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Art exhibition gives voice to Rochdale women's experiences of reproductive healthcare

Unheard Stories, Stalybridge Civic Hall, 3 & 4 July 2026

A free exhibition showcasing the lived experiences of more than 100 women, including participants from Rochdale, will open in Tameside next month.

Unheard Stories brings together artwork exploring subjects including pregnancy, endometriosis and menopause.

The exhibition has been created by Cabasa CIC, which has worked with women aged between 18 and 80 through a series of creative workshops since 2020.

More than 30 pieces of artwork will be displayed at Stalybridge Civic Hall on 3 and 4 July, featuring body art portraits, textiles, sculpture, audio stories, poetry and film.

The project involved partnerships with several organisations, including Rochdale Women's Welfare Association, Seriously Crafty, which meets at Kirkholt Community Church, and Soul Sisters, which supports people affected by domestic violence.

At the heart of the exhibition is The Living Dress, a sculpture by artist Iola Weir which was first displayed at the Rochdale Borough Festival of Ideas in March 2024.

Standing almost five metres tall, the aluminium and steel artwork features a hand dyed gown in shades of red, orange and pink. The design was inspired by the benches outside Rochdale Town Hall.

Visitors will also be able to view a film documenting the creation of Still She Rises, a large scale mural exploring women's experiences of reproductive healthcare. The artwork was painted on the side of Smith Street Car Park during Rochdale's Common Walls Festival in 2025.

Other featured projects include Metamorphosis, which explored body painting during pregnancy, and Endomorphosis, which focuses on the experiences of women living with endometriosis. A second collection of Endomorphosis photographs will be shown publicly for the first time.

The exhibition also includes a soundtrack featuring anonymous first person accounts of women's experiences of accessing reproductive healthcare.

Funding for the projects has come from organisations including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and Postcode Neighbourhood Trust.

Emily Wood, artistic director at Cabasa CIC, said: "Over the last six years we have worked with over 100 amazing women on cross-generational creative projects.

"We now invite you to hear their stories and celebrate the people who have shaped this revealing and emotive body of work."

Unheard Stories will take place at Stalybridge Civic Hall on Friday 3 July from 10am to 5pm and Saturday 4 July from 11am to 4pm. Entry is free.

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