Reading Arts & Culture Action Plan

An illustration of a community of homes, buildings, and people.
Image: Reading is Community by Giles Laroche
Reading Arts & Culture Action Plan

Reading Arts & Culture Action Plan

Take the Project Community Survey!

In 2024, the Town of Reading initiated an Arts & Culture Action Plan.

Reading was awarded a Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Technical Assistance grant to support the plan's development with MAPC.

The Reading Arts & Culture Action Plan builds on previous efforts in 2014 for a cultural district exploratory study. The arts and culture planning process will highlight the existing cultural assets and arts and culture leaders in Reading and invite community members to envision a future for arts and culture in Town. The plan will seek to identify needs of existing organizations, provide recommendations for strengthening the local arts community and elevate resources for all community members. 

Questions?

For more information about the project, or if you are interested in joining the project working group, please contact:

Abbey Judd, Regional Arts and Cultural Planner II
[email protected]

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Project Community Survey - we need your input!

Through this survey, we invite your perspectives and ideas on:

  • Your participation in Reading's arts and culture Reading's arts and cultural assets
  • Reading's existing arts and cultural assets
  • The opportunities that exist for strengthening Reading's arts and cultural offerings.

The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete.
Survey Deadline: July 31, 2024.

Take the Survey:

Share the Survey Flyer with your Family, Friends, and Neighbors!

To save any of the flyers to your computer, click on the button below to open it, then right click on the image, choose "save image as".

Background is an artistic abstract photo. Large dark blue letters over a purple background say, "Arts and Culture Action Plan". To the right of the words is the Town of Reading seal. Smaller text in a bright green box says, "Take the survey. Help provide information on: existing and future needs of arts and culture assets, improving awareness of arts and culture events, and improvement and expansion of current events." To the left of the text is a QR code to the survey and the survey link: mapc.ma/readingarts. In a bright pink box below the green box is text that says, "The process. Reading is collaborating with MAPC to create an arts and culture action plan that will support strengthening cultural assets through future policy, programming, and facility improvements. In a bright green box under the pink box, text says, "Get involved. Visit the project webpage to subscribe to updates, provide your input, and learn more!" In bold black text over a blue background, text is a link: www.readingma.gov/artsplan. In small white text at the bottom it says, "Spanish/Portuguese translations available."

English Flyer Image Description: Background is an artistic abstract photo. Large dark blue letters over a purple background say, "Arts and Culture Action Plan". To the right of the words is the Town of Reading seal. Smaller text in a bright green box says, "Take the survey. Help provide information on: existing and future needs of arts and culture assets, improving awareness of arts and culture events, and improvement and expansion of current events." To the left of the text is a QR code to the survey and the survey link: mapc.ma/readingarts. In a bright pink box below the green box is text that says, "The process. Reading is collaborating with MAPC to create an arts and culture action plan that will support strengthening cultural assets through future policy, programming, and facility improvements. In a bright green box under the pink box, text says, "Get involved. Visit the project webpage to subscribe to updates, provide your input, and learn more!" In bold black text over a blue background, text is a link: www.readingma.gov/artsplan. In small white text at the bottom it says, "Spanish/Portuguese translations available." 

Project Goals

MAPC’s research and project engagement will provide a baseline inventory of Reading's arts and cultural assets and needs by reviewing existing conditions and policy priorities, identifying arts and cultural programming and resources, and conducting a cultural asset inventory and engagement with Reading's arts and culture community. 

A Reading Arts and Culture Action Plan will identify strategies to bring the Vision to fruition and provide a set of policy goals and recommendations that align arts investments in Downtown Reading to support an equitable thriving arts and cultural life for everyone in Reading’s community.  

The process of cultural planning will foster deliberate future investment and collaboration with arts and culture in future planning and policy priorities, including cultural facilities and downtown creative placemaking efforts.  

Vision Statement

The cultural planning process is guided by a proposed Vision Statement drafted by the Reading Arts and Culture Action Plan Working Group.  

“Our vision is to create an inclusive and vibrant arts and culture community in Reading, where diverse programming reflects the richness of our community's experiences.” 

In the News

Coming soon!

Partners

Lead Partners

  • Town of Reading's Planning Division with the Community Development Director Planning Division | Reading, MA   
  • Reading Arts and Culture Action Plan Working Group: Michelle Aguillon, Emelia Attridge, Jennifer Barsotti, Michelle Filleul, Christine Keller, Matt Krauneily, Joe Leto, Betsy Schneider, Jon Taubman, and Liz Whitelam.  
  • MAPC Arts and Culture Department Arts & Culture | MAPC