Upcoming Touchstones refurbishment puts jobs at risk

Touchstones Rochdale

Seven jobs are at risk at Touchstones as a result of the forthcoming closure for refurbishment.

The borough's award-winning arts and heritage centre will close in autumn 2023 for refurbishment after being given a grant of £4.2 million from the Cultural Development Fund.
 

Read more: Cultural funding boost for Touchstones RochdalePublished: 25 March 2022

The former old library building will be transformed into a visual arts-led creative and cultural hub with new flexible performance and production spaces, improved areas for training, events and exhibitions, a new retail and catering offer, and improvements to displays, archives, collections and public access.

However, as a result, proposals put forward have left seven contracted front-of-house and café staff at risk of losing their jobs.

Touchstones says the consultation does not extend to local studies staff, adding that it is “fully supporting” those affected by the proposals.

Mark Doyle, head of arts, engagement & heritage at Touchstones Rochdale, part of Your Trust said: “As a result of the closure of Touchstones in the autumn of 2023 for refurbishment, we have recently commenced a consultation with contracted front-of-house and café staff.

“The consultation is not yet finished, and we are fully supporting staff during this period, but the proposals put seven staff at risk of redundancy. Local Studies staff are not part of this consultation, and the future location for this part of the service is still being discussed with Rochdale Borough Council.”