thu 1.30pm and 6pm, and Fri – Sun 1.30pm, 4pm and 6pm.

For the first time, writers have been commissioned to create texts interpreting the artwork. Artists Jeremy Deller and Alan Kane, writer and curator Shama Khanna, editor of Afterall Books Caroline Woodley, and Koestler Award-winner Ben have each give their unique perspectives on the artwork in essays published in the exhibition brochure.