The Reading Cultural Champions Awards brought together some of the most talented people in the town in a celebration of the Ding’s arts, culture and heritage.
The special event, held at Double Barrelled Brewery in Tilehurst on Wednesday, March 26, was an opportunity to acknowledge the work done by so many to raise the profile of the town and bring them together.
Hosted by Damien A Passmore, the taproom was packed with hundreds of people from all corners of the town, including curators, supporters, artists, makers, musicians and cultural champions.
Each category in the Reading Cultural Champions Awards had several nominees and one winner, with one award the result of a popular vote.
Reading’s Economy & Destination Agency (REDA) chief executive Nigel Horton-Baker gave a short speech ahead of the awards ceremony, explaining more about how the What’s On Reading website has grown over the past five years, and last year had seen more than two million people visit it from across the world.
“The statistics show why we should celebrate the champions in the cultural sector tonight,” he added.
And Cllr Adele Barnett-Ward, Reading Borough Council’s lead for leisure and culture, said: “Reading is such a special and vibrant place to live and that is because of people like you. It is wonderful to have an evening to celebrate”.
Reading’s deputy mayor, Cllr Alice Mpofu-Coles, presented the award certificates to each winner.
After the event, she said it was hard to put into words how amazing the What’s On Reading Cultural Champions had been.
“All the groups that have been here are making Reading what it is – a vibrant, diverse town.
“This event brings people together to network and help make our wonderful town.
“It is a way of celebrating the many people who do art and culture in this town. It’s been a phenomenal evening.”
Who won the What’s On Reading Cultural Champions?
Champion For Reading: Reading Male Voice Choir
Community Leadership & Skill Development Champion: Dance with Sonia Brown
Creative Wellbeing Champion: No5 Young People (School Transitions project)
Cultural Partnership Champion: Creative Connection (Through a Different Lens and Partners)
Cultural Rising Star: D’Lecter Cabaret
Diversity Champion: Rank & File Theatre
Heritage Champion: Nick Cooksey (Junction Arch Heritage & Arts)
Sustainability Champion: Reading Rep Theatre and Jelly – Sustainability Forum
Youth Culture Champion: Mel Le Breuilly, Music Director of Reading Youth Orchestra
Event of the Year: Reading Symphony Orchestra and Reading Youth Orchestra’s Joint 80th Anniversary Concert
Judges’ Award: Vincent Valere for Bastille Day Festival Reading
What Vincent Valere said about winning the Judges Award at the What’s On Reading Cultural Champions Awards
Judges said they had had more than 200 nominations for the Judges Award at the What’s On Reading Cultural Champions Awards, and it had been a difficult task to select a winner from those who have a tremendous impact on the town.
Vincent Valere was praised by judges for his commitment to Reading through the annual Bastille Day festival.
The What’s On Reading Cultural Champions judges said the two-day event brings people together in a unique way, celebrating French culture, including food and entertainment. Activities planned for this year include a French band, an art exhibition dedicated to the 1789 French Revolution, a battle reenactment, a Can-Can, musicians, and a funfair.
It will take place on the weekend of July 12 and 13 in Forbury Gardens.
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“It has become a beloved event for people of all ages,” Reading Cultural Award judges said. “It unites not just French and British communities, but all the diverse cultures.”
A delighted Vincent said he was really proud to be the winner, adding that it was a fantastic achievement. He hoped that the win would help inspire others to come together so the town can move forward and go on to become a city.
“I say thank you to What’s On Reading,” he continued. “I’m really proud to be recognised.
“I’ve been in Reading for 22 years and I love Reading. I’m French, but Reading is my town.”
Vincent promised that the success of the Bastille Day festival meant he was looking to run a French market over Easter.
“I hope to see everybody come and taste delicious food, and be happy.”
Vincent has a website with more details: www.bastilledayreading.co.uk
A double win for Mel le Breuilly
Mel le Breuilly was able to collect two What’s On Reading Cultural Champions awards.
Individually, she scooped the Youth Culture Champion for her work as Music Director of Reading Youth Orchestra, while the young musicians scooped Event of the Year for their joint concert with Reading Symphony Orchestra, marking their 80th anniversary.
“It’s amazing,” she said, adding that joining forces saw the musicians scoop the Event of the Year award.
“It brought so many people together on the stage, and helped inspire the next generation of musicians as they performed alongside more experienced musicians. It was just absolutely incredible.
“The audience was full of alumni from the orchestra and community members. It was just so lovely to have everyone in the room celebrating together.”
And there is no resting on the laurels. Mel is busy helping the youth orchestra, which had its most recent concert on Saturday, March 22.
“We start rehearsing again on Friday and we have lots of fun music for them,” she explained. “We will be celebrating local composers from the area and some 20th century work as well.”
One benefit of the What’s On Reading Cultural Champions is that it brought together so many different groups and people and Mel is hoping that it can lead to new partnerships.
“We’d love to partner with anyone if they are interested. We think our kids are awesome, we think all the youth groups that work here are awesome and we’d love to reach out to them.”
For more on the Orchestra, log on to: https://www.ryo.org.uk
From Reading to Athens for Sonia Brown
The winner of the Community Leadership & Skill Development Champion award is preparing to get her passport out, as she is preparing to take her dancers to Athens next year.
Sonia Brown runs a dance school for adults who want to learn tap, jazz and other popular dances. She also runs a Silver Swans group for the over 50s, and danced for the late Queen Elizabeth II in the Platinum Jubilee Pageant.
She admitted that she wasn’t expecting to win a Reading Cultural Award: “I thought the other two people we were up against would have been justified winners.
“Dance classes can have a tendency to be a little bit overlooked. If you look at the state of the dance sector, it’s always the neglected art form.
“We just dance, I thought there was no way we’re going to win but judges obviously decided we were worthy. It’s a vote of confidence for me.
“My dancers are so committed and so supportive, and a lot of them have been with me for years. We’re six years old in April, and many have been with me from day one. Our newbies are embraced and welcomed very quickly into the community. They continue to keep coming to us because of that.”
And that trip to Athens? It’s on the dance cards for next year.
“We’re applying to perform there, and if we don’t get into the show we will do some exchange classes with my friend from my masters degree. We will be Sonia Brown International!”
She is also planning to launch a Seated Swans group – ballet dancing for those who would find mobility difficult.
For more details on Sonia’s classes, log on to: https://www.withsoniabrown.com/
For more on the What’s On Reading Cultural Champions
For more on the What’s On Reading Cultural Champions Awards, log on to: https://whatsonreading.com/champions
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