Stockroom is opening soon - what will it be like?
On Saturday 24 May, Stockport town centre's new library and events space will open.
Dubbed 'Stockroom', it will house library services such as book lending and archives, as well as a new cafe, performance area, and much more.
With around one week until opening, what can we expect?
What will Stockroom be like?
Stockroom is described as a 'creative and community venue'.
It will include a new library, performance space, cafe, art exhibition centre, and children's area, bringing a host of different services under one roof.
The library will feature a wide range of titles, and also Stockport's historic archives.
The cafe will be run by Mercado, a popular business which already has a site in Didsbury. It will offer a wide range of hot and cold drinks, plus a world-spanning menu featuring paninis, Argentinian empanadas, pastries, and much more.
The events space will host intimate music performances, comedy, family events, civic ceremonies, and much more.
And there will also be art displays, featuring murals, installations and sculptures, "designed to celebrate the town's unique heritage, community and creative talent", as Stockport Council said.
Why has Stockroom been created?
The building has been designed to 'breathe new life' into the vacant retail units in the Merseyway centre, and more generally into Stockport town centre as a whole.
Stockroom will also aim to buck the trend of declining library usage over the years - March 2012 - 2020 alone saw a 42 percent decrease in visitors to Stockport Central Library.
Namely, Stockroom will seek to redress this decline by offering an exciting new building with a host of new services besides library provision.
It's been inspired by the success of Storyhouse in Chester - a similar library / events building which increased city centre footfall by 15 percent in its year since opening, according to a Local Government Association estimate.
Similarly, a Stockport Council webpage reads: "Evidence from around the UK shows that creating a new 21st century library, cafe and learning space in Merseyway will breathe new life into vacant retail units and bring thousands of visitors back to Stockport town centre as other, similar developments up and down the country have done."
What will happen to Central Library?
Stockport's Central Library will remain open alongside Stockroom.
Although most of the library services (including archives and book lending) will be moving from central library to Stockroom, the former will remain open.
While it does mean that Central Library will operate in a lesser capacity than it currently does, it will remain open to provide adults' education services, WiFi and computers, as well as a selection of other fiction and non-fiction books.
Will there be any opening events?
There's already a huge programme of events in the calendar for Stockroom, including jam nights, live music, art showcases, and more.
Opening day on 24 May will be an opportunity to see the new 'Chosen Family' and 'PROTO' art exhibitions, and there's also a 'Look for a Book' treasure hunt activity for young visitors.
According to Stockport Council, some other key dates are:
- 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
Browse more upcoming events here.
How has Stockroom been funded?
The project is, for the most part, funded by a £14.5m grant from central government. The grant comes from the £1bn 'Future High Streets Fund', described as an effort to "renew and reshape town centres and high streets".
Stockport, as it happens, is not the only place in Greater Manchester to benefit from this funding.
Oldham received £10.75m, which will be used to create a new business hub and a produce-hall style eatery.
Rochdale, meanwhile, received £17m, which will be spent on new apartments and a hotel.
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Speaking more generally of Stockroom's opening, 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."
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