A free art exhibition in Tameside is sharing the lived experiences of Rochdale women regarding access to reproductive healthcare across generations. Since 2020, more than 100 women have participated in creative workshops with Cabasa CIC, resulting in a body of work that reflects on pregnancy, endometriosis, menopause, and other experiences. The exhibition, titled Unheard Stories, runs for a weekend at Stalybridge Civic Hall and features over 30 artworks including body art portraits, textiles, sculpture, audio stories, poetry, and film.
Collaborative creation by women aged 18 to 80
Every artwork has been created by groups of women aged 18 to 80, working alongside local visual artists. Cabasa CIC partnered with organisations such as Seriously Crafty (which meets at Kirkholt Community Church), Rochdale's Women's Welfare Association, and Soul Sisters, which supports people affected by domestic violence.
Centrepiece: The Living Dress sculpture
At the heart of the exhibition stands The Living Dress, a sculpture first shown at the Rochdale Borough Festival of Ideas in March 2024. Standing nearly five metres tall, a statuesque 'mother earth' figure is sculpted from aluminium and steel by artist Iola Weir. She wears a gown in shades of red, orange, and pink, hand-dyed using madder, a traditional colourant made from plant root. The dress patterns were inspired by the benches outside Rochdale Town Hall.
Outdoor mural and film documentation
Another featured work is Still She Rises, an outdoor mural exploring women's reproductive healthcare stories, painted on the side of Smith Street Car Park during the Common Walls Festival in Rochdale in 2025. Exhibition visitors can watch a video following artists Rhian Kempadoo-Millar, Lizzie Rigby, and Emily Wood as they created the mural.
Metamorphosis and Endomorphosis projects
Other displays include the Metamorphosis project, which explored body painting during pregnancy, and Endomorphosis, which shares stories of women living with endometriosis. The first Endomorphosis photography collection was originally shown at Gallery Oldham in March 2023; a second set of images is on public display for the first time.
Soundtrack of personal stories
The show is accompanied by a soundtrack of anonymous first-person stories about women's access to reproductive healthcare.
Funding and artistic director's comment
Funders for the projects include the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, and Postcode Neighbourhood Trust. Emily Wood, artistic director of Cabasa CIC, which is based at The Vale arts centre in Mossley, Tameside, said: 'Over the last six years we have worked with over 100 amazing women on cross-generational creative projects. We now invite you to hear their stories and celebrate the people who have shaped this revealing and emotive body of work.'
Event details
Unheard Stories is at Stalybridge Civic Hall, Trinity Street, Stalybridge, Tameside SK15 2BN on Friday, July 3 (10:00–17:00) and Saturday, July 4 (11:00–16:00). Entry is free.
