Wonder walls: Mural festival draws crowds and praise as Rochdale becomes giant art gallery

Posted by on 17 Sep 2025

Rochdale was transformed into an open-air art gallery as local and world-famous artists came together for the ‘Common Walls’ International Mural Festival, with over 18,000 visitors descending on the town centre to take a look.                                       

Part of Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, the colourful event saw stunning artwork appear on ten buildings, with other artwork on nearby walls and spaces.
 
The festival provided a chance to see artwork being created up close by world-renowned artists, with designs telling the story of Rochdale, its history, people and culture. Artists taking part included Insane51, Onur, Smug, SecaOne, AYLO, Epod, Lei Mai, Cabasa Carnival Arts and many more. 

The murals are located within a 30-minute walking route around Rochdale town centre, with sites including Drake Street, Smith Street, Baillie Street and Bell Street. A map can be downloaded at rochdale.gov.uk/TownOfCulture. 

Visitors were invited to see the artworks, while enjoying extreme sports displays featuring BMX, mountain bikes, Parkour, Freerunning, skateboarding, breakdancing and basketball from Fusion Extreme, which drew big crowds on Saturday. There was a graffiti jam organised by Spray Days, with nine mural artists painting live and, for those wanting an insight into the stories behind the designs, guided tours proved popular with street art blogger Stuart Holdsworth, editor of inspiringcity.com. 

On Thursday, the Baum on Toad Lane hosted a popular ‘Mural artists in conversation’ event, with artists talking about their amazing artworks, the creative process and their inspiration.  On Friday, town centre venue Hoochi Koochi hosted a hip hop night with one of the UK’s most respected hip-hop DJ’s - multi-award-winning former DMC turntable champion DJ Woody. 

Lead artist and curator of ‘Common Walls’ Hayley Garner, aka AYLO, who grew up in Rochdale, said the public response has been fantastic: “I’m proud to have been able to bring so many amazing artists to paint in Rochdale and the finished results are incredible. The surge of interest and reaction has been amazing. It’s so heartwarming to read and hear so much great feedback and see so many people coming to Rochdale from all over the country to view them. I hope the artworks leave a lasting legacy that visitors and residents will continue to enjoy for years to come.” 

Councillor Sue Smith, cabinet member for communities and co-operation at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We wanted this festival to help celebrate the creative spirit and heritage in Rochdale during our special year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture. It has certainly done that, showcasing local and internationally renowned artistic talent, as well as some of the diverse networks of creative organisations in and around Rochdale. We’ve already welcomed visitors from far and wide, many coming to the town for the first time. We want Rochdale to be a place where creativity, community and opportunity come together, so this festival was part of that, reflecting the borough’s pioneering and co-operative approach and there’s lots more to come.” 

Common Walls International Mural Festival was part of a spectacular line up of festivals, live performances, exhibitions and art during Rochdale’s year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture 2025-26. The title, awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, celebrates the town’s rich history, creativity, talent and diverse arts scene. Find out more at www.rochdale.gov.uk/TownOfCulture   

Common Walls International Mural Festival was curated by The Big Heart Projects, run by The Butterfly Effected. It was funded by Rochdale’s Cultural Development Fund 2 project, funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and administered by Arts Council England. It was also funded by Rochdale Borough Council and Rochdale Development Agency. 

It was supported by Rochdale Business Improvement District, The Baum, Smiths Hire and The Treehouse Bar. 

Rochdale’s year in the cultural spotlight continues this month with Rochdale Comedy Festival (26 September – 5 October) with over 25 comedians performing.