Page 10 - Real Rochdale Issue 18 Summer 2023
P. 10

Why we love Rochdale: local companies join                                                                          Final summer exhibitions at Touchstones


                               forces to promote borough                                                                        before 18 month closure







          Local businesses have joined
          together to outline why
          Rochdale is special to them
          in a new video released by
          the Rochdale Development
          Agency.

          The video, which celebrates
          RDA’s 30th anniversary,
          features testimonials from
          Mid Communications,                                    Kirsty Wilkinson from Northern Employment
          Northern Employment, H Bell                                                                                                          A still from Leviathan: From the Forest to the Sea            Untitled by Helene Appel
                                                                                                                                                          by Shezad Dawood
          & Sons, Mysonpages, PDS,           RDA for a number of years          skills. But the key thing they do
          Creative Network, and              now. It was lovely to come         is bring people together in the                 The final two exhibitions to       contemporary painter, Helene         venue, bringing new
          Dunsters Farm.                     together with other businesses     business community in                           take over the gallery space at     Appel.                               opportunities, as well as
                                             to share how great a place         Rochdale.                                       Touchstones over the summer                                             providing the best cultural
          Iconic landmarks – such as         Rochdale is, both personally                                                       have been revealed.                ‘Among Trees, Among Sand             experience to our
          Hollingworth Lake, the town        and for businesses.                “They’ve created a sense of                                                        Grains’ showcases Helene’s           communities.”
          hall, and Kingsway Business                                           togetherness, starting with                     Before the venue closes its        original methods of using
          Park – are interspersed            “There are so many                 their excellent leadership                      doors on 12 August for an          paints and different                 Both exhibitions will end on
          throughout the promotional         opportunities in Rochdale          through the pandemic and how                    18-month redevelopment,            techniques to give the object        Saturday 12 August, when
          video, as well as shots of the     now for businesses.”               they kept us all working and                    Touchstones will be hosting        she creates a physical and           the building will temporarily
          town centre, Number One                                               talking.”                                       works from multi-disciplinary      three-dimensional presence.          close for redevelopment.
          Riverside and the public           David Brereton, managing                                                           artist, Shezad Dawood, and
          transport links.                   director of Mysonpages, which      He added: “What we all say in                   Berlin-born artist, Helene         The exhibition will focus on         The Local Studies Centre
                                             is located in the same building    the video is true, and maybe it                 Appel.                             her aesthetic depiction of           closed in May, with the team
          Kirsty Wilkinson, of Northern      as Zen Internet, said: “The RDA    needs saying a little louder.”                                                     ordinary objects from                moving the archives to a
          Employment, said working on        has helped us get to services                                                      Taking over galleries one and      everyday life.                       new location of Sparth
          the promotional video was          we wouldn’t have known about       The RDA was created to                          two is ‘Leviathan: From the                                             Community Centre through-
          “a great experience” adding:       and linked us with other           support businesses moving to                    Forest to the Sea’, premiering     Mark Doyle, Head of Arts,            out May and June, and the
          “We’ve worked closely with         businesses that could need our     the borough of Rochdale.
                                                                                                                                the latest instalment in           Engagement and Heritage at           museum closed on 3 June.
                                                                                                                                Dawood’s epic film series          Touchstones Rochdale, said:
                                                                                                                                Leviathan Cycle.                   “We’re delighted to welcome
                                                                                                                                                                   two successful artists into our        Touchstones opening
                                                                                                                                This is part of a series of        gallery spaces, both with              times:
                                                                                                                                exhibitions across the North       differing backgrounds but              Tues, Thurs &  Sat: 10am
                                                                                                                                West, brought together under       with the same prospect of              - 5pm
                                                                                                                                the title of Hybrid Futures,       looking inwardly at how we             Weds 10am -9pm
                                                                                                                                that will explore and address      perceive the world around us.
                                                                                                                                the urgent focus of climate                                               Touchstones Rochdale,
                                                                                                                                change.                            “Our two final exhibitions are         The Esplanade
                                                                                                                                                                   an excellent way to conclude           Rochdale, OL16 1AQ
                                                                                                                                The second exhibition, which       this era of Touchstones                Tel: 01706 924492
                                                                                                                                will take over galleries three     Rochdale - the redevelopment
           David Brereton from Mysonpages                                                                                       and four, is led by                means a big step for our               Admission is FREE.

          REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2023                       10                                                                                                                    11                    REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2023
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