SWEDEN will be very much part of the picture in Stalybridge when the latest Town of Culture project launches.

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“LOCAL // LOKAL”, which opens at the Astley Cheetham Art Gallery on Saturday, September 24, is an international photography exhibition and cultural exchange involving artists in Greater Manchester and Sweden – a relationship that has been developing since 1999.

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Part of The Bridge (Stalybridge Heritage Action Zone) cultural programme, and promoting the Trinity Street gallery as a space to exhibit internationally recognised work, “Local/Local” looks through the lenses of artists working and living in Sweden and Greater Manchester to see how the word “local” is interpreted by differing cultures, people, artists and places.

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Taking the phrase “think global, act local” as a starting point, the exhibition considers how a dual outlook can help to find local solutions to the issues that affect us all.

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It explores the notion of being local, whether that’s working, living or studying locally; growing up somewhere and moving away but still considering yourself part of your local community; or how we understand a locality through our own heritage, cultural or experiences.

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The exhibiting artists include Greater Manchester photographers Carys Kaiser, Ciara Leeming and Richard Tymon, and Sweden’s Håkan Dennersten, Karin Andersson, Lina Karna Kippel and Henrik Hansson.

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Cllr Sangita Patel, Tameside Council’s assistant executive member for culture, heritage and digital inclusivity, said: “‘Local/Lokal’ is an inspiring exhibition which celebrates the deepening links between Greater Manchester and Sweden. I’m sure it will be very popular and I would highly recommend it.”

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Claire Tymon, local director and chair of The Bridge cultural consortium, added: “‘Local/Lokal is a key project for the Town of Culture programme as it demonstrates how important it is for us to connect with, and be inspired by other towns and creative communities, both locally and globally.

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“We are thrilled to present this exhibition in partnership with Tango, our Swedish partner with whom we have been developing a relationship with for a long time. ‘Local/Lokal’ includes work by seven photographers who have responded to place and people in their own localities, to enable audiences to witness the similarities and differences in our communities.

“Showcasing work of this quality and ambition as part of our Town of Culture year is special, and we’re grateful to Astley Cheetham Gallery for gifting us this opportunity.”

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“Local/Lokal” will be on show at the Astley Cheetham Art Gallery, Trinity Street, Stalybridge, from Saturday, September 24, until the end of the year.

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Opening hours are: Mondays and Tuesday, 9am to 1pm; Wednesdays, 1 to 5pm; Saturdays, 10am to 3pm.

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