Help shape the future of creative workspace in Rochdale

Richard Street Studios - opened in summer 2024

Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Creates have launched a new creative workspace survey to inform future phases of creative workspace in Rochdale Borough, and support the next phase of Rochdale’s creative sector growth.

The survey is in response to the strong demand for permanent creative workspace at the recently completed Richard Street Studios and the Fire Up co-working space, which are both already full with significantly more demand than permanent workspace available.

Rochdale Development Agency is now engaged in feasibility work looking at how vacant town centre buildings can be retro-fitted and brought back into use as creative workspace, supporting the boroughs thriving creative ecosystem whilst bringing new uses and jobs to our town centres.

These projects to deliver new creative workspace all form part of Rochdale’s ambitious plans to support the development of the boroughs creative and cultural sector, which also include a range of training and funding opportunities, which will all be listed on the new creative sector website, Rochdale Creates, alongside jobs, events, activities, and directories of creatives and hirable creative spaces across Rochdale Borough.

Future ‘shared resource spaces’ to support the boroughs creative sector are also already being delivered, including through the refurbishment of Touchstones, which in addition to new exhibition, education and dining spaces will house a range of specialist hirable workspaces including: rehearsal / creation spaces; a messy studio for clay work and printing; and a podcast studio.

• To complete the survey visit: www.surveymonkey.com/r/rochdalecreates
• To see the new creative sector website to promote opportunities, creatives, events and spaces visit: www.rochdale.creates.co.uk
• If you are looking for hotdesking in a shared workspace, please check out Fire Up Rochdale: www.fireuprochdale.co.uk