Art Around Reading Project
A Colourful Art-Trail to Brighten-Up Reading
The Art Around Reading Project is an initiative to bring more colour and cultural awareness to Reading.
The project was launched in Spring 2014 and has the aim of bringing more colour and creative energy to the town (especially in some of the more run-down areas) through the creation of a series of colourful and uplifting murals and installations around the town:
The project was launched in Spring 2014 and has the aim of bringing more colour and creative energy to the town (especially in some of the more run-down areas) through the creation of a series of colourful and uplifting murals and installations around the town:
Mural at RISC, London Street, Reading
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Mural at rLab Hackspace, Reading
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So far there are murals at the RISC Global Cafe, on London Street, the rLab Hackspace (Weldale Road near the IDR) and at St. Anne's Primary School in Caversham:
St. Anne's Primary School, Caversham
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RISC Global Cafe, London Street
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Mural at rLab Hackspace, Weldale Street
The trail has been growing at a slower pace for the last few years as I've been living abroad in Amsterdam (working on the Amsterdam Art Trail) but I always try to add something more to the Reading trail each time I come back...
Mural at Maccheroni Restaurant, Amsterdam
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Mural at TerraZen Vegan Restaurant, Amsterdam
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Follow the Trail...
Follow the progress of the trail as it grows on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram,
or subscribe to the Newsletter below for new project updates:
or subscribe to the Newsletter below for new project updates:
Join the Trail...
- Are you a business or property owner in the Reading area that has empty walls and paintable spaces in a publicly viewable premises?
- Would you like something colourful and uplifting that matches the colour-scheme of your premises or brand painted on those walls?
If so then please get in touch to find out more about having your business or premises featured on the trail!
Press
"Bristol may have Banksy, but Reading has got Carlton"
- Caroline Cook, Reading Post
- Caroline Cook, Reading Post
Caversham Primary School Receives Mural from Reading Artist
as Part of his Art for the Schools Project
by Mary Naylor
Get Reading, Sept 2015
as Part of his Art for the Schools Project
by Mary Naylor
Get Reading, Sept 2015
Reading's answer to Banksy, Michael Carlton, is inspiring school children with his latest project Art for the Schools.
Michael has just finished his first placement at St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Caversham where he painted a 4.5m square mural on one of their corridor walls.
His Art for the Schools project aims at giving children the chance to meet and question a professional artist and to help them explore their own creativity.
The idea grew as a collaborative effort between Michael, teacher Maria Glenister, Janice Brown, the head of school and the executive head, Margot Buller.
Mr Carlton said: “The school itself had been having some difficulties. We thought it could make [the school] a bit more exciting for the children, something to tell their parents and Ofsted about.
“It was good for the kids to meet some one who is a professional creator.
“They loved it. They weren’t sure at first. I think some of the children had been told off for drawing or painting on the wall before so they were saying: you shouldn’t be doing that!”
The mural took two weeks to finish and during that time there were two days of workshops with the children to help them develop their own art for an exhibition.
Mr. Carlton’s quiet concentration while painting proved a source of inspiration for the school who used him as an example for the children’s behaviour in class.
Executive Head Margot Muller said: "It has invigorated our curriculum and given the children in art [class] and other children who come through the school a tangible result to show them what's possible."
"This gift of creativity is part of our legacy for the future."
The Art for the Schools project is in its infancy and Mr Carlton hopes he will be able to inspire and educate more schools around Reading before branching out further afield.
He’s already had interest from two London schools and is due to return to St Anne’s next week to put the final touches to his mural as well as begin work on two other pieces in the school.
The project follows on from Mr. Carlton's Art Around Reading project last year which aimed to spruce up the town and inject some life into Reading’s urban landscape.
Michael has just finished his first placement at St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Caversham where he painted a 4.5m square mural on one of their corridor walls.
His Art for the Schools project aims at giving children the chance to meet and question a professional artist and to help them explore their own creativity.
The idea grew as a collaborative effort between Michael, teacher Maria Glenister, Janice Brown, the head of school and the executive head, Margot Buller.
Mr Carlton said: “The school itself had been having some difficulties. We thought it could make [the school] a bit more exciting for the children, something to tell their parents and Ofsted about.
“It was good for the kids to meet some one who is a professional creator.
“They loved it. They weren’t sure at first. I think some of the children had been told off for drawing or painting on the wall before so they were saying: you shouldn’t be doing that!”
The mural took two weeks to finish and during that time there were two days of workshops with the children to help them develop their own art for an exhibition.
Mr. Carlton’s quiet concentration while painting proved a source of inspiration for the school who used him as an example for the children’s behaviour in class.
Executive Head Margot Muller said: "It has invigorated our curriculum and given the children in art [class] and other children who come through the school a tangible result to show them what's possible."
"This gift of creativity is part of our legacy for the future."
The Art for the Schools project is in its infancy and Mr Carlton hopes he will be able to inspire and educate more schools around Reading before branching out further afield.
He’s already had interest from two London schools and is due to return to St Anne’s next week to put the final touches to his mural as well as begin work on two other pieces in the school.
The project follows on from Mr. Carlton's Art Around Reading project last year which aimed to spruce up the town and inject some life into Reading’s urban landscape.
