New creative hub Stockroom opens in Stockport – with a packed launch weekend and year-round events for all

Stockport’s cultural scene is about to get a serious boost. Stockroom, a brand-new creative and community venue, opens its doors on Saturday 24 May 2025, right in the heart of Merseyway; and it’s kicking things off with a weekend full of free exhibitions, live performances, hands-on workshops, and family-friendly fun.

But this is much more than an opening weekend. It marks the start of a bold new chapter for Stockport, a town already in the middle of a £1 billion transformation.

What’s on: art, music, community and more

From day one, Stockroom will be buzzing with activity, with headline exhibitions, workshops, residencies, and public art designed to celebrate local talent and welcome everyone through the doors.

Opening highlights include:

• Chosen Family Album
  A community photo exhibition celebrating Stockport families from 1970, when Merseyway first opened, to today

• PROTO: A Digital Art Showcase
  Futuristic, screen-based works created by artists exploring motion capture, 3D modelling, and worldbuilding

• Emotional Biodiversity 10 July to 21 September 2025
  A moving installation by international artist Di Mainstone, developed with local residents, about our emotional connection to nature

Stockroom will also feature a series of new creative commissions designed to celebrate the town’s unique heritage, community and creative talent.

From large-scale murals, installations and eco-friendly art commission – all rooted in Stockport’s stories, people and environment.

Photographic artist Liz Wewiora will also be in residence this summer, leading Roam, River, Roam, a project connecting local families – especially new mums – with the River Mersey and our surrounding waterways.

Coming this Autumn, BEAUTIFUL THINGS will be a 6-month-long programme across Stockport to celebrate Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery’s Centenary, built by subscription by the people of Stockport as a place to experience beauty after the horrors of war.

Everybody and Anybody

This isn’t just a venue for art lovers; Stockroom’s year-round programme is designed for everyone. Think zine-making, Lego clubs, live jazz, youth takeovers, comedy nights, and family sessions like “Screen-Free Sundays.” And most events are free.

Key dates to note:

• 7 June, Stock Party: A free, all-day street festival celebrating Stockport’s thriving indie scene

• 14 June, Stockport Zine & Print Fair: Stalls, talks, and hands-on zine-making

• 29 June,HALA HALA: A celebration of Arabic and South Asian music, dance, food, and culture

• 2 August, SHORTS by NOT LONG: A new night out with short plays, local talent, and a big afterparty

• First Wednesdays of the month, Creative Women in Stockport: Networking and Q&A events, kicking off with director Carol Morley

• Various dates, FAM JAM: visit stockrm.org

Family music jamming sessions for disabled people and their friends. Run by Omni Music, using accessible instruments and supported by SEND music specialists. Four events yearly.

Stockroom will also host events tied to important civic and cultural dates, from Armed Forces Day and Windrush Day, to Pride, VJ Day, and the Festival of Libraries.

Cllr Helen Foster- Grime, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport at Stockport Council, said: “Stockroom is a bold new chapter for Stockport – a place where creativity and community come together under one roof. We’ve got a fantastic opening line-up with something for everyone; whether you’re here for an art exhibition, a toddler session, a comedy night or just a coffee with friends. Stockroom belongs to everyone.”

To view the full programme or receive updates, visit Stockroom where you can also sign up to the Stockroom newsletter.