Young Curators Competition Launches with Rochdale Poet's Debut
The first featured poem of 2026 in the Young Curators competition is Conkers by Leneta Hey, a 23-year-old graduate from the University of Manchester with a first-class degree in English Literature. Hey, who grew up in Shawclough and Healey areas of Rochdale, recently won the Alun Lewis Prize for poetry during her final year. Currently working part-time as a waitress at Pionero Lounge, she also contributes as a journalist for Baby Wolf, a new newspaper project with her university professor, often writing about her Rochdale upbringing and broader class issues.
Hey is taking a gap year after graduation to concentrate on her poetry writing before pursuing a master's degree, with aspirations to eventually publish a poetry collection. Her poem Conkers vividly captures memories of collecting conkers in fields near her childhood home, weaving in dialect and local references that pay homage to Rochdale's working-class history.
Creative Writing Roots and Local Inspiration
Conkers originated from a 10-week creative writing class at university, where students selected items from a bag to craft poems linked to their hometowns. Hey chose a conker, drawing on personal experiences and incorporating elements like Gracie's Field—a nod to singer Gracie Fields—and imagery of cotton weavers and clog-makers from Rochdale's industrial past. The poem uses phrases such as spinnin' and bobbin and polished over like a clog to reflect the area's linguistic and cultural heritage.
Pulling Threads Poetry Performance Returns
In related arts news, the poetry group Pulling Threads will present Best of the Best at the Castleton Literary and Scientific Society on Friday, February 13 at 7pm. Held at Castleton Community Centre on Manchester Road in Rochdale, this event showcases a decade of published works alongside new material from emerging members. The society, founded in 1894 to promote adult education, has supported Pulling Threads for over ten years, including through challenges like World War I commemorations and Covid-19 lockdowns.
Northern Rascals Free Creative Workshop
Dance-theatre company Northern Rascals offers a free creative workshop on Monday, February 2 from 5pm to 6.30pm at Richard Street Studios in Rochdale. This intergenerational session, open to all backgrounds and experience levels, explores folk stories and the legend of the Cragg Vale Coiners—18th-century counterfeiters from West Yorkshire. Activities include movement warm-ups, group discussions, and creative writing tasks focused on personal and community tales.
UTOPIA Installation at Aviva Studios
Artist Trackie McLeod and Factory International's Young Curators present UTOPIA, a free installation at Aviva Studios in Manchester from Thursday, February 19 to Saturday, February 21, 2026. This project transforms a traditional working men's pub concept into an inclusive space examining nostalgia, class, and gentrification in Glasgow and Manchester. By day, it operates as a pub and exhibition with workshops; by night, it hosts live music and performances, celebrating grassroots culture and community connections.
Additional Local Arts Highlights
Other upcoming events include a Circus Spectacular at Middleton Arena on Sunday, February 15, 2026, featuring international acts and comedy, with tickets from £18. The Toad Lane Concerts series continues on February 4 at St Mary in the Baum in Rochdale, presenting mezzo-soprano Imogen Garner with pianist John Gough for £6 admission. These initiatives underscore Rochdale's vibrant arts scene, fostering creativity and community engagement across generations.
