ReOrsa was established in 2007 as an artist-led initiative to support and promote the work of non-commercial visual artists living in the Thames Valley, England (Berkshire, south Buckinghamshire, south Oxfordshire, north Hampshire, northwest Surrey). Non-commercial artists are defined as those who produce work for its creative, cultural, intellectual or philosophical value, as much as, and sometimes in preference to, its commodity value.
In May 2011 ReOrsa was incorporated as a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, with the following objectives:
- To raise the profile of, create opportunities for, and support the practices of, Thames Valley UK based visual artists.
- To increase awareness, understanding and appreciation of regional contemporary visual art by taking art directly to the public through exhibitions, installations, talks, and/or workshops which are held mainly, but not exclusively, outside normal art venues such as vacant commercial properties, the corporate workplace, or other public places.
- To support studio based art practices by managing and helping to maintain an artist studio complex and exhibition facility within the region where possible.
- To contribute to the cultural, social, and economic vibrancy of the area by promoting an active artists community through regular activities with focused publicity and event marketing.
The founding members of ReOrsa (Jenny Parkes, Janet Curley Cannon and Tonia Maddison shown to the left) invite artists from across the Thames Valley to participate in their periodic projects. The projects may involve creating new work such as site-specific installations or interventions for vacant shops or public areas, or contributing recent work for curated group exhibitions. They manage the Artists Studios and Gallery@49 non-commercial exhibition space and accept proposals from artists and art groups from across the Thames Valley region that are interested in exhibiting, please see the Contact page for further information.