Slough has been working to make a new cultural offer

No longer a backwater?


A new senior appointment was made a few months ago- the post that was advertised and filled competitively was effectively that of a head of culture, charged with a responsibility to bring in a new vision for a challenging role. What progress has Slough made in developing its new offer through its cultural services?


Slough is a fascinating town with as many challenges as opportunities. What can be seen from this cultural window noting the impact of the recession but also recognising the fact that Slough has a resilient cultural market which has the potential to respond to innovation even under the most testing conditions? A visit to meet the new head of culture is on the cards…just as Comprehensive Performance Assessment is being implemented by the Audit Commission. There are interesting times ahead. It was quite interesting that many years ago before Slough Borough Council started to seriously and strategically invest in its cultural provision, people explained the ‘death of culture’ in Slough as ‘the Feltham effect’, meaning that the opening of new multiplex cinemas in Feltham had ‘stolen’ the audiences from Slough.


Have the customers for culture returned to Slough? The work of Andy Lee, Slough’s former Principal Arts Manager has been exemplary. It will be presented as a special report