Banksy Pledges Millions To Help Reading Buy The Gaol

Banksy has pledged millions of pounds to help Reading buy its Gaol, so long as it is used as an arts centre. Quoted in this BBC article, Banksy said “Converting the place that destroyed him [Wilde] into a refuge for art feels so perfect we have to do it.”.

Toby Davies, our artistic director, quoted in the same article, added that it would be “criminal” for the MoJ to turn down the artist’s offer. “Banksy is offering an incredible amount of money which will go directly to the MoJ for the public benefit. If the MoJ turns that down then I consider that a criminal act.”

After 8 years of work, the Save Reading Gaol campaign has doubtless taken its biggest step to securing the site for the community.

Read the full BBC article here.

The Times and Guardian newspapers have also covered the story here: thetimes.co.uk and here: theguardian.com.