National town of culture bid expected from Rochdale

Rochdale is vying to become the UK’s first ever town of culture. The council has announced their intention to bid to become the UK Town of Culture 2028, a national competition launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Rochdale is vying to become the UK’s first ever town of culture. The council has announced their intention to bid to become the UK Town of Culture 2028, a national competition launched by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The competition invites towns across the UK to showcase their cultural story and develop ambitious programmes that celebrate local heritage, creativity and communities. The winning town receives £3m to deliver a year-long cultural programme in 2028 designed to boost civic pride, attract visitors and provide the opportunity to participate in cultural activities. 

The local authority made the decision to bid following a successful year as Greater Manchester’s town of culture for 2025/26.

Rochdale’s bid is currently at the early stages as the council works with Rochdale Development Agency, cultural groups, education providers and community organisations to highlight the creativity and diversity that defines the town. 

Rochdale’s bid is expected to build on the town’s history as the birthplace of the Co-operative movement and has been a centre for political reform, collective action and working-class cultural innovation.

Rochdale is a town of rich history, whose people and ideas have shaped the social, democratic and cultural life of the UK and beyond. In 1844, the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society established principles of fairness, equality and shared ownership that transformed economic and social practice worldwide. 

These values of social value, ethical growth and fairness remain embedded in Rochdale’s identity, according to those behind the bid for the town of culture award.  

With the extravagant Grade-I listed town hall building having a recent £20m renovation, the Touchstones art gallery due to re-open next year and other cultural venues all on the rise – there is plenty for Rochdale to shout about. The town has also made a significant contribution to the UK’s popular culture, producing internationally recognised musicians, artists, writers and performers. 

Its Cargo Studios became an important site for the postpunk and alternative music scene, creating recordings that redefined working class cultural expression and contributed to the UK’s global creative reputation. 

Council leader Neil Emmott, said: “We have a strong foundation for a bold and future focused UK Town of Culture programme and an incredible story to tell. We’ll be developing a fabulous programme of new events and activities as well as amplifying our existing offer and recently transformed town hall square and centre.  

“As we have already seen during our year as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, we have an established infrastructure of creative partners ready to go, who have already expressed their support for our bid, providing significant capacity and scale to deliver a UK town of culture programme in 2028 that would leave a permanent cultural legacy.

“We have exciting and varied attractions and iconic venues that have seen significant investment, an array of creative talent and we’re very well connected. This bid will allow us to share this in new ways and invite others to experience it.” 

Rochdale Town Hall, home to the largest town square in England recently reopened following an £20m refurbishment, winning multiple awards and is now an all-year-round attraction. Hosting large events, exhibitions and outdoor performances with a capacity of over 7,000 with artists including OMD and Gabrielle appearing this summer. 

Touchstones Rochdale, the town’s arts and heritage hub re-opens in 2027 following an £8m refurbishment and will host national exhibitions and tours. Other key attractions include Fireground, the Greater Manchester fire station museum and the Pioneers Museum, which includes the original store on Toad Lane that first opened in 1844. 

Other venues including the historic Champness Hall which features an impressive art deco auditorium, Richard Street Studios and the existing Common Walls mural trail would see targeted investment and enable new commissions and learning programmes across the town.