Touchstones Rochdale, the award winning arts and heritage centre managed by Link4Life, the Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust, has successfully retained its VAQAS registration for another year.

The Visit England accreditation as a 'Quality Assured Visitor Attraction' stated that Touchstones Rochdale fully merited the award offering the visitor an "overall excellent quality experience".

Described as a "real asset to Rochdale and a model of what can be achieved by a far-sighted local authority", comments made include:

"Touchstones has maintained its happy combination of Gallery, Museum and local archives with the ongoing bonus of a very well organised Tourist Information Centre."

"The museum is very well curated - making great use of all the senses - there is some excellent video material."

"First floor gallery displays were very well curated - it is good to see positive efforts to secure visitor feedback. Posting responses where they can be seen is an excellent notion."

"The Tourist Information Centre continues to be one of the best focussed in the region with information classified and well displayed."

"There's considerable depth to the displays, the backing of the Archives service alongside the opportunity for a changing programme of temporary exhibition - all within easy walking distance of the town centre."

"Rochdale is fortunate to have this splendid resource."