What's On in The Arts Rochdale

Rochdale's year as Greater Manchester’s cultural hot spot is underway with lots to look forward to this summer. We are set for some fantastic opportunities, with spectacular festivals, performances, exhibitions and art making. Find out more throughout this edition.

Being Greater Manchester Town of Culture began in Spring with a magical nature themed parade drawing over 2,500 people to Rochdale Town Hall Square.

The title, awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, celebrates the town’s rich history, creativity, talent and diverse arts scene.

At the launch event we heard that Rochdale is building on the town’s cultural capital and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement with an ambitious programme that runs until March 2026.

In parallel, our local arts community continues to thrive giving us opportunities to engage in and enjoy creativity...

VISUAL ART

Gallery Frank, Ebor Studio - Perspectives an exhibition of photography by Rochdale Photographers Co-op

The Photo Co-op is a loose collective of photographers from a broad range of practices, ages, and backgrounds. This group exhibition intends to showcase a wide selection of work demonstrating what photography can mean, be and say outside of simply recording a view or memorable occasion.

Exhibition drop in and chat - Saturday 16 August, 12 - 3pm

An opportunity to drop by and meet some of the photographers during their exhibition, have a brew and a chat about photography.

Can't make it? Perspectives will be available to view from the 9 until 31 August. Please email info@eborstudio.co.uk to arrange a time to visit that suits you.

Ebor Arty Garden Party - Sunday 24 August, 2 - 4pm

Get creative in Ebor’s community garden for a free, family friendly day of craft and art activities inspired by nature. A number of Ebor’s professional artist members will be getting together to provide drop-in creative activities inspired by nature. Printing, photography, textile craft and more!

Location for all of the above events: Ebor Studio, William Street, Littleborough, OL15 8JP

MUSIC

Rochdale Music Society will be beginning its 45th Concert Series on Sunday 21 September at 3pm in St. Michael’s Parish Church (Bury and Rochdale Old Road, Bamford OL10 4BB) with the French pianist, Louis Victor Bak, playing music by Debussy, Chaminade and Berg.

The day and time are a departure from previous seasons, which have usually had concerts on Saturday evenings. The Society’s Trustees are hoping that this change of time and venue will encourage more people to come and join in the experience of hearing great music of all ages and genres performed by musicians of the highest standards.

Graham Marshall, Vice-Chairman Rochdale Music Society said: "We have been most fortunate in being able to continue to attract to Rochdale musicians whom we reckon to be the stars of the future. Like Louis-Victor Bak, who received glowing reviews for his interpretations of music of Debussy and Chaminade. Look him up on YouTube and you can see and hear why. On 19 October we shall welcome Galina Vale, classical guitarist and flamenco dancer, for what is likely to be a very colourful and musically satisfying occasion."

Full details of the whole season and ticket prices will be published in its forthcoming brochure and on the Society’s website: rochdalemusicsociety.org.

Saturday afternoon concerts in our iconic, atmospheric Parish Church of St Chad continue over summer with:

Saturday 19 July at 3pm - Greater Manchester Police Windband "in concert"

A programme of music to suit all tastes. Performances by the several GMP Bands are always a treat, it is anticipated the concert with last about 90 minutes and attract a large attendance. Admission £8. Pay on the door.

Saturday 23 August at 3pm - Scott Brothers Duo - Celebrity Piano Duet Concert

Brilliant Internationally famous musicians Jonathan and Tom Scott return for their annual visit to St Chad's which always draws a capacity attendance. Admission £12. Pay on the door or in advance: 01706 369162.

Visit: rochdaleparishchurches.co.uk

Rochdale Parish Church of St. Chad, Sparrow Hill OL16 1QT

CREATIVE WRITING

Riverside Writers is an innovative creative writing group based at Rochdale Central Library, Number One Riverside. The group meets weekly on Thursday mornings 10 - 12 noon. These free sessions, which include workshops designed to inspire and support writers of any experience level and across a wide range of genres and themes, are open to everyone aged 18+. There is no need to book - just go along; you will be made very welcome. Their occasional collaborative projects offer the writers the opportunity to showcase their work through live events and printed anthologies.

A recent example of this was on 31 May, when Riverside Writers delivered the highly successful, Lancashire-themed event, Folk Like Us, at Rochdale Town Hall. The event was opened by the Mayor, Cllr. Janet Emsley, followed by a reading of his poem Welcome to Rochdale by Seamus Kelly.

Riverside Writers’ Jo Wood led two "Room, Rhyme and Ramble" tours of the building, with a terrific line-up of poets reading their work to appreciative audiences in each of the rooms visited. We heard poems about Rochdale and Lancashire places, people, and voices; poems about arriving in Rochdale from overseas; and verses about our Peregrine Falcons and the splendid Town Hall itself. The poets performing on the tours were Glenys Meeks, Eileen Earnshaw, Seamus Kelly, Yasmin Hussain, Maggie Kelly, Ray Stearn, Sandra Buckley, Sue Smith, and Jo Wood.

There was plenty of entertainment in the Great Hall throughout the day, including songs from the Littleborough U3A Choir, Lancashire dialect poetry and storytelling from the Edwin Waugh Society, tunes from the Littleborough Brass Band (Training Band), and an organ recital from Barry Brailsford - all with Lancashire themes.

Children and adult visitors joined poetry workshops, led by Ray and Seamus, producing some great new poetry, some of which they performed in the Great Hall in the closing session.

Further details: riversidewriters.org.uk