Rochdale initiative offers studio space and funding to emerging artists

Breaking Barriers CIC and Richard Street Studios have launched a new initiative to support early-career visual artists in Rochdale. The program offers three selected artists free studio space, exhibition funding, and professional support to help overcome common barriers to entry in the creative industry.

The opportunity is specifically open to artists from Rochdale or the Global Majority. Each recipient will receive ten days of studio use, valued at approximately £1,200, along with a materials budget, technical assistance, marketing support, and a place in a joint exhibition featuring a launch event.

Supported by The Haworth Trust, the initiative is led by Breaking Barriers CIC, a British Pakistani-led multidisciplinary production company. The studios are part of Rochdale Creates, a cross-sector regeneration project developed by the Rochdale Development Agency and Rochdale Borough Council to repurpose vacant buildings and foster local culture through a Community Wealth Building approach.