Finding Rhythms tracks win 21 Koestler Awards

The 2019 Koestler Award winners were announced on 29 August 2019 and we are delighted to
announce that 21 of those winners are tracks that were made on Finding Rhythms projects.

The winning tracks were made in five different prisons. Each track was made in the course of one of our 36-hour
recording projects. Project participants were expected to write their own lyrics and set these to music. They had to work
collaboratively with other members of the group and with project leaders. In the process they learned
valuable interpersonal and employment skills and earned a BTEC qualification. The winning tracks are
listed below, with links to to listen.

Koestler Trust is the UK’s best-known prisoner arts charity. The Trust inspires participation in the arts
amongst offenders, secure patients and detainees through awards and feedback, mentoring, sales,
exhibitions and events. The 2019 Koestler Awards were judged by experts in their respective fields, and
the 2019 exhibition, at London’s Southbank Centre from 19 Sept to 3 Nov has been curated by Soweto
Kinch.

“Everybody gives positive feedback, you’re not having that criticism, not having that negative vibes off
people, it makes you want to do more, it makes you want to practise it more and do better”

– Participant, HMP & YOI Bronzefield

“It was particularly nice to observe the learners being encouraged to take ownership of their
compositions, having their opinions and wishes prioritised whilst communicating amongst themselves.
This was connected to employability in a very effective way and the learners have told me that their
confidence and optimism has improved during the time they have spent with Finding Rhythms”

Staff Member, HMP Cardiff