MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL 2025
- STEVE COOKE AATA
- 3 days ago
- 9 min read
previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke
MIDWEEK COLUMN WEDNESDAY 16 APRIL 2025
Family Fun Day: Celebrating Earth Day at Rochdale Town Hall
Preview by Steve Cooke
Get along to Touchstones mighty Earth Day family fun day at Rochdale Town Hall– play games, see art, create and have fun, whilst discovering just how powerful our planet can be!
Join in with family-friendly activities, try biking and scooting, see work created by local schools in celebration of The Power of Water, and see how this year’s Earth Day theme Our Power, Our Planet connects to our town of Rochdale.
Activities include:
Resilient Roch
A fun and interactive stall showcasing the Resilient Roch project—a council-led climate resilience initiative focused on reducing flood risk and improving home energy efficiency. Kids can enjoy engaging activities that teach them about saving water and energy.
Local Studies Touchstones
Discover the rich history of our local environment with materials on rivers, wind turbines, and water power.
Learning Through Nature
Try your hand at Kokedama, the Japanese art of making beautiful moss ball planters.
M6 Theatre – The Storm Film & Activity
Experience The Storm, a powerful film set in the year 2050, where climate change has drastically reshaped the world. Join Frankie and her family as they navigate unpredictable weather and resource shortages. Accompanying activities will spark discussions and deepen understanding of the Climate Emergency.
Touchstones Collections
Explore a Mini Museum featuring fascinating historical objects from the collection.
Active Travel Rochdale
Encouraging sustainable travel with balance bikes and scooters and a second-hand bike sale.
Pioneers Museum
In partnership with the Co-op Group, this stall highlights food waste reduction and sustainable practices.
Town Hall – Family-Friendly Arts & Crafts
Get creative with hands-on arts and crafts activities for all ages.
Creative Learning Touchstones
Printmaking Activity – Unleash your creativity with this interactive printmaking workshop.
Early Years Sensory Play & Salt Art – A cosy, engaging space for babies and toddlers featuring sensory mats, water toys, cuddly toys, and board books. Toddlers can also enjoy a salt art messy play activity.
Environmental Management – Make Your Own Seed Bombs
Help green your surroundings by crafting seed bombs to take home and plant.
17th April 2025
12:00
Free / Pay What You Want
Rochdale Town Hall, The Esplanade, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, OL16 1AZ
ADIDAS ORIGINALS CREATOR EXPLORES THE ESSENCE OF SPEED WITH NEW FACTORY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION: RUNNING IN MOTION
Preview by Steve Cooke
Discover the essence of speed and explore Manchester running culture at a free exhibition at Aviva Studios from Originals Creator Network (OCN) North – a group of 20 emerging creatives from across Manchester and the North.
Running in Motion (25-26 April) is curated and created by the first ever cohort of OCN North – a six-month development programme established in 2024 by adidas Originals and Factory International.
Through audio-visual installations, interactive storytelling, and powerful design, the cohort has reimagined what it means to move fast.
Running in Motion takes over the Social with four major works: PULSE, Do Not Go Gentle, Unsung Heroes, and Three Stories, Three Stripes. Each explores the concept of speed through a unique lens, taking inspiration from Manchester culture, community, and adidas' Adizero shoe.
Established in 2024 by adidas Originals and Factory International, Originals Creator Network (OCN) North builds on the success of OCN South, which was founded in London in 2022 to provide opportunities to underrepresented talent in the UK’s creative scene.
The OCN North programme champions diverse voices, reflecting Factory International and adidas’s shared ambition to cultivate an inclusive creative industry and to offer development opportunities for emerging talent in the region. Applications for the next edition of OCN South programme in London have recently taken place and future cohorts of OCN North in Manchester are set for annual recruitment in the years to come.
Based at Aviva Studios, this first edition of OCN North has brought together 20 emerging creatives from across Manchester and the North over the past six-months. The programme provides a platform to develop their skills, build networks and explore new opportunities in the creative industries through mentorship from adidas and Factory International, masterclasses, and hands-on experience.
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Now, responding to a creative brief from adidas, inspired by Manchester's running culture, the cohort present the culmination of their work – a free exhibition built around speed at Aviva Studios which will launch at 6pm on 25 April and run all day on 26 April 2025 - Running in Motion.
