Rochdale Artist Hayley Garner Honored as Creative of the Year
Hayley Garner, also known as AYLO, has been awarded the prestigious Creative of the Year title at the inaugural Rochdale Cultural Awards Ceremony. The impressive event took place at Rochdale Town Hall, celebrating local artistic talent. A multi-disciplinary artist and curator, Hayley is one half of the world-renowned street art duo Nomad Clan and was born in Rochdale. She has significantly contributed to the area by bringing bold, large-scale murals to Rochdale and Heywood, focusing on themes of human connection, emotion, and perspective to transform public spaces through powerful visual storytelling.
Common Walls: Youth Voices Initiative Empowers Young Creatives
In addition to her award, Hayley has recently wrapped up what she describes as "one of the most important projects I’ve been part of this year" – Common Walls: Youth Voices. This initiative is part of Rochdale’s Youth Arts Festival (FAB). Over the past month, AYLO and the Common Walls team collaborated closely with a small group of young creatives from Rochdale, providing support through a series of workshops. These sessions covered mural practice and the realities of working in the creative industries, including idea generation, collaborative design, CV writing, artist statements, portfolio building, and scaling work onto public walls.
AYLO emphasized that the project’s success was not just about the final mural but the significant growth in confidence, ownership, and ambition among the participants. She noted, "From day one to completion, the level of growth was clear. They showed up, put the work in, supported each other and took the process seriously, and it shows in the end result." She highlighted that opportunities like this are crucial in towns like Rochdale, where talent is abundant but access to guidance and real-world experience can be limited. "When young people are given the time, space and proper support, they don’t just take part, they step up," she added.
The project has already led to commissions and opportunities for the young artists, showcasing its lasting impact. The murals created through Common Walls: Youth Voices are now part of Rochdale and Heywood’s urban art scene, contributing to the legacy of the area’s successful year as GM Town of Culture and supporting its bid to become the National Town of Culture.
Explore Rochdale’s Open-Air Art Gallery
For those interested in viewing these and other murals, the Common Walls Mural Map serves as a free guide to Rochdale’s open-air art gallery. It features over 20 stunning murals that tell stories of the town’s people, history, and culture. The map is available at various locations, including Rochdale Town Hall, Fireground, The Baum, Pionero Lounge, Hampton by Hilton Rochdale, Number Ten Gallery, Buckley Menswear, and Number One Riverside, or can be viewed and downloaded online.
This award and project underscore the vibrant cultural scene in Rochdale, driven by dedicated artists like Hayley Garner and the empowering initiatives that foster youth creativity and community engagement.
