Newly appointed NPO closes museum for refurbishment

A museum in Rochdale that joined the National Portfolio this year is to close for 18 months in August for redevelopment works.

Touchstones museum and art gallery is operated by Your Trust, which became a National Portfolio Organisation last month, receiving £325,000 a year for the next three years.

The museum's Grade II listed building, which is currently home to five temporary galleries, is closing for a refurbishment that forms part of an £8.5m investment package into arts and culture in Rochdale over the next three years. 

Funding for the investment project has been granted through the government’s Cultural Development Fund.

The redevelopment at Touchstones will create new performance and production spaces for artists and improved areas for training, live events and exhibitions. A new retail and catering space, alongside improvements to archives, collections and displays are also planned.

Head of Engagement and Heritage and Touchstones Rochdale, Mark Doyle, said: “Closing the building for a significant amount of time is never the ideal option, but the teams are working hard to coordinate activities and groups to ensure we’re still working across the borough throughout the redevelopment."