A major new photography exhibition marking the 25th anniversary of NATO’s KFOR mission in Kosovo is set to open at Number One Riverside in Rochdale town centre.
The exhibition, titled KFOR and Kosovo +25, opens on Tuesday 16 January and will run until Wednesday 28 February. It features more than 50 powerful images by renowned documentary photographer Nick Sidle, offering a rare glimpse into the early stages of the peacekeeping mission and the lives of those it sought to protect.
Organised in partnership with the non-profit group Heartstone and funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, the free exhibition presents the human stories behind the conflict, including those of British veterans and refugees who fled to Greater Manchester. It invites visitors to explore the importance of peacekeeping, resilience and community through a non-political, cultural lens.
First shown at the Tower of London, the National Museum of Kosovo, and NATO headquarters, this will be the exhibition’s latest stop on an international tour that has included the House of Commons and the Fusiliers Museum in Bury.
Nick Sidle’s images capture the stark reality of Kosovo in 1999, shortly after NATO troops arrived under UN Security Council Resolution 1244. That intervention followed a series of escalating resolutions, starting with Resolution 1160 in March 1998.
The exhibition also forms part of Rochdale’s year-long role as Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture 2025–26, a title awarded by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to celebrate the borough’s creative identity and rich history.
Councillor Janet Emsley, the council’s lead member for the Armed Forces, said the display holds urgent relevance in today's global climate. “Twenty-five years later, this story holds many lessons for our time in a world where many are living with conflict. It’s also a positive story about hope, resilience and co-operation,” she said. “I’m proud that Rochdale will host this important exhibition.”
The official opening will take place at 3.30pm on Monday 15 January, where visitors will be able to meet individuals featured in the exhibition. Guests will include Sitakumari, director of Heartstone, Kosovan refugee Rina Bujupi, veteran Paul Davies, and Rabbi Warren Elf of Manchester’s Interfaith Network. Refreshments will be provided by Anphora Cafe in Sale, run by Ms Bujupi.
The project has support from high-profile backers including Lord George Robertson and UNA Scotland, and seeks to encourage intergenerational dialogue, understanding and empathy. It has been especially designed to bring together those from different communities through shared stories and lived experiences.
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