Cultural funding boost for Touchstones Rochdale

Touchstones Rochdale the borough’s award-winning Arts and Heritage Centre

Touchstones Rochdale, the borough's award-winning arts and heritage centre, is one of nine organisations in the North West to benefit from a boost in cultural funding.

Touchstones has been given £4,199,365 from the Cultural Development Fund – part of the government’s national £48m Cultural Investment Fund – for refurbishments to the venue and the creation of a new cultural hub that can be used for events and to display collections.

The Investment Fund aims to improve people’s access to the arts, safeguard cultural assets for future generations, and power economic growth through culture, whilst the Development Fund specifically aims to give people access to arts and culture in areas with historically low levels of cultural engagement and to boost economic growth.

Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and cooperation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We are delighted to be offered this funding from DCMS and Arts Council England. It’s a really significant step demonstrating the quality and strength of our ambition for culture in the borough. 

“The CDF funding means we can take forward our exciting plans for a new Rochdale Cultural District, bringing together our outstanding heritage and cultural assets to attract more visitors, create new opportunities for residents and to complement the growing town centre retail, food and leisure offer. 

“We will also be creating a new cultural partnership to develop and deliver more projects across the borough, increasing opportunities for residents, creatives and creative businesses.”

Last month 24 places in the North West including Rochdale were designated as Levelling Up For Culture Places which will be prioritised for funding from Arts Council England.
 

Read more: Rochdale one of 24 places in north west to be prioritised for £75 million of cultural fundingPublished: 25 February 2022

Additionally, the North West has previously received more than £150 million in cultural funding through the Culture Recovery Fund, which was designed to help arts organisations through the pandemic.
 

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