Children and Young People
Koestler Exhibition 2008
In September 2008, young people from Lambeth Youth Offending Service rose to the challenge of curating the 2008 Koestler Exhibition [opens in new window] at the Royal Festival Hall.
With our support, the Koestler Trust will hold the biggest exhibition of adult and young offender on 27 September–8 November 2008. This is the first time in the trust’s 47-year history that people who have offended have selected the work displayed.
There were a massive 5,000 exhibits for the young people to choose from, with freelance curator, Eddie Otchere, brought in to offer expert advice.
The six young people, aged 14–17 years old, were all serving community sentences and were given the tough challenge as part of their rehabilitation with the youth offending service. They were asked to take part because they all live within Lambeth, the same borough as the Royal Festival Hall. Lambeth Youth Offending Service and the youth charity Flipside, who are helping run the event, felt that curating the exhibition would teach the young people new skills that would help them to stop offending.
YJB Chair, Frances Done (pictured below at the launch of the exhibition), agreed and said:
"I am pleased that the YJB is supporting the Koestler Trust’s 2008 exhibition to mark our 10th anniversary. Many of the young artists in the show today are also using their work to contribute towards their GCSEs, with qualifications and skills being the foundation upon which young people in the youth justice system can build a positive life on release. This inspiring exhibition is testament to the untapped potential of many young people who, with the right support, can go on to succeed in life."
Click to read about how the young people put together the exhibition.