Photo Gallery: Harmony, Contrast & Discord, Touchstones Rochdale, Greater Manchester
Where did all of our arts schools go? Spanning two galleries, the starting point for Harmony, Contrast and Discord is the fact that there were more than 150 art schools in the UK in the mid-60s, many of them in industrial towns and cities where arts education provision has (arguably) been eroded for good.
Artists John Beck and Matthew Cornford have spent almost 10 years photographing the sites of these former art schools as they are today, including the car park in Rochdale that was the site of the never replaced Rochdale College of Art. Featuring Beck and Cornford’s photography, artwork and objects from Rochdale’s collections, the art and stories of alumni and tutors and a ‘live’ art school, this exhibition explores the value placed on education in the arts, the legacy of the art schools and what relation art should have to broader society now and in the future.
Main image: Salford School of Arts
Harmony, Contrast & Discord is at Touchstones Rochdale until July 3, 2021. Click here for more information.
Editor's Picks
Advertising and Sponsorship Opportunities
Is your organisation interested in supporting quality journalism about culture, life and enterprise in the North of England?
For advertising and sponsorship opportunities contact Northern Soul’s Founder and Editor Helen Hugent at helennugent@northernsoul.me.uk.
Sign up for Northern Soul newsletter
The Northern Soul Poll

Recent Tweets for @Northern_Soul_
That sneaky cow went through the fence and is eating all of the flowers... pic.twitter.com/eSZUFFIGcG
@bethh_journo Vimto ice cream! We need that in our lives.
@Amy_Fleur_Stone Hey Amy - hope you're well. Helen from NS here. I'd like to drop you an email if you'd DM your address?
It may be a gloomy day but the view from our seat at The New Waggoners in Loveclough is still pretty special. #Loveclough #Lancashire pic.twitter.com/ovfHRgHeOH
Exhibition: A Woodland Sanctuary, Inspired by… gallery, North York Moors northernsoul.me.uk/exhibition… @northyorkmoors pic.twitter.com/XHZbF2VQXT
0 comments