On the trail of town’s hidden artistic gems

ANDY’S story is being told as part of Hidden Tales, a project in Rochdale run by Community Arts North West, which looks at the remarkable life-stories of eight people connected with homeless charity Petrus.

Others taking part include Sister Noel, a nun from Donegal in Ireland, who spent 32 years working in Kenya with babies and families whose mothers had died in childbirth, and Tanzeem Mahmood, who moved to the UK aged 14, with very little English.

She now works for Rochdale Women’s Welfare Association, supporting South Asian women who are experiencing isolation, loneliness, anxiety and depression.

Hidden Tales, which launches on Tuesday, is a digital arts trail around the town centre where smartphone owners can access films, poems and stories inspired by the eight people taking part.

Sara Domville, CAN creative producer, says: “Our partnership with Petrus is a long-standing one, so we’ve got to know many of the volunteers and people seeking their support very well, seeing many glimpses of humanity’s finest attributes – faith, strength, kindness, honesty - that stop you in your tracks.

“It was so important that Hidden Tales, in offering a platform for these stories to be told, did so on those terms, finding the best in people through challenging times.

“Placing the work outside a gallery space, making the videos available digitally, onsite in Rochdale and via mobile phone means that the sense of reality becomes intentionally acute”

Phil Foster, deputy coordinator at Petrus Community, said: “These stories are touching and honest portrayals of people overcoming challenges and show the importance of understanding and concern within our society.”

A live event is taking place taking place at The Vibe, Rochdale on Tuesday, October 17, from 2pm to 4pm, hosted by Mancunian wordsmith, Mike Garry, where the eight video portraits created for Hidden Tales will be shown.

For more information visit can.uk.com/newcommunities/hidden/.