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Making In Tameside is a specially curated collection of unique artworks, all created in response to Tameside's urban and natural landscapes. Culture and creativity are powerful tools to help tell the story of Tameside, celebrating the heritage, the people and the landscape.

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The exhibition’s curator, Sarah Hardacre, tells us why we should visit this summer…

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“Tameside has been my home for over ten years now. It’s where I live, work and create. It’s where I climb hills, mooch around the market, constantly discover new districts, diversions and distractions and where I am constantly inspired and amazed by the abundance of beauty in the borough. I love the diversity, the landscape, the heritage and most of all the cultural energy of Tameside.

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“Being asked to curate a collection of artworks that celebrate Tameside felt like a real honour and an exciting opportunity to create an impact on the culture vision of the borough. I’ve invited artists whose work I love, who’s work I own in my personal art collection and whose work reflects both the built and natural ecologies of Tameside.

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“Artists on display include Stephen Marland - a font of all knowledge on Modernist Architecture across the region, Julian Bovis, an urban landscape artist who’s large-format illustrations focus on the built environment with particular emphasis on repetition, graphical pattern and perspective, and May Wild Studio, a social arts practice whose work investigates the route of the River Tame.

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“With my own collages, I’ve focused on one particular building, my absolutely favourite building in Tameside; The Concord Suite in Droylsden. I think it’s beautiful, which I know is a controversial opinion as most people will call it an eyesore! But this period of architecture, Modernist, Brutalist in nature, holds all the utopian ideals of an aspirational time that looked to a better future.”

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Making in Tameside is on at the Astley Cheetham Gallery until 11 June 2022

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