Rochdale Borough Culture Network Announces New Chapter With New Host Organisation Caring and Sharing Rochdale

Rochdale Borough Culture Network is delighted to introduce Caring and Sharing Rochdale as its new host organisation. Known for its profound commitment to grassroots community empowerment, health and wellbeing, Caring and Sharing Rochdale takes the helm to lead the network into its next chapter of cultural collaboration.

The RBCN was previously administered and championed by Cartwheel Arts, whose dedicated leadership over the years laid a vital foundation for supporting local creative practitioners, voluntary groups and freelance artists. As the transition takes place, the network continues to operate as a central pillar of the borough’s cultural strategy, driven by a strong collective of partners.

Coinciding with this transition, Blessing Wheto Ogunjimi will step into the role of Chair of the organisation. Blessing brings a wealth of expertise and a deep understanding of the local landscape through her role as Creative Director at Caring and Sharing Rochdale. As an accomplished visual artist, her professional practice is rooted in mixed-media community engagement, using the power of the arts to build inclusive, safe spaces that combat loneliness and foster a true sense of belonging. Her unique dual perspective as both a creative practitioner and an experienced community leader will be invaluable to the network’s future direction.

The RBCN is supported and funded by a dedicated coalition of agencies, including Rochdale Borough Council, Your Trust, the Rochdale Development Agency, Arts Council England, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA). Working alongside sister networks such as Create Rochdale and the Culture Co-Op, Caring and Sharing Rochdale is uniquely positioned to ensure that local arts and culture remain deeply inclusive, accessible and representative of the borough’s diverse voices.