Banksy pledges £10million to transform Reading prison

In March, the street artist painted a mural called ‘Create Escape’ on the outside walls of the prison, which depicts an escaping prisoner using a rope made from bedsheets emerging from a typewriter – a clear nod to Oscar Wilde.

Banksy has announced his desire to preserve the historic building, which is built on the site of the former Reading Abbey, where King Henry I was buried.

He plans to sell the stencil used to create the prison wall artwork to meet the £10 million asking price of the building – a rare move, considering selling his stencils is something the artist has only done once before.

Presenting his idea for the prison-turned-art-centre, Banksy said: ‘Oscar Wilde is the patron saint of smashing two contrasting ideas together to create magic. Converting the place that destroyed him into a refuge for art feels so perfect we have to do it.’

 

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Several big names from Reading, including Kate Winslet, described Banky’s decision as monumental for the area, which is known for its music festivals and performance theatres.

‘If Reading had a legacy space [started by Banksy], to hand on to generation after generation, it could really be as valuable as some of those central London theatres,’ Kate Winslet stated.

She promised to attend on the opening night if Banksy’s art venue plan – and budget – is accepted by the Ministry of Justice. Banksy also has the support of Reading’s local Labour MP, Matt Rodda, who hopes to convince the body to accept his offer in upcoming parliament meetings.

We’ll have to wait to see what happens, but with an offer of £10 million – and an intention to preserve the historical building – from one of the world’s most well-known and controversial artists, it’s likely we’ll hear an update very soon.