October 2015 - March 2016
Arts and Heritage Resource Centre
Art Gallery See a wide variety of exhibitions in the Art Gallery’s four gallery spaces including those from the local community in Gallery One, selections from the borough’s impressive art collection in Gallery Two and work by contemporary artists in Galleries Three and Four.
This is where we keep and care for our Museum, Art Gallery and Local Studies collections. The centre is fully accessible and tours can be organised for small groups to visit. You can also arrange to meet a curator and get help with identifying and researching objects. The Resource Centre is open Monday to Thursday 10am-5pm. Visits arranged by appointment only - ring 01706 641085.
Local History Centre Discover the past for yourself first hand. Whether you’re interested in local history, want to trace your family roots or just want to know a little more about the street you live on, we can help you find out more. Our collections include maps, photographs, ephemera, archives and local newspapers on microfilm. Free internet access including ancestry.com is also available. Just pop in and our friendly staff will help with your enquiries.
Visitor Information Centre Don’t just stop in Touchstones Rochdale. Let the Visitor Information Centre provide you with details of places to visit including local, regional and national attractions. Information about events and accommodation is available. We can also arrange group tours of Touchstones Rochdale and other local heritage venues. Call 01706 924928 to discuss your requirements.
Arts Development Interested in getting involved in the arts such as theatre, dance, circus? Check out www.takepart.org.uk to find out what’s on offer around the borough!
Schools Service If you are a school or educational group looking for exciting and engaging learning experiences, then why not visit Touchstones Rochdale. Our expert led sessions support the new national curriculum and we have been awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge which is a nationally recognised indicator of high quality educational provision. Download our Schools Programme from our website or ring the Education Team on 01706 924931.
Museum
Outreach Displays
Our family friendly Museum is the place to find out all about Rochdale borough’s heritage from famous faces to the lives of ordinary people, there’s lots to see and do.
See more of the borough’s Museum, Art Gallery and Local History collections in the display cases at Heywood Sports Village and Middleton Arena.
Venue Hire Touchstones Rochdale offers a unique venue for meetings and events. Our studio space and meeting room are available for hire. Ring 01706 924492 for more details.
Shop The place to get that unique card or gift. We stock a range of souvenirs, postcards, local crafts, jewellery, books and pocket money gifts for children.
Exhibitions
Jerwood Makers Open 2015 25 March - 11 June Five exciting new talents in contemporary applied arts will première works in a group exhibition to mark the fifth edition of Jerwood Makers Open, Zachary Eastwood-Bloom, Malene Hartmann Rasmussen, Jasleen Kaur, Ian McIntyre and Silo Studio. Jerwood Makers Open promotes the significance of making and materials within the visual arts arena, seeking to support exceptional skill and imagination.
Installation View, Jerwood Makers Open 2015, Jerwood Space, London. Courtesy Jerwood Charitable Foundation. Photo Anna Arca. Jasleen Kaur, Marbled Busts, Polyurethane plastic and pigment, 2015
Revealing the River Roch
Creative Community Hub
Barry Cook: A Time to Dance
5 September - 14 November
21 November - 6 February
13 February - 21 May
Part of Rochdale Council’s wider project to uncover the River Roch, this exhibition includes related artworks and objects from the borough’s collections together with paintings by students from Hopwood Hall College.
Ex-service personnel and their family members celebrate a diverse range of artistic talent by showcasing artwork produced in conjunction with the charity Veterans In Communities.
Working in watercolour, ink and gauche, Barry Cook’s exhibition of paintings will celebrate thirty one years of teaching in Rochdale primary schools. His vibrant and contemporary paintings are inspired by nature, folklore and music.
We welcome applications for Gallery One exhibitions from anyone who lives or works in the borough of Rochdale - just ask for an application form. Deadline for next round of applications is 6 November 2015.
People’s Art 2015 26 September - 21 November
Sharon Adams, Stitched Spoon, 2013. Photographer: Simon Mills
Robert Walker, Six Shacks and a Boat. Image courtesy of the artist
The popular annual open exhibition for new and established artists, both amateur and professional, who live or work in the borough of Rochdale returns. The exhibition features hands on children’s activities in the Art Gallery.
Robert Walker: The Fifth Continent
Natural Makers
12 December - 27 February
12 December - 27 February
Rochdale based photographer Robert Walker will be showing his latest project. The Fifth Continent, which documents the area around Dungeness in Kent. It is a site of special scientific interest, has two nuclear power stations and is Britain’s only desert. “It is a brooding and unsettled landscape with a handful of hardy inhabitants and a unique melancholic attraction”.
