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!
Reading Pride looking for local DJs
Reading Pride is exploring hosting its first Pride Dance tent at this year's Love Unites Festival, for local DJs to show off their talents to their amazing and supportive crowd.
From chilled beats to dance favourites, they’re looking at offering our visitors a great place to gather, chat and dance. The area will be open from 12 noon to 6pm and there will be have three 1hr45m slots available.
The deadline for applications is Friday 9th August 2024.
Calling all Reading-based artists and community groups. Decorate a vase!
To celebrate 20 years of Pride of Reading, Jelly is asking local artists and community groups to decorate a vase for this year’s awards ceremony.
They are looking for designs that are bold, vibrant and colourful. They can be painted, knitted or sculptural, using the colours of this year’s theme (see logo and powdered paint image).
The vases themselves are provided, all we are asking you to do is decorate them.
You can collect a vase from Jelly from Friday 21 June by arrangement.
Deadline to return the vase to be no later than Monday 2 September.
The vases will then be photographed and judged and taken to the Awards ceremony and 3 will be selected as overall winners. These artists will receive a special prize and as well as being used for a special exhibition at Haslams after the awards, they will also be exhibited in the Reading Museum.
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
Black History Month in Reading
Get involved in Black History Month this October in Reading!
Reading Borough Council are currently in the process of putting together the publicity for this year's Black History Month featuring events, exhibitions and activities that are taking place in Reading during October.
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 get in contact and let them know your plans. Reading Borough Council will publish all events on their website and also produce a full brochure outlining all events taking place throughout the month.
If you would like to contribute to the Black History Month brochure please complete the form in the link below, the deadline for submissions is Friday 6 September 2024.