PULSE
They watch the blur of motion; you feel the clarity of purpose.
To them, it’s a race; to you, it’s a connection to your flow.
From the sidelines, they see speed. From within, you feel the momentum pulling you forward.
They see effort; what you feel is transcendence—a fleeting moment where your mind and body align.
PULSE is an audio-visual experience exploring the synergy between speed, sound and rhythm. This immersive installation blends an interactive soundscape with dynamic visuals to present a constellation of Manchester’s running culture and community.
PULSE gets to the heart of how it feels to go fast – the endurance and euphoria of runner’s high are refracted through a modular soundtrack where audiences are invited to set their own cadence and emulate poetic expressions of pace and flow.
By Beni De Makoso, Ella Murray, Brit Seaton, Elizabeth Bisuga and Arif True.
DO NOT GO GENTLE
Step into Do Not Go Gentle, an electrifying zine and installation exploring speed through Manchester’s vibrant nightlife. From drag to dance, clubbing to running, this project captures the pulse of the city after dark, revealing how ‘fast’ is felt beyond the physical. Bold imagery, design, and storytelling celebrate diverse subcultures, while the adizero range weaves into the narrative.
In contrast to the zine’s high-energy aesthetic, the installation offers a moment of stillness—inviting visitors to sit beneath a glowing moon and reflect. Visitors are invited to create their own A5 zine pages underneath the moon as part of our exhibition.
Featuring worn trainers, drag accessories, and curated visuals, this immersive experience invites audiences to feel, see, and live the story. Expect a visually striking, celebratory, and thought-provoking journey through Manchester’s nocturnal spirit.
By Jack Jameson, Rosa Fryer, Honor Rowlands, Amy Parton and Oscar Cloud.
UNSUNG HEROES
Unsung Heroes spotlights exceptional real-life stories that uncover the profound impact running has beyond the finish line; honouring the transformative, healing power of running and celebrating the unsung heroes that uplift our running communities.
Featuring a handcrafted medallion displayed upon bespoke podiums Unsung Heroes serves a new kind of recognition – not just speed, but the mental resilience and determination it takes to keep moving forward. Spectators are invited to rethink how we reward ourselves for overcoming adversity, reminding us that every step we take, is built on the moments we chose to rise after falling, and how our personal triumphs have such profound impact in shaping the milestones of those around us. Our fast is only possible because of each-other.
By Angelica Giles, Rakhel Ojinnaka, Kymara Akinpelumi, Areesha Ali and Hriday Das.
THREE STORIES, THREE STRIPES
Three Stories, Three Stripes is a three-channel video installation exploring the spiritual and somatic possibilities of runners high. Set to a bassline heavy score, each film explores speed as a response to inner city life.
Through experimental frequencies and the influence of sound system culture, audiences can expect to feel immersed as they follow three personal stories, sharing a common thread of human nature and how each individual relates to running.
By Ayman Chaudhry, Ella Mayamothi Sommeil, Sujanhariharan Ragunathan, Brody Salmon and Anthony Namba.
Rakhel Ojinnaka, creator – Originals Creator Network North said: “The way my capabilities have been stretched has been really transformative. I feel like I'm a different person in a lot of ways. Getting the experience to grow and develop - even as purely as being in the room and learning from others, communicating with them and facing challenges straight up. It's been hard work but really positive.”
Brit Seaton, creator – Originals Creator Network North said: ““OCN North has been full of unexpected discoveries and new connections. I had no idea what to expect but I've found so many creative opportunities and have refined the direction I want to take my practice in as a Creative Producer. It's been amazing to collaborate with such amazing people and to find such genuine connections, both personally and in our work. The facilitators have empowered us to show up as ourselves and I'm excited to carry the ideas explored here into future projects too.”
Scott McVittie - Executive Commercial Director, Factory International said: "Manchester has always been a city that moves fast, and this cohort has captured that spirit, bringing fresh perspectives and bold ideas to the table. The work they’ve created doesn’t just reflect where we are now, but where the creative industries are heading - diverse, dynamic, and driven by new voices.
“We know that arts and culture can have a profound impact on people’s lives, careers, and wider society. The future of our sector depends on giving emerging talent real opportunities to experiment, collaborate, and be seen, and that’s exactly what OCN North has done.”