Celebrating the artwork of four artists working with natural materials, and through doing so exploring the natural environments which inspire their practice. Laura Ellen Bacon, Adam Buick, Sharon Adams and Stuart Cairns’ work comes together in an exhibition that looks at the beauty of natural materials, shapes and forms, and an immersion in the sensory experience of making.
Hannah Leighton-Boyce
Homespun Traditions
25 March - 11 June
Until 5 March
Working with the Museums’ collection at Touchstones Rochdale, Hannah LeightonBoyce is developing a new piece of work in response to the historic hand-tool collection. This project is part of a larger group of exhibitions funded by New Expressions.
Showcasing works from the borough’s art collection, this exhibition looks at how traditional crafts and domestic life have been represented in art. The exhibition explores themes of craftsmanship, intriguing objects from the museum collections and a range of historic artworks that depict our fine cottage industries. Examples of local and British craft in art are illustrated by, among others, Frederick William Jackson, printer and engraver John O’Connor, Edward Stott and eminent folk artist Tim Bobbin.
Jarred: Ceramics from the Collection Until Saturday 9 April Heritage Gallery Our homes are filled with ceramics. From teapots to tiles, baking bowls to bricks, prized ornaments to studio pieces, this exhibition celebrates their diversity. Jarred looks at how ceramics help us in our everyday lives, telling their story from 4000BC to the present day. Discover how ceramics have been used in social and religious rituals and to commemorate events, places or people. Highlights include an ancient Greek vase attributed to the Swing Painter as well as new acquisitions by contemporary ceramicists Paul Scott and Ikuko Iwamoto. Younger visitors can follow the White Rabbit and join Alice at the Mad Hatter’s tea party as well as laugh out loud at the tale of the tippler toilet and the naughty school boy.
Events for Adults We have a range of regular and one-off events offering lots of opportunities to take part in the arts and find out more about our collections and exhibitions.
Besom Broom Making Wednesday 28 October or Saturday 31 October 10am-4pm | FREE Red Rose Forest is offering this FREE besom broom making workshop to explore traditional crafts as part of their Heritage Trees project. Get in the Halloween spirit and join urban coppice worker Mike Carswell on either date for a workshop to make your own broom. Places are limited and booking is essential. For more information, or to reserve a place on either session, please contact Lucy at Red Rose Forest on 0161 872 1660 or lucy@redroseforest.co.uk
Natural Dyeing Workshop Tuesday 23 February | 10am-1pm | FREE Join the Bettlefelt and the Red Rose Forest team to explore dyeing techniques and pigments using wool and natural materials. Spaces are limited, booking is essential. Ring Touchstones Rochdale on 01706 924492 to book your place.
Cheryl Martin Presents: Alaska Plus Art Gallery Talk: The life and work of Maud Sulter Saturday 3 October | 1pm-3pm | FREE Performance starts at 1pm. Drop in - no booking required, suitable for 13 years upwards. Playwright Cheryl Martin tries to keep a warm heart in an icy world. A raw and powerful performance, with humour, stunning vocals and beautiful images. With one in four of us estimated to experience mental health difficulties at sometime in our lives, this is a story that will touch everyone. The performance will be followed by a short talk discussing the life and work of artist, writer and curator Maud Sulter.
Touchstones Craft
Try your hand at something new in our fun and friendly adult craft workshops. Cost £8 per session, payable on booking, price includes all materials. Spaces are limited and booking is essential, ring 01706 924928.
Throw a Pot
Christmas Decorations and Gift Tags
Saturday 10 October | 10.15am – 12.15pm
Saturday 14 November | 10.15am – 12.15pm
Working on a small potters wheel join Cat Jessop, who will show you how to make a simple pot or bowl.
Experiment with shape, colour and texture to create personalised Christmas tree decorations and gift tags with Natalie Rhodes.
Christmas Cupcake Decorating
Print Making
Saturday 12 December | 10.15am – 12.15pm
Saturday 9 January | 10.15am – 12.15pm
Learn how to pipe buttercream, use fondant and add finishing touches to make your magical Christmas cupcakes shine and sparkle with Mandy Hurd of Mandy Moo Cakes.
Join local artist Alan Birch to create relief printing plates which will be used to create handmade greeting cards.
Make a Mosaic Coaster
Book Binding
Saturday 13 February | 10.15am– 12.15pm
Saturday 12 March | 10.15am – 12.15pm
Design your own coasters inspired by our Jarred exhibition with Cat Jessop. Work with coloured tiles to bring your design to life and create your very own ceramic tile.
