An exhibition of art and crafts by prisoners is being staged at Tynwald Library.

A joint venture between the iibrary, the prison and University College Isle of Man, the exhibition features artwork produced by prison education students, displayed as a PowerPoint presentation.

It includes a reproduction of a First World War image uncovered on a wall, The Unknown Soldier, a Koestler Trust competition award winner.

Founded in 1962 by a bequest from the British-Hungarian author Arthur Koestler, the Koestler Trust helps offenders and ex-offenders in the UK to express themselves creatively and gain new skills, as a means to rehabilitation.

Department of Home Affairs member Michael Coleman MLC, who has political responsibility for the prison and probation services, said: ’I am extremely impressed by the quality of the works in the Isle of Man Prison art exhibition and am grateful that the Koestler Trust provides an opportunity to show the skills to the general public.’

Prison education manager Fiona Robinson added: ’Prison provides offenders time to develop skills and engage in creative activities which can be of considerable therapeutic benefit.

’There is a great diversity of artwork in the exhibition, including a piece by a female student, Day of the Dead, which has been highly commended by the Koestler Trust and is destined to be displayed in a high-profile public setting in the UK, while another submission singled out for praise and a silver award is a poem titled Cheeky Boy.

’We are very grateful to the Tynwald Library for giving us the opportunity to showcase some of the students’ work to a wider audience.’

The exhibition runs until January 12. Tynwald Library is on the ground floor of the Legislative Buildings in Finch Road, Douglas, and is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.