June Newsletter

As we crest the summer solstice, we are looking forward to the joy of warm days and hazy evenings. Let’s take a quick look back at June and some of the exciting things we have lined up for you this summer!

We started summer with The Festival of Food and Music, in celebration of Bracknell New Town’s 75th year.

Jazz music echoed across the park, followed by talented tribute acts and live singing. The delicious food from all the stalls, including huge scotch eggs, Greek gyros wraps, and paella were enjoyed by all. Families and their beloved dogs were seen enjoying the sunshine and festivities. It was a huge success.

Thank you to everyone who also visited our stall and took part in our raffle draw. Your participation and kind donations help us continue our work in bringing communities together through art. We are so excited to see who won on Mon 22 July.

Our annual Summer Craft Market saw crowds of art and craft lovers this year and I am sure it helped that we were also mentioned on BBC Radio Berkshire. It was a lovely chat with Vernon about the art and craft stalls available with a focus on sustainability and recycled materials. Over thirty artists displayed their work and here is some of their lovely feedback:

Thank you for all your hard work for the Summer Craft Fair.  The advertising on the radio made a huge difference.

Thank you to you and your team for all your hard work putting together such an enjoyable and successful fair. 

Thank you for a lovely event! It was very busy and well run!

Make summertime a funner-time

This summer we have a sizzling line-up of activities for children and young people.  Art is such a gift to our younger generation – it gives them the freedom to express themselves and fires their imaginations. We have a range of arts activities, shows and workshops ranging from free (optional donations are always welcome) to paid-for activities which start from as little as £2.

Staff Spotlight: Mark Hooper

Our annual South Hill Park pantomime is well underway! Junior and adult auditions are now complete and this year’s director Mark Hooper is well underway finalising scripts, music and costumes. Mark has directed many of our in-house productions including Shrek and this year’s incredible production of Beauty and the Beast. Not only is Mark a super talented director, he is also South Hill Park’s Director of Learning and Participation. To find out what makes our productions so special, and learn about Mark’s process as a director, read the full interview here.

Live Music on the Terrace 

Sat 29 June – Sat 31 Aug

Unwind in our beautiful grounds with a variety of free music acts playing live on the terrace. Most weekends across the summer will feature a new performance. Acts include: The Gill Love Band, Helen Vintage Singer and Eat at Joe’s, to name a few. A perfect opportunity to enjoy something new or immerse yourself in a genre you love.

Student Open 2024

Do you have work from a 2023-2024 course or workshop that you’re proud of and would want to see exhibited? This is a fantastic way to showcase the incredible work of participants across all the artistic disciplines that we teach here at South Hill Park. Submit your artwork on Wed 3 – Thu 4 July via our Box Office.

Would you like to promote your wedding services to your local community?

South Hill Park hosts a free-to-the-public wedding fair with over 500 couples attending each year. Our next wedding fair will be Sun 12 Jan 2025. We will be showcasing our elegant rooms in the Mansion House, alongside local suppliers, between 11am-3pm. Each year, we invite over 1500 named brides to the fair and, as a supplier, you will be featured on our e-shots to over 26 000 subscribers as well as social media on Facebook (13,000 followers) and Instagram (4,500 followers). We would love you to join us, just fill in our submission form to reserve your spot.

An exciting opportunity to work with us

South Hill Park is looking for a part time Development Officer to support the implementation of our fundraising strategy and campaigns. Working with the Development Manager, the Development Officer’s role is to build and maintain the venue’s Friends scheme and donor database, providing superb customer service to our 700 Friends, Good friends, Best friends and donors. This is a flexible working part time role, based on site and a great stepping stone for anyone who wants to get involved in arts and fundraising. Closing date: Mon 1 July, 12noon. Apply here.

How can you support us?

South Hill Park is part of the Easy Fundraising scheme to help raise donations when you shop online – at no extra cost to you. The scheme includes purchases through Amazon, eBay, John Lewis, ASOS, Tesco, Trainline and even Just Eat. Simply set up your profile and shop away here. The first King Charles £5 notes were released on 5 June 2024, and this is a great way to celebrate our monarch’s new reign and support your local art centre. Donations can be made online here or via our Donation Station in the Wilde Theatre foyer.

Summer highlights on sale

Gary Delaney & Friends
Sun 29 Sept, 7.45pm
Wilde Theatre

Dialogue of Minds: Echoes of the Clarinet
Sat 10 Aug, 7.30pm
Recital Room

Ring in a Day workshop
Sat 17 Aug, 10am