Learn the basics of book binding with Trish Cartner and take home your very own bespoke hand bound journal.
FREE
Knitty Gritty Last Tuesday of every month | 2pm – 3.30pm
Join our monthly knitting circle in the café area. Feel free to bring along your own knitting projects, share ideas or start something new. Younger knitters are welcome in school holidays. Special dates for your diary Tuesday 26 January Tuesday 27 October Work with the Red Join Alison Cooper Rose Forest team to take part in a to discuss a new community knitting knitting project about project to decorate Heritage Trees in the and celebrate the local area. newly uncovered River Roch.
Tuesday 23 February Join Alison Cooper to give your ideas for a knitted forest landscape linked to the Red Rose Forest project.
Image © Barry Hobson
Friends of Rochdale Art Gallery
Paper Gallery presents Drawing Club
Second Tuesday of every month 12.30pm – 1.45pm
First Wednesday of the month 1pm-3pm | £1 charge per session
For many years the Friends have been helping the Art Gallery to conserve and acquire paintings for the collection. Talks by invited speakers about art history and craft are held most months with the occasional trip to visit other art collections. Talks cost £2 per person for members and £3 per person non-members including refreshments payable on the door. No booking required. All welcome. Ring or see our website for further details.
Join artist Richard Meaghan from Paper Gallery for an informal drawing session in the Art Gallery taking inspiration from the artwork on display. Basic equipment and materials are provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. Stay for as long as you like. Drop-in session, no booking required.
FREE
Touchstones Creative Writing Group First Thursday of every month | 2pm-3.30pm Now independently constituted, the group meets monthly to encourage and promote creative writing. Encouraging the positive health and well-being benefits which can be gained through expressing yourself with creative writing, the group welcomes new members, both would-be and existing writers, to join in.
FREE
Rochdale Photographic Society:
125 years Celebrating Photography in Rochdale
Saturday 7 November | 10.30am-4.30pm Join Rochdale Photographic Society for a special celebratory event to mark their 125th anniversary. The event will feature a display of the society’s photography work, plus the awarding of competition prizes for the public competition ‘Work and Play in Rochdale’. Drop in, no need to book. For more details see www.rochdaleps.org.uk
Events for Children & Families FREE Every other Tuesday | 11am-11.45am 6 • 20 October 3 • 17 November 1 • 15 December 12 • 26 January 9 • 23 February 8 • 22 March
Creative discovery and sensory play sessions in the Art Gallery for babies aged 0-2 and their parents.
Ages 0-2 years
No need to book, just come along. This project is funded by the NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group.
FREE Ages 0-4 years
Every other Thursday | 11am – 12noon 1 • 15 • 29 October 12 • 26 November 10 December 7 • 21 January 4 • 18 February 3 • 17 • 31 March
INTERACTIVE SATURDAYS
FREE
Every Saturday during opening hours there will be child friendly interactives in the exhibition spaces for families to enjoy as part of your visit! This self-service activity is suitable for all ages up to 12 years old.
Make some noise in the Art Gallery! A fun, music making session for 0 to 4 year olds and their parents. No need to book, just come along. This project is funded by the NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group.
FREE
Thursday 29 October
MEDIEVAL
TIC! S A -T K SPOO FAMILY FUN DAY
Come to Touchstones Rochdale, if you dare, for a day of fiendish Halloween crafts on a medieval theme!
11am-2pm Suitable for 5 - 12 year olds
Hair-raising art activities include; heraldic shields, batty crafts, medieval knight mural, Halloween masks and a wooden apple press! Why not also join our Blue Badge guide for a 40-minute family tour which this year includes a visit to the site of the newly revealed medieval bridge in the town centre.
Tours start at 11.30am, 12.30pm or 1.30pm - just sign up on the day. Pop-in for half an hour or stay and enjoy all three spine-tingling hours! Make no bones about it, if you miss it you miss out!
Drop in, no booking required
SANTA’S GROTTO
£8.00 per child
includes gi craft activity ft, an no queues d !
Saturday 5 December | 10am – 5pm Although Santa will be very busy preparing for Christmas Eve, Touchstones Rochdale has managed to convince him to take a couple days off to visit the Museum. Meet the elves who will help you have some creative fun. Place a wish on the Christmas Tree before meeting Santa in his magical Grotto. Each child will receive a gift to take home. Spaces are limited and booking is essential. Timeslots are available from 10am - 4pm. Suitable for all ages. Bookings can be made in person or by telephone to Rochdale Visitor Information Centre on 01706 924928 (Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm). Please note we are unable to change bookings once they have been made or to offer refunds due to Santa’s popularity.
