More than 100 artworks created by people supported by Elysium Healthcare have featured in a prestigious exhibition.
The pieces were named as winners in the Koestler Awards which are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. Koestler Arts is a competition which encourages people in secure settings to develop their art and each year over 7,500 people in custody and in the community – ex-offenders, secure patients and detainees of all abilities – share their creative work by taking part, creating visual art, design, writing and music.
People from across Elysium regularly take part in the competition and this year the exhibition featured more works from across its services than ever before.
Artwork created by artists from Arbury Court, Farmfield Hospital, The Spinney, St Mary’s, Thornford Park Hospital and Victoria Gardens were all chosen as winners. They are currently featured in an exhibition of more than 2,000 works of art displayed at the Southbank Centre in London. The exhibition this year is entitled “Freedom” and was curated by Ai Weiwei, a contemporary artist.
Taking part in the competition has real benefits with one Elysium artist saying: “Art helps me concentrate on something else.” adding: “I’m really proud of what I’ve done. It’s given me more enthusiasm to continue with my art. Maybe next year I’ll get a few more in there.”
Another Elysium artist said: “When I was told I was being nominated, I was over the moon.” A third artist said: “I never thought this would happen. I was full of joy. I couldn’t believe it. I feel like Koestler is a good initiative.”
Joy Chamberlain, Chief Executive of Elysium Healthcare, said: “We are incredibly proud that so many fantastic pieces of art created by those we support at Elysium have been featured in this year’s exhibition. This is testament to both the talent and creativity of the artists and the positive encouragement and support they receive to explore their art.”
The Freedom exhibition runs at the Southbank Centre until December 18th.
Elysium have also created a short film about the awards and the experiences of people supported by the organisation who have taken part.
It can be found here: 2022 Koestler Film
