Press Release. For Immediate Release
OHOS Submits Cultural Offer in Return for the Freehold of Brock Keep to Secure Its Future as Reading’s Cultural Hub
Reading, 12 December 2024 – Open Hand Open Space (OHOS) has submitted a cultural offer to secure the Freehold of Brock Keep, the town’s only dedicated space for artists’ studios and cultural exhibitions.
OHOS’s proposal outlines a clear vision to transform Brock Keep into a sustainable and inclusive hub for artists, heritage preservation, and community engagement, directly contributing to Reading Borough Council’s strategic plans for cultural development and regeneration.
The OHOS proposal prioritises: Preserving affordable studio spaces for local and regional artists to support creative production. Engaging the wider public through exhibitions, workshops, and community events that bring people together across cultures. Protecting the architectural and historical significance of the Grade II listed Brock Keep, ensuring it remains a vital heritage asset for Reading. Expanding partnerships to deliver programmes that integrate arts, education, and wellbeing initiatives, addressing social priorities and fostering inclusivity.
We say: Brock Keep is an irreplaceable part of Reading’s heritage and creative future. Our cultural offer ensures this historic site can be safeguarded as a space where art, community, and heritage come together. By aligning with the council’s vision for cultural regeneration, waim to unlock Brock Keep’s potential as a vibrant centre for creativity and connection. To realise this vision, OHOS has assembled a team of specialists with expertise in property management, heritage, fundraising, and arts programming. Contributors include property advisers Jon Norris and Sebastien Paquis (PN Group Ltd), whose expertise lies in managing heritage sites, and Lisa-Marie Gibbs (The Engine Room), who will support OHOS in expanding outreach and mental health-focused programming. Heritage consultant Esther Robinson Wild and architect Vsevolod Kondratiev-Popov will ensure the plans for Brock Keep prioritise sensitive preservation and sustainable adaptation of its historic features. Curator and consultant Fazilet Secgin and asset manager Anna Karim, alongside arts adviser Leigh Clark (Royal Academy Schools), will provide critical support us in securing funding, sponsorship, and long-term financial sustainability. OHOS has also worked closely with its partners—including Jelly, Engine Room, Reading International, Reading HongKongers CIC, and Reading Refugee Support Group—to develop a proposal that reflects both artistic ambition and community-driven needs.
To support its vision, and if successful OHOS will pursuing funding through heritage and cultural bodies, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, and the Architectural Heritage Fund. In parallel, OHOS will launch a broader fundraising initiative in January 2025, inviting the public, local businesses, and cultural supporters to contribute to securing Brock Keep as a permanent, accessible home for art, heritage, and public life. OHOS invites Reading’s communities, cultural advocates, and strategic partners to back this critical effort to ensure Brock Keep thrives as a dynamic space for art, creativity, and connection for generations to come.
For further information, interviews, or press inquiries, please contact: Sam Stead Chair, Open Hand Open Space Email: sam@ohos.org.uk Website: www.ohos.org.uk
About Open Hand Open Space (OHOS): OHOS is a Reading-based contemporary arts organisation providing artist studios, exhibitions, and public engagement programmes. By securing the Freehold of Brock Keep, OHOS aims to transform this historic site into a sustainable cultural hub that reflects Reading’s creative ambition, heritage, and community spirit.