Thursday 18 February 11am-2pm
ILY FUN DA
Y
FA
M
FREE
Suitable for 5 - 12 year olds
Join Red Rose Forest at Touchstones Rochdale for a day of forest inspired crafts with a wild woods theme! Pop-in for half an hour or stay and enjoy all three fantastic hours! Drop-in event, no booking required. This free event has been made possible through the Red Rose Forest project with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Rochdale Literature & Ideas Festival 23 - 25 October 2015
Special Festival Events For Children & Families Meet Children’s Author: Kristina Stephenson
Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and The Pirate’s Curse Friday 23 October | 5pm - 6pm
Tickets
£2.50
Most suitable for 4 -8 year olds
Catch the much-loved Kristina Stephenson for Sir Charlie Stinky Socks’ latest adventure, Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Pirate’s Curse. Join our hero and his companions on this rip-roaring, timber-shivering adventure on the high seas! What fearsome sea dangers and frightful pirates might they encounter on their voyage? Enjoy storytelling at its very best with hilarious songs, music and silly sound effects. Come dressed as a pirate to have a chance of winning one of our themed giveaways! Booking essential. £2.50 per child and accompanying adults go free! Tickets available via the festival website (see details below) or in person at Touchstones Rochdale (for cash only transactions). Author book signing after the performance at our pop-up festival bookshop, provided by Bright Books.
Tickets
£3.00
Around the World in 80 Days – Theatre Show
Suitable for ages 5+
Hold onto your seats! It’s going to be a bumpy ride – a journey of epic proportions with weird and wonderful sights! The outlandish Phileas Fogg wagers that he will circumnavigate the globe in just eighty days, in return for £20,000. Adventure, misfortune and the totally unexpected meet Phileas Fogg and his faithful valet, Passepartout, in this colourful treat for all the family. Performan Friday 23 October at 5.30pm - 7.15pm ces: Saturday 24 October at 11am - 12.45pm & 5pm - 6.45pm 90mins pl us Sunday 25 October at 3pm - 4.45pm with an Aftershow Discussion 15mins in terval with writer Toby Hulse (adapted book to stage play) at 5pm (45mins duration)
Booking essential. £3 per person. (All children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult). Tickets available via the festival website (see details below) or in person at Touchstones Rochdale (for cash only transactions).
Skool4pirates: Be the Best Dressed Shipmate! Saturday 24 October | 11am-2pm
FREE
Suitable for 3 - 11 year olds
Avast, Me Hearties! Become a qualified junior pirate and dress to impress by making your own accessories to wear including; eye patch, hat and flag. All junior salty sea-dogs will be issued with a certificate from ‘The Pirate Council’! No need to book, just come along. All children must be accompanied and supervised by their responsible adult.
FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE Tickets available via the festival website www.rochdaleliteraturefestival.co.uk and also in person from Rochdale Visitor Information Centre at Touchstones Rochdale for cash sales only.
Art Gallery • Museum • Local History Centre • Visitor Information Centre Events Programme • Education Service • Shop Where to find us A671 from Burnley
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Contact Information
Access
Main Reception: 01706 924492
Touchstones Rochdale is fully accessible for people using wheelchairs. There are three designated parking bays for blue badge holders outside the centre.
Visitor Information Centre: 01706 924928 Email: touchstones@link4life.org Online: www.link4life.org/touchstones Follow us on: Facebook (Touchstones Rochdale), Twitter (@Touchstones), Instagram (Touchstones_ Rochdale) and Pinterest (Touchstones Rochdale).
Travel Information
Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Touchstones Rochdale is located close to Rochdale town centre approximately 5 to 10 minutes walk from Rochdale Transport Interchange with bus and tram access and 10 minutes from the Rochdale Railway Station.
Christmas hours: Closing at 3pm on Thursday 24 and Thursday 31 December and closed all day on 25-28 December and 1 January 2016.
We are 10 minutes drive from J20-M62. Cycle parking is available outside the Centre with Pay & Display car parking available close by.
Opening Times
Open as normal 29-30 December and 2 January 2016 Good Friday hours: 25 March 12noon - 4.30pm
FREE Admission
This information is available in large print on request.
www.link4life.org/touchstones The Esplanade, Rochdale, OL16 1AQ
01706 924492
Link4Life is the trading name of Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust. Registered Charity No: 1118610