Koestler Arts: Rock, Paper, Scissors

Koestler Arts has an exhibition running at The Undercroft in the Southbank Centre from 16 October to 29 November, titled Rock, Paper, Scissors. It's a collection of work by people in criminal justice settings, and the whole thing is curated by the Parental Imprisonment Collective.

The pieces on the walls were all entries in the 2026 Koestler Awards, which is the UK's only national arts awards programme for people in secure settings. This year, the Parental Imprisonment Collective, supported by Young Ambassadors from the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT), picked around 200 artworks from more than 7,500 entries. The five young curators drew on their own experiences to put it together, and they took the title Rock, Paper, Scissors from the game of chance, choice and consequence to reflect themes like childhood, family, decisions and chance.

What's on display covers a wide range of materials. You'll see paper and textile, sculpture, craft, found materials, music and writing, so it's not just one thing — it's a broad look at what people in these settings are making. There are free exhibition tours available, and some of them are led by guides with personal experience of the criminal justice system, which adds a layer to the whole thing if you're in the mood for it. Koestler Arts is a leading arts charity working across the criminal justice system.

It's free to visit and you don't need a ticket. The Undercroft is at the Southbank Centre on Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, and it's open Tuesday to Sunday, 12 noon to 8pm, closed Mondays, through to 29 November.