Workshops, networking and other opportunities
Looking for other ways to help your organisation succeed or grow your profile? Here we'll list any upcoming workshops, seminars, networking events or other interesting opportunities for those in the arts, culture and heritage community in Reading.
Black History Month 2026
Reading Borough Counil are inviting local groups to organise events, exhibitions, and activities celebrating Black History Month 2026 and honouring the achievements and contributions of Black communities.
If you or an organisation you work closely with are putting on anything throughout October that would benefit from the Black History Month promotion, please complete the application form. RBC will produce a full brochure outlining all events taking place throughout the month.
Be part of Heritage Open Days
Heritage Open Days is the annual celebration of our buildings, natural and cultural heritage. This year Reading aims to have another fantastic range of free in-person and digital events to showcase the rich stories that make Reading such a unique place to live, work and visit - and you can be part of it.
Events can be open days, walks, talks, quizzes, tours, exhibitions, performances… The only stipulation is that they are FREE, focus on an element of our heritage and take place between 11 – 20 September 2026.
Optional Theme for 2026: Everyday Histories
“The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker - what did your ancestors do, and what was their daily life like? In 2026 we’ll be exploring stories of working lives, from learning a craft to establishing routines and cherished rituals. What will you discover in our factories, kitchens, dockyards, gardens and beyond?!”
The deadling to be included in the printed Reading HOD guide produced by REDA has already passed.
The deadline to get your event listed on the HOD website is 13 August.
Upcoming Webinars from the Digital Culture Network
Arts Council England's Digital Culture Network provides practical, on-the-ground help to the creative and culture sector. Their focus is around digital skills, data literacy and leadership development.
Upcoming webinars:
Social media SEO made simple: Reaching audiences, algorithms and AI
Tuesday 15 September, 12.00 – 13.00
What is social media search engine optimisation (SEO) and how can it help you promote your organisation or art practice? It’s important for the arts and cultural sector to get to grips with social media SEO, so as not to be left behind in the new search landscape of AI summaries, large language models (LLMs), and on-platform search.
In this webinar we’ll develop your understanding of social search, help build your confidence in this emerging area, and offer practical tips for you to start using right away.
Arts & Heritage Forum - 17 Sept, 6pm
Join us for the upcoming Arts and Heritage Forum. The forum is held both in person at the Civic Offices (Mayor’s Parlour) and online.
The forum is a valuable opportunity to share updates on your work with local Councillors, connect with others across Reading’s cultural sector, and learn more about the exciting projects being delivered for local communities. Whether you’re an artist, organisation, or community group, we welcome you to come along, exchange ideas, and strengthen connections across the arts and heritage landscape.
Freelance social media assistance from Adam Koszary
Adam Koszary has made a career of helping galleries, libraries, archives and museums with social media and content strategy, governance and production. He used to do just that and more at The MERL, where he was responsible for the smash absolute unit meme.
And now he's going freelance to help cultural organisations succeed on social. If you want to create fun and impactful content, make the case for content within your organisation or just want a critical friend, then he is here for that.
Forest School and Outdoor Learning Training
Muddy Puddle Outdoor Learning offers nationally recognised qualifications in Forest School and Outdoor Learning, and they currently have some training available for anyone looking to step up when it comes to stepping outside:
Outdoor Learning Practitioner - Gain skills and confidence in using your grounds for curriculum delivery.
Forest School Leader Level 3 - This course is designed for those who would like to set up and run a Forest School programmes. There are five Units of Study at Level 3.
Space opportunity!
Reading Biscuit Factory - Located at the end of Oxford Road, right in the heart of town, Reading Biscuit Factory is a new three-screen cinema, bar, coffee shop, live performance space and community hub. Our aim is to offer a fantastic and welcoming venue that embraces Reading’s rich and vibrant culture, and create a setting where everyone can relax, work, meet, create and perform - all under one roof.
We want to hear from anybody with a bright idea who wants a partner to help make it happen. If you have a film you would like to screen, a rehearsal or workshop you would like to organise, art you would like to exhibit, or you are a food vendor or other business looking for a host, we would love to help.
Contact Us
For individuals, groups or organisations, for general enquiries email info@readingbiscuitfactory.co.uk