Issue 1

Hi everyone! Welcome to our first newsletter and the launch of our website. You may aready know who we are but for those who are new here we are Creative Hive Collective, a small group of artists based in Greater Manchester who host art events in Rochdale. We met at university studing Fine Art BA(Hons) and upon graduating lacked a creative network like we had in our university art studios. So we decided to do something about it and in September 2024 we formed Creative Hive Collective.

Credits: Jessica Bennett

What have we been up to since then?

Since forming we have hosted monthly creative socials. These are opportunities for local creatives to meet up and connect whilst making art! Each month we offer a different guided workshop so you have the chance to learn something new or brush up on a skill you already have. All whilst chatting with like-minded people.

At the start of 2025 we worked with Richard Street Studios Rochdale to showcase our individual art in a Creative Hive group exhbition titled In Common. This show explored the threads that tie us together and unite us. As part of this show we hosted an artist social at Richard Street Studios and a collaborative textiles workshop.

Additionally we worked with Culture Co-op's Queer Publishing to host a Cosy Queer Jamboree in January 2025, an event full of music, art, games, joy, and community!

Credits: Robin Rehman

Our Recommendations

As part of our blog we will be recommending events, exhibitions, books, and any other fun things we want to share.

Books

The Place I'm In: What I See When I Stop To Notice by Miranda Keeling

In this book Keeling invites us to discover what lies within everyday experiences once we take the time to slow down and pay attention.

Events

Elevation by Breaking Barriers

We attended this immersive and guided walk over Blackstone Edge for the first time this August and it exceeded our expectations. We were guided through wireless headphones as the narrator told a compelling story about the history of Blackstone Edge with stories from Rochdale's local people. We would definitely recommend booking a ticket next time Elevations takes place.

Credits: Xavier Beckles

Finally, we would like to say a huge CONGRATULATIONS to our very own Freya for completing her Fine Art degree, exhibiting her wonderful work in the University of Salford Degree Show 2025, graduating this summer, AND winning the Curator's Award at this year's Short Supply's graduate exhibition Made It! What a treat it has been to see the journey she has taken over the past 3 years. We are so very proud, and excited to see everything she does next.

Credits: Grace Holmes

Thank you for reading our first newsletter!