Crafting Heritage exhibition during Refugee Week 2025

We were delighted to present a celebration of our Crafting Heritage project on Wednesday 18th June, at the stunning 19th-century Rochdale Town Hall, during Refugee Week. 

2025 GM Arts Access Bursaries

In partnership with Rochdale Borough Council, GM Arts is offering bursaries between £100 - £250 for freelance creative practitioners. 

These bursaries are here to support your growth by making it easier to attend workshops, training, networking, or access other professional development opportunities

Carbon Literary Bursary

Reflecting on our IMPACT Conference

We were thrilled to celebrate our 40th birthday through a conference on arts and health.

The IMPACT: Reflect + Respond Conference for World Mental Health Day on Thursday 10th October 2024

The IMPACT: Reflect + Respond conference is aimed at both those experienced in this area and organisations and individuals who want to know more, build their knowledge and learning and forge connections within the arts and mental health sector. 

Crafting Heritage Traineeship

Darnhill Festival 2024

Rain doesn’t stop play at this year’s Darnhill Festival.

Are you ready for 2024’s Darnhill Festival?

With the Darnhill Festival just days away, we’ve been busy working with local community groups, Rochdale Connections Trust, Rochdale Youth Service, primary schools, and young people.

Join us on Saturday 6 th July between 12pm – 5pm.

Darnhill Festival 2024

Searching For Safer Planets and celebrating the local community 
Argyle Parade, Darnhill, Rochdale, OL10 3RY
12pm-5pm, Saturday 6th July 2024

Pilotlight 360 - thank you for having us!

The Pilotlight 360 scheme gave invaluable support to Cartwheel Arts’ director Hebe in her first year as our CEO.

Free Family Fun Day!

Attention Heywood! 

We’d love you to join us for a free Community Event at Heywood Sports Village from 12 noon – 3 pm on Sunday 16^th June.

Tour De Manc: Cycling 225 Miles for Cartwheel Arts

We’re cycling hundreds of miles to raise money for our creative projects in Rochdale. 

Our intrepid cyclists Hebe, Molly and Elle are in training to tackle the challenging Tour De Manc on  Sunday  5th May to raise money for our charity and our many projects working with the communities of Rochdale.  

New green shoots in Deeplish!

Deeplish families and individuals worked with artist Alex Blakey to create beautifully decorated planters.  The planters have been decorated with the words of local people and images of the community and places in Deeplish, including the local mosque.

RBCN Small Grants Fund

Could you use some funds / resources to develop an idea or your artistic practice?

More funding news

Did you know about the GMCA Inspire Fund? 

Little Artists this Feb & March

Are you the mum, dad or carer of a 2 – 4 year old? Then Little Artists is for you. Bring your little one to a FREE...

Arts Council England Project Grants Match Funding

The Arts Council England Project Grants Match Funding Programme is an initiative from Rochdale Borough Culture Network, funded by Your Trust and administered by Cartwheel Arts on behalf of the Network. 

Darnhill Festival 2023

Now Hiring - TWO Programme Coordinator Vacancies

Cartwheel Arts Secures Funding for Major Heritage Project

Become a Cartwheel Trustee

Whether you’re an experienced Trustee or wanting to take your first step at Board level, we want to hear from you! We encourage applications from applications from all backgrounds, ages, lived experience, knowledge and skills, who are able to support our work in reaching and developing work and partnerships with communities in Rochdale, Greater Manchester and across the North West.

This Saturday - Darnhill Festival

Darnhill Festival 2023

Art & Soul @ HOME

We're Hiring! Programme Coordinator, Art for Wellbeing

Cartwheel Arts Included in the GMCA Culture Fund

Vacancy - Cartwheel Arts Operations and Development Manager

Award Season!

Cartwheel Arts Awarded Arts Council NPO Status

Little Artists in Ramsbottom

Cartwheel Arts Awarded £20,000 from Garfield Weston Foundation

We are thrilled to announce that Cartwheel Arts has received £20,000 in funding from The Garfield Weston Foundation to help us continue delivering Art for a Reason

Emerging Artist Blog - Beth Cockroft

Emerging Artist Blog - Sky Byrne

RBCN Small Grants Fund now open

Cartwheel Arts Wins Pilotlight 360 & Weston Charity Award

Paid Emerging Artist Opportunity

We are recruiting for three Emerging Artists to support the work we do here at Cartwheel Arts.

FLUX - For Year 6 Leavers

A creative resource for Year 6 leavers making the transition to high school

Stories of Strength Podcast

A new podcast sharing stories from 100 women in Rochdale.

Welcome to Cartwheel's new Director!

Cartwheel Arts, are today announcing the appointment of their new Director, Hebe Reilly. Hebe leaves her role as Engagement Manager at The Lowry in Salford to lead Cartwheel Arts. Hebe has a track record of delivering large scale, participatory arts programmes, that support the health and wellbeing of communities, both within Greater Manchester and internationally. 