Running In Motion
25 - 26 April (Exhibition Launch - 6pm 25 April)
The Social, Factory International, Aviva Studios
Free to attend, no booking required
A lineup of experienced freelance musicians at TLC
Review by Dr Joe Dawson
The Telemann Baroque Ensemble has become a popular regular group at Toad Lane Concerts with their varied line ups of experienced freelance musicians. Today this consisted of Peter Collier harpsichord, Alastair Roberts flute, Sarah Snape violin, John Goodstadt viola and Roger Bisby cello. As they appear quarterly, they almost make up a residential band!
The harpsichord crucially makes an authentic historical sound and helps to bring the eighteenth-century music to life. Together with the cello, they make the basso continuo, which underpins the whole music.
We began with Telemann’s Flute Quartet in D minor, a fine example of this prolific composer’s output. We are fortunate to have freelance players of this quality.
Next came a work by Frederick the Great who was an avid flautist before he became ‘Old Fritz’ King of Prussia. As a young man this put him at loggerheads with his authoritarian father. However, he later managed to fight the Seven Years War and conquer Silesia as well as compose and play nightly concerts. Today’s performance of his Flute Sonata No 9 in E minor was for flute and harpsichord solo which allowed the glories of each instrument to come through, just as it would have with ‘Old Fritz’.
Then Telemann’s Trio in G for violin, viola, and basso continuo, let the strings blossom with contrasted movements of lilting melodies and rhythmic dances.
At this point Peter took a well-earned rest from playing harpsichord and also introducing the works (from his vast personal library) with interesting anecdotes. The ensemble moved effortlessly from Baroque to Classical with Mozart’s Flute Quartet in D, K 285.
All this was excellently played, individually and in ensemble, which brought the eighteenth century to life in the wonderful acoustic of St Mary in the Baum.
The Queen’s Award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Grade 1 listed church of St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.
RECOMMENDED
Thursday 18 April 2025
Visit Fireground Museum
Join us at Fireground this week to discover Greater Manchester's firefighting story.
Fire museum attractions are on show inside the museum including our collection of historic firefighting artefacts from the 18th century to present day, plus home-made refreshments in the new Fireground Café, and souvenirs from our fantastic new gift shop! We have a wide choice ranging from toddler to collector.
Under 4s are free, Children (aged 4-15) and Concessions £5, Adults £7 and Family (4 people) £20.
Phone: Fireground 01706 341219
Open Thursday, Friday & Saturday from 10am - 4pm
Fireground, Maclure Road, Rochdale OL11 1DN
Tuesday 22 April 2025
Rochdale & District Camera Club - Portrait evening
Session: Portrait evening
You are more than welcome to come down to one of our club nights to see if you would enjoy joining the club.
Visit the link below for the 2025 syllabus.
Phone: Pete Williams 07967 969136
8pm - 10pm
Syke Methodist Church Hall, Syke Road, Rochdale OL12 9TF
Wednesday 23 April 2025
Toad Lane Concerts - Rochdale's Weekly Music at Lunchtime
This week we have - (Number 1,133!) Chetham’s Music School - young pianists with Slava Sidorenko
The concert series has been held at St Mary’s since 2001 and was granted the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2020.
Running every Wednesday, 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 volunteer-enthusiasts and artistic director, Dr Joe Dawson.
£6
Phone: Dr Joe Dawson 01706 648872
Doors open 12noon, concert starts 12.30pm - 1.30pm
St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane/St Mary's Gate, Rochdale OL16 1DZ
Wednesday 23 April 2025
Artwork Snapshots
Ebor Studio have more artists than ever before taking part in their Associate Members Show this year!
To give you more context to all the amazing works, they have organised an evening of short introductions so you can listen to the artists talk about their work.
Come along for a relaxed evening of snapshots in to the creative process of the exhibiting artists. Have a brew or a glass of wine and learn about a varied range of processes in a number of different mediums from ceramics to painting, photography, sound, craft and more.
Free / Pay What You Want
Please email info@eborstudio.co.uk to arrange a visit outside of an organised event or to discuss access requirements.
Ebor Studio, William Street, Rochdale, Lancashire, OL15 8JP
celebrating creative arts and artists - an oasis of positivity supporting individual and community wellbeing.
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