Borough’s £750,000 boost from Arts Council England

Posted by on 28 Mar 2025

Rochdale Borough Council has been awarded £750,000 in Place Partnership funding from Arts Council England. This significant investment reflects Arts Council England’s commitment to encouraging cultural development in its priority places and will play a key role in enhancing the borough’s thriving arts and cultural scene.

Rochdale Development Agency secured the funding on behalf of the Borough Cultural Compact, a collective of arts and cultural organisations which collaborate to grow the sector and enhance its impact. Cultural Compact members will also serve as key partners, leading various activities throughout the borough.

The funds will be used to integrate arts and culture into local communities, driving economic growth and enriching the quality of life for residents. Key areas include children and young people, skills and business development, audience and market expansion, inward investment, and placemaking.

A significant portion of the funding will go towards community arts engagement, with the aim of increasing participation in the arts through high-quality, accessible programmes. These initiatives will foster creativity, support mental health and well-being, and engage diverse community groups. Partnerships with local schools, health providers, and community organisations will ensure that the benefits of arts and culture are widely shared.

Investment will also be directed toward the creation and enhancement of creative workspaces by transforming underused town centre buildings into co-working areas for digital and creative industries. These spaces will serve as hubs for artistic innovation, providing resources and support for both emerging and established artists and cultural practitioners.

The funding will support the continued strategic work across Rochdale’s Local Cultural Education Partnership’s (LCEP), to inspire and develop the next generation of cultural producers and consumers. The investment includes a Young Producers scheme to be delivered in Rochdale and Heywood by Cartwheel Arts and Breaking Barriers.

The success of the 2024 Teenage Markets in Rochdale and Middleton will be built upon, providing young makers, entrepreneurs, and performers aged 14 to 25 with a platform to showcase their talents.
Technical training programmes, designed in partnership with Factory Academy, Voltalab Sound Studios and Sound Roots, will offer hands-on experience and skills development in performance production and the creative industries.

An annual Creative Careers Fair, organised by Positive Steps, will introduce Year 9 students from across the borough to career opportunities in the creative industries, reinforcing Rochdale’s commitment to nurturing creative talent and expanding opportunities for young people.
Enhancements to the Rochdale Creates website and digital infrastructure will highlight local talent, strengthen the borough’s creative network, and connect artists with opportunities for growth and long-term sustainability.

A borough-wide audience and market development strategy, led by The Audience Agency, will increase access to Rochdale’s diverse cultural programmes, boost local community engagement, and attract audiences from outside the borough.

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We are immensely grateful for this further support from Arts Council England. It will enable us to elevate Rochdale’s cultural scene, providing more opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with the arts. It’s a significant step forward in our mission to make arts and culture a cornerstone of our community’s identity and economic prosperity.”

The award aligns with Arts Council England’s 10-year strategy, Let’s Create, which envisions a country where the creativity of each individual is valued and everyone has access to a diverse range of high-quality cultural experiences. Rochdale’s commitment to cultural development reflects this vision, promising a vibrant future for the borough’s arts and culture sector.

Sam Kalubowila, Senior Relationship Manager at Arts Council England, added: “Rochdale puts local communities front and centre of everything it does. The whole borough, from Middleton. to Heywood to the Pennines, embrace co-operation and offers support and encouragement to those who need it most. This funding will give the borough the opportunity to transform and empower local communities through arts and culture by fostering creativity, strengthening partnerships, and ensure the region continues to thrive, enriching lives and building lasting connections.”