Page 17 - Real Rochdale Issue 10 Summer 2021

Touchstones reopens

with new exhibitions

Touchstones Rochdale has reopened its
doors, and visitors are being welcomed
back with a series of new exhibitions
and events. ‘What’s Changed?’ exhibition

The town centre venue reopened on 18 May in
line with the Government’s lockdown roadmap. As part of the ‘What’s over the course of a decade, it
Changed?’ exhibit, a story of tells a story of lost
community spirit, childhood, communities and neighbourly
An award-winning arts and heritage centre and a simple desire to pass on spirit.
with an art gallery, museum, and local history
centre, Touchstones has three exhibitions the gift of creativity is also on
running this summer for visitors. show via ‘Middleton’s famous A trained designer - having
front door’. spent time globally
establishing design centres at
In partnership with Imperial War Museums, Throughout the 1980s, the request of 20th century
Mrs Malik’s Front Door
‘War’s Other Voices’ commemorates the 80th Courtesy Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust
anniversary of the Battle of Britain last year, Yvonne Malik’s front door at leader in British design, Sir
with an evocative exhibition focusing on the Hogarth’s ‘A Rake’s Progress’, the tapestries 145 Walker Street in Gordon Russell – Mrs Malik, Mrs Malik’s Front Door
role of women and art galleries during WW2. Middleton was a focal point now 84-years old and of Wray, Courtesy Rochdale Boroughwide
chart the ‘class journey’ made by young Tim for the local community, Lancashire arrived in her Cultural Trust
Rakewell and include many of the characters, eventually making its way into Middleton home in 1980 and
‘What’s Changed?’ focuses on how life has incidents and objects Grayson Perry
changed during the Covid-19 crisis, mixing encountered on journeys through Sunderland, the local public art collection immediately made her mark. door became a canvas on
first-hand reflections, artwork, objects, and Tunbridge Wells and The Cotswolds for the as an item of historical which they all wanted to make
ephemera from across the borough’s nationally television series ‘All in the Best Possible Taste significance. Finding children simply a mark.
significant social history collections. ‘hanging around’ outside her
with Grayson Perry’. Now on display 30 years home, she taught them the Mrs Malik took the door with
after its removal from Malik’s basics of art and turned her her to her new Lancashire
‘Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Touchstones’ reopening follows a year’s worth
Differences’ opens on 16 July 2021. This of online activity to help keep residents home, and having been signed front room into a makeshift home before offering it to
exhibition of six tapestries tells the story of connected with culture during lockdown, and by almost 300 local children classroom for lessons. Her Rochdale Art Gallery in 1994.
class mobility and the influence social class has staff have now worked to ensure visitor safety
on our aesthetic taste. Inspired by William
is a top priority with several Covid-19 safety Touchstones Rochdale offers a wide variety of There are interactive exhibits, films, audios
measures in place and receiving the ‘We’re exhibitions in the Heritage Gallery and the Art and objects from the borough’s collection
Good to Go’ certificate. Gallery’s four gallery spaces including those on display.
Exhibitions at Touchstones
from the local community, selections from the
Mark Doyle, Art Gallery Curator and borough’s impressive art collection and work Touchstones opening times
We Can Do It. War’s Other Voices
Tuesday 18 May - Saturday 18 September 2021 Collections Manager at Touchstones, said: by contemporary artists. Wednesday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm
“We’re delighted to be welcoming people back. Sunday: 10am - 4pm
What’s Changed? As well as the changing exhibitions spaces,
Tuesday 18 May - Saturday 1 January 2022 “We’ve been in regular contact with our there is also a permanent museum which aims Touchstones Rochdale, The Esplanade
visitors during the pandemic and want to make to tell a potted history of Rochdale. Rochdale, OL16 1AQ
Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences sure they have even more to discover as we Tel: 01706 924492
Friday 16 July - Friday 24 September 2021 reopen, which is why it was important to have The museum is ideally suited to visitors with an
these new exhibitions and events in place.” interest in the history of Rochdale or families. Admission is FREE. Pre-booked visits only.
REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2021 16 17 REAL ROCHDALE - SUMMER 2021