Season's Greetings

The Cartwheel office will be closed from 22nd December - 4th January, so we just wanted to remind you where you can access support during that time:

Phone the Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
Text SHOUT to 85258
Local: contact your GP
Call Rochdale MIND on 01706 752338

Light Up Langley!

Darnhill Winter Wonderland

We are recruiting for an Admin & Comms Officer

Could you join the team as our Admin and Comms Officer? We're looking for a highly organised individual who is passionate about digital media & communications | 15 hours per week. Closes 9th Nov, 5pm. 

Join the Cartwheel team

We are currently recuriting for two posts. The Director position closes on Friday 22nd October at 9am, and the Admin and Communications Officer closes on Tuesday 9th November at 5pm.

We are recruiting for a new Director

Our long standing Director Rick Walker is retiring after two decades with the company. We are therefore looking for an experienced leader who is passionate about the social impact that participatory arts can make in low income neighbourhoods and marginalised communities, delivering creative excitement and positive outcomes for both individuals and groups, and in bringing about a socially just society

Thank you!

We are so pleased to announce that we have been awarded £18,253 from Postcode Neighbourhood Trust to support our programme of work: Art for a Reason.

New team members

We're delighted to introduce our new Project Assistants, who have come to us via the Kickstart programme. Millie and Bailey will be with us till the end of November and we're thrilled to have them as part of the Cartwheel team.

Like what we do? Join our Board!

We are recruiting for a volunteer with a background in finance to join our Board of Trustees.

WIN! Art for Induction Materials!

A fantastic opportunity for Rochdale Schools to win an exciting array of materials that complement the Art for Induction resource.

The Poetry Miles

Creative conversations with three communities across Rochdale - Deeplish, Langley and Darnhill. Collaborative poems jet-washed on to the streets, creating an immersive arts experience that the public can walk along. 

Kickstart: Project Assistants

We are delighted to announce that we are recruiting 2 x Project Assistants through the Kickstart scheme... 

Little Artists: big box of creativity

We're delighted to announce our latest project, Little Artists: big box of creativity. With funding from the Ragdoll Foundation and Rochdale Borough Council. Cartwheel Arts will be working with 30 families across Rochdale to co-design an activity resource and art pack for children aged 2-4 years.

Nature in Danger!

Nature in Danger was a Curious Minds funded project that took place over October half term with a group of 12 young people in Year 7 who are from refugee, asylum seeker or Gypsy Roma Traveller families and who are going through the toughest of transitions. We're pleased to release the video about the project which you can watch here

Fire Shows!

Thanks to funding from The Guinness Partnership and their contractors Integrated Water Services, Inc. Pennington Choices and Aspect Contracts we were able to invite Travelling Light Circus to perform fire shows across Darnhill, Heywood during December. This photo is such a great reminder of how the arts bring joy and wonder.

Here is the film from the show we did with Rochdale Youth Service. https://youtu.be/soqxm-jtGtw 

Creative Christmas packs

Following the success of the Get Creative Inside! packs earlier in the year, the Darnhill Festival Association commissioned us to develop a Christmas Creative pack for 1,100 primary school children on the Darnhill estate. You can download your pack here

Collaborate Updates

Read more about our artists in reviews, interviews and blog posts surrounding the Collaborate exhibition.

Collaborate Exhibition

We gathered together on Thursday 19th November to celebrate brand new work from 10 Greater Manchester based artists. Responding to the new ways we're connecting online the artists explored a range of environmental issues...

Nature in Danger!

Nature in Danger is a Curious Minds funded project taking place over October half term with a group of 12 young people in Year 7 who are from refugee, asylum seeker or Gypsy Roma Traveller families and who are going through the toughest of transitions. 

Cartwheel Arts: 6 months of lockdown

On Wednesday 23rd September, Cartwheel Arts marked 6 months since the UK first went into Lockdown by publishing an impact report showing their response to the pandemic so far.

GMCA Creative Care Kits!

We've been delighted to contribute activities to the GMCA Creative Care Kits that have been distributed to 38,000 people across Greater Manchester over the past few weeks. 

You can download the packs here:

Creative Care Kit for young people

Creative Care Kit for older people

Get Creative Inside Tutorial Videos!

So you have the materials and you want to try out one of our activities in an easy and accessible way. We've made it really easy for you to join in with these dedicated art tutorial videos!

Join the Cartwheel Board of Trustees!

We are recruiting for a volunteer to join our Board of Trustees

Closing date: 3rd July 2020, 5pm

COVID-19

Just a little note from all the staff team at Cartwheel Arts to say that we hope you are all well during this challenging time.

