Bren O’Callaghan is Curator at HOME, Manchester’s international centre for contemporary art, independent film and theatre.
His interests lie in dismantling barriers to cultural participation and working with artists who sit at the crossroads of art, counterculture and activism. A champion for emerging to established artists, he has curated exhibitions, produced and commissioned new work by the likes of Rachel Maclean, John Walter, AL+AL, Lauren John Joseph, Maurice Vellekoop and Bruce LaBruce. In 2019 he produced the largest UK exhibition to date of artwork by the visionary director David Lynch for HOME and Manchester International Festival.
In 2019-20 Bren founded The Manchester Open, a biennial showcase for Greater Manchester artists that broke audience records, attracting 33,000 visitors in two months. Award-winning Creative Producer with the BBC Public Space Broadcasting Project (2004-2010). Encompassing 23 cities throughout the UK, it was the largest network of giant outdoor digital screens in the world, for which he pioneered a programme of video art, community participation and interactive commissions.
Curator for HOME’s forthcoming major exhibition and premiere for stage, Cassils: Human Measure. Current projects also include Nick Burton’s online weekly web comic, Our Plague Year, and producer for Dir. Clara Casian and composer Robin Richard’s new artist feature, The Earth Asleep – a HOME co-commission with Arts Council England and The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation.