What's On in the Arts in Rochdale

By Steve Cooke

OUR TOWN OF CULTURE

In Rochdale we already have a vibrant creative arts community producing excellent music, theatre and visual art, a refurbished and quite spectacular Town Hall and a soon to be unveiled upgraded Touchstones and now we have been awarded the title of Greater Manchester’s Town of culture for 2025/26!

Rochdale is the latest town to be awarded the title since 2020, following Bury, Stalybridge, Stockport and most recently Bolton, with all four using the award to raise their profile and celebrate the breadth and diversity of their cultural offer.

In addition to the title, Rochdale receives a £50,000 grant from the GMCA Culture Fund to develop a programme of cultural events and activities building on the town’s rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement with more than 35 arts organisations bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events and performances.

Showcasing the very best local talent, Rochdale’s year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop and deliver a line-up of creative activity alongside a number of major events including the popular free days out for families - the Feel Good Family Picnic, an exciting new urban arts festival, the Street Eat food and drink festival, The Herds - life-sized animal puppets taking over the streets of Heywood, an new work of art by world renowned Shilpa Gupta as part of Manchester International Festival, Ignite Fire Festival, live music, a new people’s gallery, the Merhaba Halal food festival, Pride parade and many more to be revealed. A Poet Laureate and Young Poet Laureate will be commissioned to capture the spirit of Rochdale and celebrate the year.

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham said:

"Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history, so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era. Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which was incredibly exciting and ambitious while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history. We are definitely going to see the very best of what Rochdale has to offer over the next 12 months and people will come from far and wide to see it."

Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council said:

"I’m thrilled Rochdale will be Town of Culture for 2025/2026. We’ll be drawing audiences from across Greater Manchester and beyond to enjoy a fabulous programme of new events and activities as well as amplifying our existing offer and recently transformed town hall square and centre. We have an amazing community spirit here, with exciting and varied attractions and an array of local talent to help us produce something very special. We’re well connected and have iconic cultural venues that will provide a stunning backdrop to the wonderful year ahead."

One of the first exhibitions is the Town of Culture Outdoor Gallery featuring around 18 artists - over a 70m stretch of site hoarding on Drake Street.

Further details about Rochdale’s year will be announced in the coming weeks. Keep up to date and find out more at rochdalecreates.co.uk and rochdale.gov.uk/YourEvents and follow @rochdale.creates on Instagram.

MUSIC TO OUR EARSGraham Marshall Vice-Chairman of Rochdale Music Society tells me that the 2025 Spring Series continues with a concert by the A4 BRASS QUARTET on Saturday, 12 April. Music to be played ranges from 'Bach to Bales'.

On 16 May singers and musicians from the PORTRAIT PLAYERS will be performing music for 'Ye Gentle Spirits', another journey across the ages.

The final concert of the Series will be on 21 June, when music for cello and piano of a suitably midsummer’s day romantic warmth will be played by Sveta and Slava, two musicians of international acclaim who have chosen to make their home in Rochdale.

Further details are to be found on the society’s website: rochdalemusicsociety.org

THE POWER OF CREATIVITY!

The value of the creative arts in maintaining and improving mental health and wellbeing is upliftingly demonstrated in the recently released short film The Power of Creativity – The Vibe Legacy.

Young people with their artist facilitators, supporters and friends attended the premiere in Vicolo Del Vino on Butts Avenue in Rochdale Town Centre to watch this inspirational, moving, funny and celebratory film of the wonderful achievements of young people facing mental health challenges.

The decade-long Vibe Project was funded initially by Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale NHS CCG then GM NHS Integrated Care Partnership as a socially prescribed project with a difference.

The Vibe model being very different to many interventions and courses available to young people facing mental health challenges with no time limits: some young people were with the project for 8 years.

This gave them the security of belonging, the time and space to develop friendships, grow feelings of self-worth, find and express their voice, develop skills and the confidence to communicate their story in their own way with whom they chose through the creative arts.

An environment in which they could start to believe that they had something to offer to themselves and others, becoming valuable contributors to their communities ready to successfully engage with training, employment and volunteering.

The artists including musicians, filmmakers, poets, DJs, visual artists, photographers and digital artists inspired, supported and enabled young people to find their voice through the creative arts and to express and share their stories through whatever medium worked for them.

A full report of the Vibe Project including many images and links to videos and music made by young people can be read at: allacrossthearts.com.

The film [approx. 23 minutes] can be found on YouTube by searching for "The Power of Creativity - The Legacy of VIBE" and is narrated by Rochdale actress, Coronation Street's Sue Devaney.

LOOKING FOR TOP-NOTCH ENTERTAINMENT AND SIDE-SPLITTING LAUGHTER?

Our local ACE LIPS Comedy has you covered with a lineup of unmissable events featuring some of the finest comedic talent around. Here's what's coming up...

HOW ABOUT PUTTING PEN TO PAPER?

Having started life as Touchstones Creative Writers, then Writer’s On Tap, this fantastic writing group now have a new location and new name!

Chair, Ray Stearn, explains: "We have kindly been taken in by Rochdale Central Library, where we meet once a month as Number One Writers, inspired by the building being Number One Riverside and in no way reflecting any feeling of superiority!

"May 31st should see some of us performing our work as part of the Lancashire Heritage Day at Rochdale Town Hall.

"We always welcome new members and have a variety of facilitators so we hope we provide something for everyone. Come and join us on the first Thursday of the month 2-4pm, bring along pen and paper and plenty of ideas!"

EXHIBITIONS BY OUR LOCAL VISUAL ARTISTS

Patsy Allen

Littleborough based Artist Patsy Allen has been sculpting for many years, over which time she has not only released her own collections but worked for a wealth of major companies including Royal Doulton, Frith Sculpture and Regency Fine Art, to name just a few. During the course of her career, Allen has exhibited her works widely, and her sculpture and artwork has sold globally.

Her children’s books, "The Rainbow Scarecrows", sold more than 640,000 copies world– wide.

Patsy’s current exhibition is at the Coach house Littleborough - she explains "I’m doing something quite different. It’s mostly black and white, very high detail, some amusing some dark - but I want artwork that people can interact with and see differently as individuals."

Until 10th May at Victoria St. Room, Littleborough Coach House, Lodge Street, Littleborough OL15 9AE Tel: 01706 378481

Art by the Lake - an Easter Art & Craft Exhibition

Elizabeth White said: "After several very successful exhibitions in 2024 we are returning to the RSPCA centre for another Art by the Lake. People seem to really enjoy meeting artists and watching them work. We are delighted to be welcomed back by the RSPCA to their lovely centre".

The exhibiting local artists will be:

Elizabeth White - landscape paintings, prints and cards (pictured belowSteve)

Seamus Kelly - specialising in wildlife prints.

Debbie Lord - Stunning flower paintings

Victoria Ash - Contemporary art and Hand painted glass

Susan Lord - Embroidered art work and vintage postcards

Neela Jackson - Pet Portraits

Sunday 27 April 11am - 4pm

RSPCA Hollingworth Lake Animal Centre, Littleborough OL15 OAQ

Steve Cooke - All Across The Arts