Cartwheel’s work has always centred around the power of human connection so we are fully aware of the impact that the distancing may be having.

We are working hard behind the scenes to devise a way of offering these creative connections in another format, as a temporary measure, and will keep you updated when we have something to share.

Following advice from the government, the Cartwheel team are all working from home. The office phone isn’t being manned, but we can pick up voicemails if you leave one, and we are answering emails.

This time will pass, and when it does we can’t wait to see you all and use art as a way to heal and reconnect.

Support from Pritt

We would like to extend a big thank you to Pritt (made by Henkel UK) who donated 4,500 glue sticks for our Get Creative Inside Packs.

Click Pritt's logo to find a special creative activity!

Join the Cartwheel Board of Trustees!

We are recruiting for a practising artist or experienced arts manager to join our Board of Trustees...

Darnhill Time Machine film!

Creativity in Newbold

Over the summer months Newbold is getting creative in a series of workshops that are completely free to attend! Find out who it's for and how to get involved...

Join the Cartwheel Board of Trustees

We are recruiting for a voluntary Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees, find out more here

Our Overspill project launch!

Call in for tea and cake and find out more about our heritage project - collecting and sharing memories and stories from Manchester's slum clearances and overspill estates...

The impact of IMPACT

IMPACT: Reaching Out has been and gone. We've reflected on how the day went and collated your feedback...

Tickets on sale now!

IMPACT: Reaching Out is an Art for Wellbeing conference focusing on using creativity to achieve meaningful engagement and positive mental wellbeing outcomes. 

Aimed at health professionals, arts organisations, third sector partners and the education sector, delegates will take part in inspirational workshops and presentations for a unique and immersive experience.

Save the date! IMPACT: Reaching Out

IMPACT: Reaching Out will take place on Wednesday 13th March 2019, 9:30-4pm, at the Rochdale Town Hall. It is a conference for arts organisations/practitioners, health professionals and the education sector to explore the impact of the arts on mental health.

We're recruiting!

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and are recruiting for a Project Manager to deliver, Overspill.

Darnhill Festival 2018: the natural festival

Art's coming home! Despite competing with the England football team for festival attendees, we had a great turn out at our natural inspired festival. See here for more photos of the day.

Darnhill Summer Festival 2018: Save the Date

Come along to the Darnhill Summer Festival and experience all things natural! From willow weaving to natural potions! As well as a climbing wall, bouncy castle, face painting and a mini farm!

All welcome to this free event!

Cartwheel Arts Privacy Notice

You've probably heard a lot about GDPR recently. Well, here at Cartwheel Arts we take your privacy very seriously and will never, ever pass your data on. Read our full Privacy Notice for more information.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Last Friday we held an open day to open up discussion about stress and share ideas on how to cope with it...

Volunteers' Week

For Volunteers Week 2018 we’re holding an open day for everyone interested in our current volunteer roles!

It will take place on Tuesday 5^th June between 1-4pm at our office in Heywood

Creative Team Building

Creative Team Building with Shelter resulted in all delegates feeling more confident.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Join us on Friday 18th May in our creative studio for a day of stress-free workshops...

Darnhill Summer Festival 2018!

SAVE THE DATE!

We are delighted to announce that the annual Darnhill summer festival will take place on Saturday 7th July 2018 from 12pm on and around Argyle Parade and Darnhill Library.

New Publications

Cartwheel Arts new publications are available now online and printed.

Read Do. Be. (in partnership with Link4Life) & Springs Uncovered (produced for Springs Tenant Management Cooperative)

CRESS - Taster Sessions - OPENED

Taster sessions allow an introduction to Art for Wellbeing and are aimed at adults who feel their wellbeing would benefit from regular creative group activity.

Creative CPD Training available

Cartwheel Arts have 2 programmes of CPD training coming up, providing you with creative methods to implement Best Practice.

CPD sessions will be delivered at our Art for Wellbeing Studio, Dandelion Create in August/September 2017

Do. Be.

Cartwheel Arts and Link4Life are excited to announce the online presence of Do.Be.

Mapping and Best Practice project of cultural and sporting activities, which promote emotional wellbeing and resilience for children and young people in the borough.

FILMS for Wellbeing

CHeck our latest film productions 'work in progress"...

Scribble Festival 2016

A celebration of community writing, story telling and publishing

Power In Your Pocket

Power in Your Pocket launches in Rochdale

100 Moments to wrap up...

100 Moments, Aug 2016- Feb 2017
100 Moments began in August 2016 and  is the launch project for Live Well Make Art, a social movement across Greater Manchester promoting and fostering the benefits of creativity and the arts for health and wellbeing.

Awards & Grants

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded two new grants by Trusthouse Charitable Foundation and Woodward Charitable Trust

IMPACT: Led by You

Art for Wellbeing conference exploring participant led approaches