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WELCOME 

A gathering place for folklore enthusiasts across Northern England, the Folklore Centre in Todmorden celebrates cultural heritage through arts, film, crafts, a library and an archive.

 

Here, visitors can experience weekly talks, exhibitions, storytelling sessions, conferences, workshops, and a wealth of local folk history, all designed to preserve and share the timeless narratives that connect communities.​ Our exhibitions are all free, but any donations are gratefully received and contribute to the running of the centre. 

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We are also home to a shop filled with interesting books and artefacts, and the Boggart's Den Tea Room, offering  a variety of drinks, freshly baked cakes, and delicious lunches. 

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Opening times:

Wednesday-Saturday 10am-4pm

Most events are at 4pm on Saturday- tea room open for

drinks and snacks from 3.30pm prior to event start at 4pm

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Upcoming events

​The Folklore Centre in Todmorden is a vibrant hub for exploring folklore, offering an array of events and exhibitions for all ages. Upcoming highlights include workshops, exhibitions, and talks covering various folklore themes, providing a deep dive into local and global traditions.

Past events

WHO WE ARE

Overview

The Centre’s activities will provide benefit to the community of Todmorden, and the Upper Calder Valley, through expansion of the tourism offer, education opportunities, links to well-being through exploration of landscape- walking- and the benefits of storytelling, community cohesion, economic regeneration, promoting intercultural and intergenerational understanding, preservation of heritage and environment, including the wider community to engage with storytelling, art, drama, music, dance and craft, and recognition for Todmorden through the setting up of an academic research centre, archive and resource unit.


Tourism

Expanding Todmorden’s offer through museum type/ art exhibitions as well as events including talks and conferences and workshops, working towards a multi-attraction approach, the Centre will contribute to Todmorden’s growing reputation nationally and internationally and boost economic regeneration.


Exploration of landscape

Engaging adults and children with landscape and place through storytelling, art, workshops, promoting social and community cohesion and well-being through connection to place and walking as well as solidifying links with the focus on sustainable living already apparent in Todmorden and looking at changing narratives concerning human’s role and relation to nature at both a local and global level.


Community cohesion

Through shared narrative and local history- we will be recording and archiving oral folk history with a resource unit accessible to local and wider community, as well as presenting as part of a permanent exhibition of local folklore, customs and beliefs.


Storytelling

Using stories and metaphor to promote well-being, dealing with issues such as overcoming adversity, promoting equality and diversity, addressing social and cultural issues. Using storytelling to promote and develop ideas around sustainability and more environmentally friendly living. Developing curriculum linked learning opportunities for children outside the classroom, encouraging literacy as well as confidence and independence.


Workshops

Offering alternative learning with emphasis on imagination and creativity using art, drama, craft, storytelling, dance, music and land skills for adults and children, a space for others in the community to share skills.


Links to museums, academic institutions and other organisations nationally

Bringing an opportunity for sharing ideas, bringing knowledge, talks, exhibitions and events to Todmorden, providing best practice, linking Todmorden with a wider national network.


Research unit

Recognition for Todmorden as part of a wider network of an expanding body of work in the field of folklore, links to academics and universities nationally, benefits to community through an understanding of underlying concepts and how they feed into everyday contemporary living. Public access resources and workspace facilities will enable the wider community to access ideas as part of their own personal endeavours, research and arts practice.

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We aim to engage like-minded people in a variety of folklore related activities, from research to storytelling, conferences to traditional craft workshops.

WHAT DO WE DO?

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RESEARCH

Providing access to our library and resources to storyteller's, educators, artists, writers, researchers, interested members of the public.

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TALKS AND CONFERENCES

Bringing experts and knowledge into the community, making sharing of knowledges and ideas accessible to all.

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Workshops will engage the community both locally and across the North in a wide range of activities.
Exhibitions will support artists working with folkloric themes and create a starting point for other activities within the Centre for the whole community.

Contact the Centre for Folklore

65, Halifax Road, Todmorden OL14 5BB

01706 816249

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