Exhibitions to get artistic makeover at Rochdale Town Hall

A group of artists and collectives have been selected to do a number of commissions for Rochdale Town Hall as part of the building’s ongoing major restoration.

Their work will bring  a new perspective to the town hall to help make it a building for everyone.

Artworks will be created for several rooms throughout the building, including the new Bright Hall, the Small Exchange and the Mayor’s Parlour. The works are intended to bring contemporary ideas and tell the stories that represent people and communities.

The commissions will be co-created with a range of local people from across the borough. This will include pupils and students at local schools and colleges and people supported by a number of community groups.

The workshops started in September with a focus on mediums including ceramics, print making, stained glass, textiles, drama, film and costume. Each of those appointed specialise in these different mediums and the end result will be the creation of unique pieces of art for the town hall.

Councillor Janet Emsley, cabinet member for equalities, safety and reform, said: “This is a really exciting announcement for the town hall.

“This group of seven artists and collectives we have put together will work with the community to deliver inspiring art to be enjoyed by all visitors to the town hall when it reopens in late summer 2023.

“I am really looking forward to what the co-creations produce and without doubt they will represent the borough and serve to document the town hall for generations to come.”

The commissions are being funded thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund which has provided £8.9m to the town hall project.

All the artists who are taking part have a fantastic array of skills and their projects are likely to include new installations and stained glass, along with audio stories.

The seven artists and groups are:

• Alison Greyer who specialises in textiles, pattern design, printmaking and mosaics
• Beggars Belief who specialise in art, theatre and filmmaking
• Breaking Barriers who will be producing audio, film and photography
• Louise Watson who specialises in glass
• MayWild Studio who will specialise in a mixture of visual and traditional crafts
• Salford Slow Fashion who work with textiles, pigment and print
• Sally Gilford who specialises in print and textiles

Each piece of artwork will be bespoke and play to the strengths the artists have.

As one of the artists said about the work that is under way, creativity helps to strengthen the relationship with the community and leave a legacy of artworks that can be enjoyed for years to come.