Get involved in arts, culture and heritage in Reading
There are lots of ways to get involved with arts, culture and heritage here in Reading. And we'll do our best to gether all the opportunities for that in one place!
Whether you want to join a choir, audition for a play, volunteer at an event or venue or find some other way to be part of Reading's arts and cultural scene, you'll find it here on this page.
Auditions
Ever wanted to take to the stage here in Reading? We'll gather up all the open audition info we can from local theatres and performing troupes in Reading and share them on this page. And maybe you'll get your shot in the spotlight!
Join a choir
Reading is home to a multitude of choirs, all filling their own unique niche in the choral community - and they're always on the lookout for new voices to join them.
Volunteering
Current volunteering opportunities, from one-off projects to those organisations that are always happy to sign-up new volunteers. Supported by our friends at Reading Voluntary Action.
Paid roles
Our list of current paid vacancies in the arts, culture and heritage sector in and around the Reading area.
Open Mic nights
Looking for a chance to get up on stage? There are plenty of open mic nights in Reading where performers of all kinds - and abilities - can get to sing a song, read a poem, tell a joke... Or two!
Performer callout: Dogmouth Theatre's LGBTQ+ Cabaret HOWLING @ THE MOON
Calling all theatremakers, drag artists, singers, musicians, comedians, burlesque artists, $trippers, poets, circus performers and variety acts....
Applications are now OPEN for Dogmouth Theatre's smash hit, sell out LGBTQ+ Cabaret HOWLING @ THE MOON this December!!!
Whether you're looking to try something new, or are a seasoned pro ready to try out some new material, H@TM is an inclusive, supportive and friendly cabaret night, designed to give women, gender marginalised and LGBTQ+ performers of all varieties a platform to explore their practice.
DEADLINE TO APPLY: 11:59pm, Thurs 31 October
Everyone will receive a response, regardless of outcome
Applications open for Dance Reading's "JUMP!" showcase
JUMP! is Dance Reading's annual showcase of work-in-progress, existing pieces and new work, from dancers, companies and students.
Aimed at dancers from all disciplines and all ages, this is a fantastic opportunity to present your work, meet other dancers from the area, see and work alongside dancers of diverse styles, gain feedback from an audience and celebrate the rich dance landscape in Reading.
This is an open call for students, individuals and companies to present new work, work in progress, existing pieces or extracts, lasting up to 3 minutes long.
The showcase takes place at Queen Anne’s School, Caversham Reading on Saturday 23rd November 2024
Deadline for applications is 28 October at 5pm
Young acts wanted for The Purple Turtle!
Calling all young bands and singers aged 16-19!
Do you want to play at The Purple Turtle? Reading's long-running venue is on the hunt for new acts to play The Sunday Sessions.
These monthly Sunday afternoon gigs are aimed at giving young bands, singer-songwriters and solo artists the chance to play on stage with a full PA in a proper venue - one that's been supporting music in Reading for over 30 years!
If that sounds like you or someone you know, get in touch via neilg@purpleturtlebar.com
Jelly launches new community art project: All Roads - Migration Stories
Jelly has been awarded a grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to record and celebrate women's stories of migration to Reading in a community art project: All Roads - Migration Stories
The project aims to secure these stories for future generations of the community to learn from in the form of oral histories and textile art. They are asking women to share the textiles and textile skills that they brought with them when they travelled, to explore the crossovers of cultural making techniques with shared practice.
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Find out more
Hickies celebrates 160 years with song competition
Hickies Music is marking its 160th year in business in September, and to celebrate, it is offering the chance to win £500 to an aspiring musician in a song competition, in partnership with Connect Reading.
The competition will be open to students aged 12-16 living in Reading, who will be invited to submit an original song.
The submissions should be themed around growing up, but can be of any genre and of a length between two and six minutes.
Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges to perform live at an event at Hickies, set for November, with the chosen winner taking home a £500 voucher.
The prize was donated by a Connect Reading supporter and follows its mission to foster a “thriving and connected” community as well as nurture music in Reading’s youngsters.
The competition opens on Sunday, September 1, and closes on Tuesday, October 1.
Submissions can be made via Facebook or Instagram by tagging @connectrdg and @hickiesmusic
