Northern Roots aims to inspire a bold, surprising and high-quality arts offer, that animates the 160-acre site and brings local communities and visitors together.
The Northern Roots site, and vision, should act as venue, inspiration, canvas and source of materials for arts and culture programming. Our ambition is to grow a collaborative cultural offer that is rooted in Oldham’s unique heritage, diverse communities and creative sector, and focuses on:
- Providing a platform, inspiration and source of commissions for local, regional and emerging talent across a range of disciplines.
- Harnessing arts, heritage, sport and culture to involve local communities in the co-production of the wider Northern Roots offer.
- Curating an ambitious, high quality offer, that brings new art forms and practitioners to local audiences.
- Using arts and culture to connect a wider range of people with the natural environment, increase awareness of environmental issues and inspire action.
Over the last three years we have collaborated with local, regional and international artists and partners, commissioning new work for outdoor arts events and welcoming over 3000 visitors to the Northern Roots site.
We are proud to have worked with Oldham Theatre Workshop, Manchester Histories Festival, Walk the Plank, Paper Trail Collective, Full Stilt, Lingua Franca World Community CIC, Eye of Newt Theatre Arts and Louise the Poet amongst others, and to support creativity within our local communities. We are especially proud of our recent ‘Beautiful Oldham – Why Not?’ community celebration, which put local people in the creative driving seat.
By spring 2026, Northern Roots will have a new Visitor Centre. There will be spaces within the building that can be used for cultural programming, a small natural amphitheatre adjacent to the building, and additional events spaces and possibilities across the wider 160-acre site.
Northern Roots has secured planning permission for a swimming pond, Bike Hub and trails facility, and a Long House performance space. In the coming years, funding permitting, these facilities will come online, and four existing football pitches will be given a much-needed refurbishment
From comedy nights to dawn chorus walks, pop-up “farm to fork” banquets to Festivals of Football, Northern Roots is interested in a wide variety of ideas around culture, events, sport and heritage. Get in touch via info@northern-roots.uk to start a conversation.