Performing Arts students at Reading College are participating in the Cultural Olympiad 2012 art project “Tree of Light”.

The Tree of Light is a joint art project between various organisations who have secured £1.2m in grants from Legacy Trust UK and the Arts Council and has been launched as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The project celebrates trees and focuses on global sustainability. It is expected to involve over 1,500 people from schools and community groups with participants from Oxford, Reading, Henley, Windsor and Slough taking part.

Reading College is the largest organisation involved with two groups of students contributing. Music Performance Level 3 students are composing songs in collaboration with ‘Readipop’ a local arts charity. The songs follow the theme of the project which is trees and global sustainability and will be fed into the creative process for the final show next summer in Prospect Park, Reading. The music for the performance will be composed by one of the UK’s most high profile composers for ballet, contemporary dance and theatrical projects, Orlando Gough.

Reading College’s Art and Design students are also taking part in a photography project. They are taking photographs locally around Reading using the Tree of Light theme, and are working in conjunction with ‘Jelly’ a Reading-based charity championing the creative arts.

Matt Foster, Programme Manager for Music, Media and Performing Arts at Reading College said, “It’s great that the students can get involved in the creative process of a regional project like this and work with local arts organisations. It is a fantastic opportunity for them to showcase their skills.” As part of the project the students have taken part in a tree walk with a tree expert and have three sessions with their partner arts organisation.