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Reading Enews – December 2008 News from Reading UK CIC Board of DirectorsOracle Corporation UK plc has joined the Company’s Board of Directors and nominated Steve Lamb, Strategic Business Senior Director, to represent the interests of Oracle and the ‘knowledge economy’ sector in the work of the Company. Skills for Growth Business SummitWant to know how Lord Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer, turned his business round from its origins in the back of a clapped out Citroen 2CV to the global business it is today? Lord Bilimoria will be the keynote speaker at Reading UK CIC’s Skills for Growth Business Summit, to be held on 28 January 2009 from 9.30am until 12.30pm. The event will also provide key findings from the Greater Reading Skills Survey recently commissioned by the Company, highlighting some of the key challenges facing Reading’s employers, as well as their role in the solutions. To register for this free event please contact Richard Byard on 0118 900 1622 or at richard@livingreading.co.uk Town Centre Business Improvement District In November 2005, central Reading businesses voted to back the first Reading Business Improvement District (BID), beginning the momentum that has seen nearly £1 million of additional investment in the town centre. This was the first BID in the South East (outside London), and remains the only one in the Thames Valley; it helped Reading regain its status as one of the top shopping centres in the UK. This BID comes to an end on 31 March 2009
and Reading UK CIC is now proposing ‘BID2’: to continue the momentum and maximise
the positive impact of private sector investment into the public
realm, by: providing services to the town centre that are
above and beyond the service levels currently provided by Reading
Borough Council and Thames Valley Police.
All non-domestic rate-paying businesses within the proposed BID area will be eligible to vote on this proposal. Ballot papers will be issued on 5 January 2009, with the ballot date being 12 February 2009. Given a majority vote both by number and rateable value of those voting, the BID will commence on 1 April 2009, for a five year period. A levy equivalent to 1% of the non-domestic rateable value will be charged on all hereditaments listed in the 2005 Non-Domestic Rating List (and subsequently the 2008 Non-Domestic Rating List) that have a rateable value of £10,000 or more, and that are within the proposed BID area. This reverts to the original (2006/2007) levy, to support businesses in facing the economic downtown. The levy will be supplemented by voluntary contributions from property owners and sponsorship support from other businesses. A ‘YES’ vote ensures:
A ‘NO’ vote will STOP all existing BID activities from 31 March 2009. Reading Credit Union Reading Credit Union has been awarded £52,183 thanks to residents and businesses in Reading who pledged their support during a national BIG lottery vote. The Reading-based organisation has received the funding because so many people voted for them on 26 November in a nationwide Peoples' Millions voting day. Reading Credit Union, a local non-profit savings and financial services organisation, will put the lottery funding towards leasing a new office closer to the town and hopes to be able to move into the new building by next spring. Heavenly Planet Festival Festival Republic, the organisers behind Reading & Leeds and Latitude, and Thomas Brooman CBE, previously Artistic Director of WOMAD, have joined forces with Reading Borough Council to bring a brand new all-weather music festival to Reading. Heavenly Planet is a new international event that will take place in Reading, UK and Palermo, Sicily, in 2009; combining world-class music together with comedy, spoken word, participation and optimism for life, to create truly unique festivals. Drummers of Burundi, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Sharon Shannon Big Band, The Wonder Stuff, Toto la Momposina, Eliza Carthy Band, Chase & Status and Patrick Duff are just the first artists of a full bill to be announced… The new Heavenly Planet Festival will take place over the weekend of Friday 10th until Sunday 12th July 2009, and will feature two days of music before ending on the Sunday with a special barbecue lunch event. Retail Primark, whose UK head office is in Reading, is planning to open at least 12 more discount fashion stores in the UK and Spain over the next year. Primark, 41 West St, Reading, RG1 1TZ. http://www.primark.co.uk The Oracle Giraffe is due to open mid-December Inward Investment/economic development Sally Hair & Beauty Supplies is relocating its European headquarters
at Winnersh Triangle to a larger 24,000 sq ft unit on the same park. BrightHouse is planning to open 15 electrical
stores in the Manchester area over the next few years, with the
creation of about 100 jobs, and believes there is potential to
expand the nationwide chain from 177 to 600. New for Christmas 2008! Special Sunday Madejski Park & Ride On Sundays up to and including 4 January 2009, Park & Ride buses will run to the town centre from 9am and from the town centre until 5.40pm. The services run every 12 minutes. For full details on Park and Ride services and all travel information visit www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk Forthcoming events Cards for Good Causes Special Shopping Evening for the Elderly and Disabled Civic Carol Service Dick Whittington Call 0118 939 0373 for more information on seasonal events. News from jellyjelly has a temporary online home in anticipation of its new future;, you can visit it at http://jelly.org.uk. Here we will update you on the development of its new purpose built space - in partnership with MUSE Developments - workshops and exhibitions. We also play host to Arts Organisations and programmes including The Voice Studio, which delivers bespoke classes giving people the chance to explore their creativity by unlocking the voice. jelly is a Reading, UK made
organisation that is passionate about creativity across the community. jelly is
a registered charity limited by guarantee, delivering an arts programme
including exhibitions, educational activities, special arts events
and delivering outreach work within the community, both regionally
and nationally. jelly is committed to supporting
young and emerging artists and makers, enabling them to develop professional
skills, opportunities, sustainable practices and contributing to
the creative economy. On Our Watch, Gallery 10, 10 Minster Street Gallery 10 overlooks the Minster graveyard. Jo Thomas and Alex Buhagiar present work inspired by observing this green space. Visitors are invited to browse or leave their own mark on the gallery, by participating in the interactive pieces and making their own contributions to the show. Video, photography, sound, and mixed media feature in this exhibition, as do local environmental groups. Open until 7 December. Tue - Sun 11 – 6; Thurs 1 – 8. To join the jelly mail list, please email Suzanne Stallard at smallapple@mac.com or suzanne@jelly.org.uk To find out more about Reading's creative community, visit http://hang-on-artists.blogspot.com/ Sir Terry Frost - Museum of Reading until 1 February 2009 The John Madejski Art Gallery at the Museum of Reading is proud to present the works of internationally renowned, Royal Academician and innovative Reading lecturer, Sir Terry Frost (1915-2003). The exhibition includes large paintings, collages, constructions, sculptures and sketchbooks from his career, including some previously unseen canvases. This exhibition of vividly coloured and epic scale works is a fitting tribute to a local hero. Frost was a much loved long standing teacher at the University of Reading, working in the Fine Art Department for 16 years. Throughout his career he developed an entirely personal vocabulary of shapes and symbols rendered in pure and intense colour to produce joyful abstract images with luminous energy. The show provides a fascinating insight into Frost’s working practices as it affords the rare opportunity to view objects from his studio, including brushes, paints, sketchbooks and constructions. Internationally renowned as a leading light of the St Ives group, Sir Terry Frost originally discovered his artistic talent during four years as a prisoner of war during World War II. On returning to Britain he studied at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts and enjoyed the flourishing artistic scenes of London and St Ives. Applauded by art historians and avidly collected internationally his career continued to flourish throughout the 20th Century culminating in a major retrospective of his work at Royal Academy in 2000 and a knighthood in 1998 for his contribution to the arts. Tues - Sat 10-4; Sun 11-4 (closed Monday). Free entry. For further information / use of pictures / interviews: Idea Generation: 020 7749 6850; Natasha Hoare: natasha@ideageneration.co.uk The next edition of enews will be in February 2009.Tim Smith
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