The vibrant arts community of Slough came together on Wednesday 17th September to celebrate the official launch of ‘The Arts in Slough’ book; an illustrating look at the work of some of the artists and cultural workers in Slough, celebrating their contributions to the town and creativity.
The launch event, held as part of Resource Productions’ Creative Collective Meet Up and the Slough Cultural Revival Project*, welcomed Mayor of Slough, Councillor Siobhan Dauti, Leader of council, Councillor Dexter Smith as well as the book contributors at Plus X Innovation to celebrate with an evening full of cultural appreciation, networking and togetherness. The producer of the book, Shanique Miller, reflected on her journey to creating the publication.
Shanique Miller, producer of The Arts in Slough, said:
“I’ve always had a love of literature and the written word, and having now experienced the process of producing a book, my hope is to be an editor in the publishing industry, bringing books with meaning to people who need them. Hopefully, The Arts in Slough is the first of many.”
Siobhan Hardy, Training and Development manager at Resource Productions said:
“This project has been a labour of love for Slough, the Arts and Culture in Slough and training up future creatives, especially in the area. Shanique has grown so much while producing this book, and it’s been a pleasure to help her to develop her knowledge and skills in publishing and watch her confidence build. The distinction she earned by the end of her L3 Publishing Assistant apprenticeship with LDN Apprenticeships is testament to the hard work and dedication she has put in to produce this book.
I have no doubts that Shanique will be a positive addition to any company in the publishing and editorial area as her passion and attention to detail are at such a high level and she brings a fresh perspective in everything she does.”
Shanique is not the only Slough resident showcased in this book. With such artists as Sbba Siddique speaking on her Knit Your Socks Off ventures helping local people, Desree inspiring our future poets and spoken word artists, and Mike Swift capturing this eclectic town for future generations to see. Elevating Slough Artists is at the forefront of this publication, hoping to inspire the community to get involved with a range of different creative activities available to them.
Resource Productions is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, with focus on creatives in the Slough area. This exciting and creative publication along with recent equally exciting commissions from Resource Productions were all supported by Arts Council England awarding funds from The National Lottery. They have also helped to set up ‘Slough Cultural Revival’, a landmark initiative to position Slough as a thriving centre for creativity, innovation, and community engagement.
There are a wide range of opportunities to get involved with in Slough. Resource Productions’ Creative Collective welcomes those aged 18+ interested in arts and creativity to take part in workshops, networking sessions, attend events and engage with 1-1 sessions. Register for the next Creative Collective meet up here: www.resource-productions.co.uk/training
