Cultural Sustainability Forum

The Cultural Sustainability Forum is back in Reading on Thursday 19 November, this time at Jelly Studios in the Broad Street Mall (RG1 7QE). It's a lunchtime session, running from 12:30 to 13:30, so it's one you can fit in over your break rather than having to clear an entire evening.

The session features the Berkshire Music Trust, with Dawn Wren and Kirsten Van der Veer. The format is the same as always: a guest speaker gives a short talk, followed by an open sharing session where everyone in the room can get involved. It's not just about listening; the second half is built around the people who turn up, so it's as much about the conversation as it is about the talk.

If you've never come across it, the forum started in early 2024, developed by Reading Rep and Jelly as a space for cultural organisations and creatives to come together and talk about climate and environmental issues within their work, the cultural sector, and their communities. It meets on the third Thursday of every other month, always from 12:30 to 13:30, and the venue moves around town, so this time it's Jelly's turn to host. New members are welcome, whether you're a creative individual or part of a cultural organisation, and the sessions are open to everyone.

It's free to attend, and the hour-long slot means you're in and out by lunchtime. If you're working in the arts or just interested in how climate and environment play into cultural work, it's a good place to hear how others are thinking about it and to add your own voice to the mix.