What's on in The Arts

Readers of this column will be aware of All Across The Art's (AATA) belief in the efficacy of the creative arts in supporting individual and community well-being, involving both creative artists and their audiences. It is therefore wonderful to see our creative arts community springing into life as artists and arts organisations emerge from lockdown. Encouragingly there are signs that the time taken from us by the pandemic was not totally wasted as creatives have been planning and plotting to be part of a better normal.

A shining example of this is the work being done by the Culture Team at Your Trust [formerly Link4Life] on a new Strategic Plan. The Your Trust’s Charity’s manifesto ‘We Are Your Trust’ identifies Culture as one of three threads that enable and empower individuals: "We’re here to support you to live your best life. We hope to inspire healthier, happier, creative people through our commitment to 'Your Culture, Your Health and Your Community'." Your Trust’s Culture Team delivers Rochdale Borough Council’s festivals and events, indoors and outdoors, across both Events and Programmes and Arts and Heritage.

The team’s underlying aim is to appeal to a broad audience, working across a very wide range of cultural and creative activity, from open-air festivals to community events, theatre, entertainment, arts, museums, and heritage in outdoor spaces across the Borough and in three main venues – Middleton Arena, Heywood Civic Centre, and Touchstones plus the Arts & Heritage Resource Centre (collections store) – and beyond, through touring, collaborations, and networks.

Rochdale is known internationally as the home of co-operation so it very apt that ‘co’ is an essential element of the culture team’s desire to become an internationally recognised, and locally relevant centre for co-creation, co-curation, and the empowerment of individuals through involvement in creativity and cultural activity.

Touchstones Rochdale has had a very successful make-over and has already provided us with four engaging, entertaining, and stimulating exhibitions such as: Grayson Perry – The Vanity of Small Differences, We Can Do It. War’s Other Voices and What’s Changed? In addition an eclectically stimulating series of workshops for creatives of all ages across the whole range of abilities.

Middleton Arena has reopened with a wide ranging programme including the much missed pantomime which has been announced as Peter Pan. The Arena has already re-stablished its go-to status on the stand-up circuit with five top performers this autumn: Jason Manford, Clinton Baptiste, Milton Jones, Dave Spikey and Ed Byrne.

The talented Rochdale group Sign Along With Us who finished second in last year's Britain's Got Talent will also be taking to the road for their upcoming fun-filled tour, the first stop being Middleton Arena stage on 26th September.

Visit: www. yourtrustrochdale.co.uk

Another arts organisation that is back up and running is Rochdale Antiques Society - one of our wonderful not for profit community organisations. They exist ‘To stimulate interest and appreciation of antiques and other works of art.' Each year the members of the society elect a committee. All officers of the society are volunteers. Any funds raised are used in the running and development of the society. The society does not trade in antiques and does not provide valuations.

The society’s Felicity Guthrie informs me that they are delighted to have secured a wide range of speakers and subjects for its re-scheduled season. Wednesday 13th October will host the irrepressible and cheerful Adam Partridge, auctioneer and frequently seen on Flog It and BBC Antiques Roadshow. Entry fee for each meeting is £4 per person and Felicity commented, "We can’t wait to meet up again and hear fascinating, expert talks on Antiques".

Rochdale Antiques Society, St Vincent's Community Centre, Caldershaw Road, Edenfield Road, Rochdale OL12 7QL For more information: Phone: 01706 844026 Email: rochantiquesoc@hotmail.com

Our very own Dr Joe Dawson has also been busy resurrecting ORTOA recitals and the wonderful Wednesday lunchtime Toad Lane Concerts [TLC], bringing top musicians and performers to our town. ORTOA (Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside Organists’ Association) continues its series of recitals at Rochdale Parish Church. Visit: iao.org.uk/ortoa

Running every Wednesday, TLC Music at Lunchtime is a weekly live classical music concert series that has been going since the 1960s. The sessions were initially run at the old Rochdale Art Gallery by the local authority, but since May 2001 have been run by volunteerenthusiasts and artistic director, Dr Joe Dawson. St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane/St Mary's Gate, Rochdale OL16 1DZ. Refreshments served from 11.30am. Live concert 12.30pm – 1.30pm. £5 per concert. Contact: Dr Joe Dawson 01706 648872

Also, on the music front Rochdale Music Society have declared that they are 'back in business for real!' with a new series of concerts. Rochdale Music Society has been providing the best in live music played by great artists for the people of the borough of Rochdale and beyond since 1980. The first concert of the 2021-22 series will be held on Saturday, October 9th at 7.30pm at Touchstones, The Esplanade, Rochdale Town Centre, OL16 1AQ. It will feature the not to be missed Meraki Duo, flautist Meera Maharaj and Guitarist James Wilson, playing a range of delightful music. Adults £15, Over 65s £13, Students £5 & Children £1 Contact: Graham Marshall 07795 671 768 Visit: www.rochdalemusicsociety.org

Rochdale Musical Theatre Company are busy rehearsing for their October show "Legally Blonde the Musical" - an uplifting, feelgood, romantic comedy. Legally Blonde the Musical runs between 1st - 9th October at Champness Hall Function Room, Drake Street, Rochdale. Please see website for dates and times and support live theatre in the heart of Rochdale. Tickets available from www.whatsoccurrinrochdale.co.uk. Ticket enquiries: 01706 643543

Gallery Exhibitions at Littleborough Coach House are back in action with Noreen White & Christine Clarke - Mixed Media 5 Sept - 24 October. Followed by 30 October - 28 November Wardle Arts Group - Mixed Media and 4 December - 9 January 2022 Erica Matthews - Oils, Acrylics & Pastels and Aspects of Art - Mixed Media. Monday to Saturday 11am - 3pm & Sunday 11.30am - 2.30pm Littleborough Coach House, Lodge Street, Littleborough OL15 9AE Exhibitions are generally mounted in the Heritage Room and Victoria Room gallery spaces and each lasts for approximately one month, with a week's gap to allow for artist changeover. Most items on display are available to purchase. Call: 01706 378481

I have just scratched the surface of the ways in which our creative community is working towards a better normal – be part of it!

Steve Cooke

Steve Cooke, Arts Columnist