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Reading on Thames, a brand new festival in Reading, launches on 9 September. It brings art and culture to the historic waterways of the Thames, Kennet and Holy Brook.

Developed by Reading UK, and Lottery Funded through the Arts Council’s Grants for the Arts scheme, the new festival builds on the legacy of Reading Year of Culture, 2016.

Nigel Horton-Baker, Executive Director, Reading UK said: “Through the support of Arts Council England, R+ and Reading’s business community, we have brought together a new festival for Reading that melds its fabulous riverscapes and waterways heritage with a strong local and national arts and cultural programme.  It builds on a very successful 2016 Year of Culture led by Reading UK with support from ACE.”

Reading on Thames will reinforce the links forged between the arts and culture sector and local businesses during that year.  This will ensure that arts and culture remain at the heart of the place making agenda for the town. It will provide a new, large-scale annual event for the city’s cultural calendar. This not only provides local arts organisations with a regular platform for their work, it encourages the sector to grow, attracts new audiences and puts Reading firmly on the map as a cultural destination.

Hedley Swain, Director, South East, Arts Council England, said: “This is an exciting time for Reading and it’s great to see that the partnerships founded during Year of Culture are developing into a vibrant, cultural hub, with the people of Reading at its heart”.

Click here for full press release