Artisan Real Estate, who was successful in their bid for Reading Gaol, has pulled out of the purchase. Campaigners are hopeful that the Ministry of Justice may have a change of heart and let Reading Borough Council convert the prison into an arts and cultural hub.
Following a campaign that has included the MP Matt Rodda’s petition and the Reading Gaol Hug, Reading Borough Council’s bid to obtain Reading Gaol to create an arts and cultural hub has failed. The identity of the successful bidder, thought to be a housing developer, has not been revealed.
Following the successful Reading Gaol Hug a “March to the Gaol” was planned for 21st March 2020. This did, of course, turn out to be supremely bad timing and the March had to be cancelled because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Stephen Fry has added his voice to the campaign to Save Reading Gaol. Stephen played Oscar Wilde in the film Wilde and is an Honorary Patron of the Oscar Wilde society.
On Sunday 13th October 2019, about 1000 people joined hands surrounding Reading Gaol in a physical demonstration of our wish for it to be saved as an arts and cultural centre.
in September 2019 20 Reading based artists participated in an art exhibition In Reading Gaol by Reading Town, held at the Riverside Museum in Reading. The works were inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
