Team appointed for borough’s major arts investment

Plans that will see over £8.5 million invested into arts and culture in the borough over the next three years, thanks to Arts Council England funding are well under way.

Major projects in Rochdale and Heywood have been awarded financial support from the Cultural Development Fund and Capital Investment Fund, and this week senior councillors met representatives from the newly appointed design team and architects now working on plans for Touchstones, the borough’s arts and heritage venue and Heywood Civic Centre.

Rochdale Development Agency (RDA) are managing the project delivery on the council’s behalf  and teams have begun work on the design process which will lead to the submission of full planning applications in the next couple of months. Building work on the sites is set to start in October.

North-west based Hive Projects will lead on the project management of both schemes, with Architectural Emporium appointed as architects of the Touchstones scheme and K2 Architects for Heywood Civic Centre. Structural and civil engineers Sutcliffe will work across both projects alongside quantity surveyor Identity Consults and mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers Steven Hunt & Associates.

Leader of Rochdale Borough Council councillor Neil Emmott said: “I’m pleased to see the teams in place now who will be helping deliver these exciting upgrades. We have a wealth of expertise behind us and although there is much to do we look forward to seeing the detailed designs which will be shared as they progress.”

The funding will see Touchstones transformed into a visual arts-led creative and cultural hub with new flexible performance and production spaces for artists, improved areas for training, live events and exhibitions. It will get a new retail and catering offer along with improvements to displays, archives, collections and public access to bring the building into the 21st century.

Work at Heywood Civic Centre includes increasing the size of the foyer, café and bar areas, along with upgrades to the performance space, increased accessibility and reducing the building’s environmental impact. Adaptions will enable the venue to build on the success of its popular events programme with new opportunities for the community to participate in the arts, as well as relocation of local organisation Cartwheel Arts to a new base at the centre.

Both venues are operated by the council’s leisure partner, Your Trust, who are also partners in the projects.

Work is also beginning on plans for a cultural district in Rochdale town centre to make the most of the heritage, cultural and creative offer, with new creative spaces and environmental improvements including paving, landscaping and lighting across Rochdale Town Hall Square.

Work will start soon on new public art, signage and marketing to improve the overall experience and attract more visitors.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation who visited both sites and met the new team said it’s very exciting: “This investment will all help us make much more of the assets we already have to tell a more powerful story, together with events and cultural activities across the borough, creating more opportunities for local people and visitors from across the region to participate in and enjoy culture here.

“Touchstones, Heywood Civic Centre and Rochdale Town Hall are much loved spaces but are in need of updating so 2023 is going to be an exciting year.”

The Cultural Development Fund is a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) fund administered by Arts Council England. The Capital Investment Programme is funded by Arts Council England and The National Lottery Fund.

Jen Cleary, Director North, Arts Council England said: “We’re delighted to support these projects in Rochdale, one of the Arts Council’s priority places. The awards are just part of our commitment to invest more in the town over the next three years.

“We’re particularly excited to be involved in the Touchstones and Heywood Civic Centre capital projects which will significantly improve opportunities for local people to experience great arts and culture in the borough, as well as provide homes for our new National Portfolio organisations Touchstones, and Cartwheel Arts.”