2050 Vision

Arts Council England

Arts Council England (ACE) designated several key cultural organisations in Reading, UK, as National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) for the 2023–2026 investment period. The main ACE NPO recipients in Reading are:

• Museums Partnership Reading: A collaborative, wide-ranging programme of activities by Reading Museum and The Museum of English Rural Life.
• CultureMix Arts: An international music and carnival arts company, which uses music and the arts as a vehicle for personal growth, education and employment.
• Readipop: Established in 1998, Readipop uses music and arts to enrich lives, communities and the cultural landscape of Reading, including supporting vulnerable young people, aspiring artists and musicians.
• Jelly: An arts charity that is an energetic collaboration of artists supporting each other and the wider community; acting as a catalyst and making space for art in the everyday.

National Lottery Heritage Fund

Reading Museum was awarded £714,785 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in January 2026 to deliver the ‘Roman Britain – Reimagined in Reading’ project.

The Heritage Fund grant represents a major investment in Reading’s already vibrant cultural life, ensuring the stories of Roman Britain and its connections to Reading are celebrated and shared for generations to come.

The Reading 2050 Vision shows how culture, creativity and heritage are central to Reading’s future as a smart, sustainable city region. By investing in festivals, venues, organisations and communities, we are building a future where culture is part of everyday life, and everyone can share in Reading’s success.