Judging the Koestler Awards

Our judges play a vital part in maintaining the impact and prestige of the Koestler Awards.

By using their expertise to select award-winning artworks from over 7,000 entries, the judges help recognise and reward the skill, effort and ambition of our entrants.

Entries are judged by over 100 experts from different fields. Over the years, judges have included Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller, Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, representatives from the Victoria & Albert Museum, the British Council, the National Theatre, the British Film Institute, Louise Galvin, Speech Debelle, Louis Theroux and Hot Chip.

A photo of a man and a woman who are judges at The Koestler Awards, they're standing in a room full of art.

Our Judges

We are very grateful to the judges who have given awards and feedback to Koestler Awards entrants, and the many more people who have volunteered to help compile shortlists and give written feedback.

You can download a full list of our 2023 judges below!

Download 2023 Judges PDF

Behind the Scenes

Hear from our judges as they talk us through what they enjoyed about judging the awards, what they look for in award-winning pieces, and any advice they have for future entrants in our YouTube playlist.

Want to know more? Read our judges’ blogs as they talk us through their decisions and offer advice for future entrants!

Read more

Any Questions?

Please don’t hesitate to ask for more information
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