Koestler Trust
Encyclopedia
The Koestler Trust or award scheme,is a charity
(Registered charity number 1105759 ) which helps prison
inmates and detained psychiatric patients in the UK to express themselves creatively. The trust promotes the arts in special institutions, encouraging creativity and the acquisition of new skills as a means to rehabilitation
. It was founded in 1962, by a bequest
by the British-Hungarian author, Arthur Koestler
.
Koestler had been in three jails in separate countries, Spain also having been sentenced by the Spanish to death, France (concentration camp), and Pentonville
as a suspected alien. Koestler was a leading campaigner for the abolition of capital punishment(1950's), turning his attention to jails when this law was more or less repealed. An intellectual who knew of the barren existence most prisoners endure, "'the main problem is apathy, depression and gradual dehumanisation. The spark dies".
He approached the Home Office
, and was allowed to set up the Arthur Koestler Award (now Koestler Trust) to give prizes chiefly for art (but also for other creative activity) to prisoners, detainees and 'patients' in special hospitals such as Broadmoor
.
At first, he funded the prizes himself, and, when he committed suicide in 1984, he left £10,000. He told a friend: ' I wish a little cheap immortality.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
(Registered charity number 1105759 ) which helps prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
inmates and detained psychiatric patients in the UK to express themselves creatively. The trust promotes the arts in special institutions, encouraging creativity and the acquisition of new skills as a means to rehabilitation
Rehabilitation
-Mental health:* Drug rehabilitation* Rehabilitation , the rehabilitation of criminal behavior.* Rehabilitation , therapy aimed at improving neurocognitive function that has been lost or diminished by disease or traumatic injury...
. It was founded in 1962, by a bequest
Bequest
A bequest is the act of giving property by will. Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property. In legal terminology, "bequeath" is a verb form meaning "to make a bequest."...
by the British-Hungarian author, Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler CBE was a Hungarian author and journalist. Koestler was born in Budapest and, apart from his early school years, was educated in Austria...
.
Koestler had been in three jails in separate countries, Spain also having been sentenced by the Spanish to death, France (concentration camp), and Pentonville
Pentonville (HM Prison)
HM Prison Pentonville is a Category B/C men's prison, operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service. Pentonville Prison is not actually within Pentonville itself, but is located further north, on the Caledonian Road in the Barnsbury area of the London Borough of Islington, in inner-North London,...
as a suspected alien. Koestler was a leading campaigner for the abolition of capital punishment(1950's), turning his attention to jails when this law was more or less repealed. An intellectual who knew of the barren existence most prisoners endure, "'the main problem is apathy, depression and gradual dehumanisation. The spark dies".
He approached the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
, and was allowed to set up the Arthur Koestler Award (now Koestler Trust) to give prizes chiefly for art (but also for other creative activity) to prisoners, detainees and 'patients' in special hospitals such as Broadmoor
Broadmoor
-Places:Canada* Broadmoor Boulevard, Sherwood Park, AlbertaUnited Kingdom* Broad Moor, an alternative name for Naseby Field, site of a famous battle of the English Civil War...
.
At first, he funded the prizes himself, and, when he committed suicide in 1984, he left £10,000. He told a friend: ' I wish a little cheap immortality.
See also
- Charles Bronson (prisoner)Charles Bronson (prisoner)Charles Bronson is a Welsh criminal often referred to in the British press as the "most violent prisoner in Britain"....
- CarstairsState Hospital for Scotland and Northern IrelandThe State Hospital for Scotland and Northern Ireland is a psychiatric hospital providing care and treatment in conditions of high security for around 140 patients from Scotland and Northern Ireland who need to be detained in hospital under conditions of special security that can only be provided...