mid CHRISTMAS WEEK COLUMN 2025

STEVE COOKE AATA
3 minutes ago
5 min read

previews, reviews, interviews, and recommendations with Steve Cooke

MID CHRISTMAS WEEK COLUMN DECEMBER 2025

Article: Recognition for Rochdale Pioneers Museum

Preview: Notes from College Bank - Book Launch and Exhibition

Reviews: BFI Academy with Touchstones Rochdale and Drawing Fundamentals - Level 2 Award at Hopwood Hall college

BFI ACADEMY with Touchstones Rochdale

Review by Steve Cooke

Over the past couple of months, Touchstones Rochdale have been working with a group of 11 young people in the British Film Institute’s (BFI) Short Film Course. With the assistance of film industry professionals, the participants have taken part in workshops covering sound recording, camera operation, film direction and production, scriptwriting, character design, and casting.

On November 8, the group completed the pre-production phase, which included finalising the script, selecting filming locations, and casting actors for the film. This allowed us to begin the three-day production phase of the short course, which started on 15 November at Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre.

During the production days, each young person had the opportunity to work one-on-one with industry professionals, guiding them through the process of making decisions about various aspects of the film, including costumes, filming schedule, camera angles, takes, set dressing, and last-minute script changes, among others.

After a busy three days of filming at the lake, including one day of shooting in 0-degree weather, the group completed production on the newly titled ‘Hacked Off’ slightly ahead of schedule on November 22, which is a rare achievement in the film industry. This means that the final phase of the short course will begin in the new year, during which the group will work again with industry professionals to edit the sound and film. Once the editing is approved, the film will be submitted to the BFI and showcased at HOME in Manchester in February.

Drawing Fundamentals - Level 2 Award at Hopwood Hall College

Preview by Steve Cooke

The need for greater drawing skills in those entering employment has been identified by a range of industries in the creative sector including animation, film, architecture, art practice, design and communication industries.

Drawing is also widely used within a range of other professions who can benefit from the development of creative language skills and visual literacy that this qualification in drawing supports and promotes. These include sport, law, musicology, archaeology, medicine, science, mathematics, cartography, anthropology, music and performance. The qualifications will allow students to develop an independent critical understanding of drawing and extend their skills base.

This course from Hopwood Hall College is for beginners and will enable you to develop:

An understanding of the value of drawing as a tool for creative activity

A range of drawing skills appropriate to the support of creative activity

A critical and analytical approach to drawing activity

An awareness of the different contexts, approaches and disciplines of drawing within creative activity

Course fees (if not eligible for funding): £300.

On completion of this course students would progress to a level 2 Diploma in Art and Design or consider an Access course in Art and Design.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements for this introductory course. However, a keen interest in Art and Design with a desire to improve or develop your drawing skills is desirable if you are to find the course engaging and enjoyable. It is essential before starting the course that students understand it is for beginners.

Drawing Fundamentals - Level 2 Award

Wednesday 21 January 2026 - Thursday Evenings - 18:00 to 21:00 - 15 Weeks - Total Hours: 45 - Qualification: Award

Level: 2 Course Code: APAL2DFB

Find out more and apply: https://www.hopwood.ac.uk/course-detail/level-2-award-in-drawing-fundamentals/APAL2DFB/?dm_i=4B79,1SOFJ,8H8WW9,8GUWH,1

Notes from College Bank - Book Launch and Exhibition

Preview by Steve Cooke

Notes from College Bank is an ongoing and very topical project documenting the stories of the residents of College Bank in Rochdale. Photographer and storyteller Ellie Waters has made a Book of the project.

Exhibition and book launch by Ellie Waters

Saturday, Jan 10, 2026, from 2 pm to 5 pm

To reserve a place visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/notes-from-college-bank-book-launch-and-exhibition-tickets

There is also an accompanying Notes from College Bank - Archiving & Storytelling Workshop

A great opportunity to join Ellie Waters, and fellow Ebor artist and photographer Bob France for a free archiving workshop!

This drop-in archiving workshop centres on giving participants the opportunity to digitise their own photographs - including negatives, slides and printed photographs.

Monday 12th of January 4pm to 7pm

Booking required: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/notes-from-college-bank-archiving-and-storytelling-workshop-tickets

Ebor Studio, William St, Littleborough, OL15 8JP

Recognition for Rochdale Pioneers Museum

By Steve Cooke

The site of the Rochdale Pioneers Museum at 31 Toad Lane was where the ‘Pioneers’, 28 working people opened a co-operative store on the 21st December 1844.

The shop sold fairly priced, good quality food during very hard times.

This was social enterprise in action; a chance for local people to become equal members in a revolution that spread all over the world.

Historic England have announced their list of 100 important places to the heritage of the UK. Each of the categories lists ten vital spots which underpin the culture and history of our nation. They were selected by a series of Judges from submissions by the general public.

For the category of Trade, Industry and Commerce, Rochdale Pioneers Museum have been chosen to make the top ten by Tristam Hunt, Historian and current Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The Team are working with Historic England in Rochdale to celebrate the uniqueness of Rochdale’s historic character by developing local Heritage Schools in the Borough this Summer.

“We are absolutely delighted to be recognised in this way alongside some very well-known sites. We welcome anyone to come and visit us for free to find out more about the heritage of co-operation and what impact it had on British trade, economy and a better, fairer life for the people.”

This wonderful resource, right on our doorstep receives visitors from around the world,

if you have already paid a visit, I highly recommend that you do.

The Museum includes such as:

Virtual Museum

Time Machine

Museum Artefacts

Learning Resources

Free entry.

Rochdale Pioneers Museum, 31 Toad Lane Rochdale, Lancashire, OL12 0NU

Open Wednesday to Saturday 10:30am – 4pm

Closed to the public Sunday – Tuesday

Monday & Tuesdays available for Learning bookings

Telephone: 01706 524920

Enquiries: museum@co-op.ac.uk

RECOMMENDED

Saturday, 27 December 2025

Reading Group - Middleton Library

Last Saturday of every month. Discover new authors and discuss books with other readers in this friendly and relaxed reading group.

Books are provided and loaned through the library. Refreshments will be provided.

For Adults, no booking required, you can just turn up.

Email: middleton.library@rochdale.gov.uk

Free

1.30pm - 2.30pm

Middleton Library, Long Street, Middleton M24 6DU

Saturday, 27 December 2025

Monthly Lego Club - Langley Library

Last Saturday of every month. A monthly Lego Club with a different theme each session. All creations will be displayed in the library until the following month. There's Duplo for younger children.

For families with children aged 4 and over.

Booking required: Please book by 4pm the day before a session. You can book by:

Emailing langley.library@rochdale.gov.uk

Phoning 0161 654 8911

Calling into the library

Free

10.30am - 12pm

Langley Library, Windermere Road, Middleton M24 4LA

Saturday, 27 December 2025

Kids' Club - Wardle Library

Come along and get creative at our craft table.

For families with children aged 4 and over.