Comments on: How would you rebrand Reading?

By: Hidden Histories

Hidden Histories — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:25:09 +0000

[...] Johnny Arrow on September 13th, 2010 Matt wrote at the end of last month asking how Reading should rebrand itself and appeal to the wider world in a more exciting way, and attempt to ditch the ‘clone town’ [...]

By: Matt Brady

Matt Brady — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:23:47 +0000

I would like Reading to take risks, Ed. The Blade is an improvement, certainly, but only moderately so. How can Reading “wow” or surprise the visitor? How can we rewrite the Reading story? How can the town shed its clone town image? I think that creativity, innovation and courage are required (all easier said than done).

By: Matt Brady

Matt Brady — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:03:40 +0000

I think you’re right, Salvo. We all need to support and promote the town’s disparate cultural/community/independent groups. These comprise an important aspect of the town’s identity. Social media can help in this regard.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:20:34 +0000

Reading still suffers for a somewhat negative perception, which is partly justified (Station Hill etc)presently, although all being well this should change in the next 5 years or so.New buildings such as ‘The Blade’and Chatham place have really improved Reading visually and certainly help to move away from the brash 1960′s architecture which is not very aesthetically pleasing to the eye.In the long term i think Reading will do well as long as assets such as the River Thames and Kennet are made to most of, and sensible transport planning and development take place.

By: salvo

salvo — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:34:09 +0000

Reading must not only be associated with the FC, the Oracle Shopping Centre, the Festival and the “cloned” high street, I appreciate the commercial importance of those but maybe we should give more emphasis to those groups that in Reading promote other activities within the local community that, in my opinion improve not only what it can be the perception of the town but also the quality of life. Exposing people to a diverse and varied range of cultural activities can only be beneficial to people and hence the town. Look at the work of organisations like the Jelly’s, Rising Sun Arts Centre, RISC, Whiteknight Studio Trail, Caversham Studio Trail, to name some. Or look at the example of the recent Outside/Inside Festival where for a few weekends people had the chance to enjoy great events in town, mainly without paying a penny.