Supported by a coalition of local partners including Reading University, Reading Borough Council previously announced intentions to submit an ‘expression of interest’ in the competition to become the UK’s ‘City of Culture 2029’.
If the town had been longlisted, it would have received £60,000 in government funding to develop a full bid, and the final winner of the competition is set to receive a cash prize of £10 million to fund a year of cultural activities.
However, Reading has failed to win a place on the longlist released last week by the Department for Culture.
The list revealed Reading lost out to Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon, and Wrexham.
The inclusion of Milton Keynes on the longlist may be a particularly sore point after they also beat Reading to win coveted ‘city’ status in 2022, while Reading officially remains a town.
When announcing Reading’s interest in the City of Culture competition, the council specifically noted that the town’s non-city status should not hold it back, and claimed large towns are actually “actively encouraged” to apply for the City of Culture title.
Councillor Liz Terry, leader of Reading Borough Council, admitted the town’s failure to land a spot on the longlist “is of course disappointing”.
The Cllr stressed that Reading’s cultural value is something to be proud of.
“Reading is home to well-established cultural venues, festivals of national and regional significance and an extensive, diverse programme of cultural activities throughout the year, which we remain very proud of and which could not be delivered without our town’s incredible community and voluntary sector who make such an enormous contribution to our amazing cultural offer.
“Notwithstanding the decision, I have no doubt Reading will continue to go from strength to strength and the Council, its partners and our community will continue working together to ensure our reputation as a cultural beacon continues to grow in the years to come.”