HOW WE WORK

Breaking barriers' approach to making a difference.

Local creativity with national strategies and create meaningful change at scale.

Our work is built on collaboration. We partner with a wide range of communities, creatives and strategic organisations to deliver cultural experiences that are ambitious, inclusive and socially impactful.

At the heart of our approach is co-creation. We listen to the communities we work with and involve them in shaping the stories, ideas and creative outputs that emerge from each project. This ensures the work we produce reflects real experiences and perspectives while creating opportunities for people to actively participate in the cultural life of their communities.

Our partnerships are central to how we work, helping us align local creativity with national strategies and create meaningful change at scale.

Our four C’s.

Community

We engage with diverse communities to deliver impactful projects that are co-created with the communities they aim to reach.

Creativity

We are a multi-disciplinary production company that creates ambitious digital and experimental work. We don’t limit our creativity.

Collaboration

We offer opportunities to up-skill young people in content and event production allowing them to lead the project.

Cause

We care about the causes we communicate.

What makes us different

Built on trust and long-term relationships.

Our approach is built on trust and genuine, long-term relationships with the communities and partners we work with. Many of the organisations that we work with have been there for years. We continue to develop new projects with communities alongside us and we remain accountable to the people we work with long after a project ends.

This is what separates us. Not the work alone, but how we do it and who we do it with.

Breaking Barriers is not a visiting organisation, we do not arrive, deliver and leave.

Projects with local communities

Communities sit at the heart of every project we deliver. We bring people together to celebrate culture, share stories and strengthen connection. By embedding communities within the creative process, we ensure their voices, experiences and perspectives shape the work we produce.

Young People

Supporting the next generation of creatives is central to our mission. Through co-creation, mentorship and training, we inspire ambition and help build pathways into creative careers. We’re particularly passionate about supporting and creating opportunities for creatives from diverse and working-class backgrounds, and from local communities that we work in.

Artists

We collaborate with artists at all stages of their careers, from emerging practitioners to internationally recognised talent. We regularly work with producers, photographers, videographers and access consultants. As an ambitious organisation committed to artistic excellence, we provide opportunities for early-career artists to work alongside established professionals.

Strategic Partners

Our work is strengthened through partnerships with schools, youth centres, faith organisations, local authorities, cultural institutions and national funders. These collaborations allow us to deliver shared outcomes aligned with local and national priorities, whether that’s building community cohesion, widening access to creative careers, or supporting wellbeing and education agendas.

Through projects delivered across multiple sites and partners, we can connect communities and stakeholders to create coordinated and lasting impact.

Together, this network allows us to:

Create platforms for underrepresented voices
Build skills, confidence and ambition
Deliver culturally ambitious work aligned with local and national priorities

Our Commitments.

Champion untold stories and develop a diverse talent pool of artists and creatives through training opportunities
Lead by example – showing there is a different, fairer way to run an arts organisation
Work sustainably and responsibly, holding space for marginalised voices and sharing our learning
Create work of the highest quality – working with established and emerging artists to create the best working environments and creative experiences for artists, participants and audiences
Open new entry points into our work and the wider sector
Govern inclusively, ensuring we always reflect Rochdale and our diverse communities
Advocate for collective, collaborative ways of working

How to work with us

It’s always about leaving a lasting impact.

Every story has a voice, and we’re here to make sure that it’s heard. Sometimes we use our tried and tested frameworks, sometimes we craft something entirely bespoke, whatever the project, it’s always about co-creation, artistic excellence and leaving a lasting impact.

If you have a story to tell, a theme to explore, or an idea you want to bring to life, a strategy you’re developing, we’d love to hear from you.

HOW WE WORK

Breaking barriers' approach to making a difference.

What makes us different

How to work with us

Immersive Experiences

Filmmaking

Theatre in Education

Talent Development