Glassworks: Sunderland to be world-class facility for city
Sunderland Culture will collaborate with partners including the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) along with Sunderland City Council and the University of Sunderland on the development of Glassworks: Sunderland – an ambitious, new world-class facility for glassmaking.
Glassworks: Sunderland will be located in the Sunniside area of Sunderland city centre, where the city council is leading regeneration plans to boost the creative economy.
The significant £5m grant towards the £7.5m project will come from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Cultural Development Fund, which is administered by Arts Council England.
Nick Malyan, Chief Executive of Sunderland Culture, explained: “Glassworks: Sunderland will build on the city’s position as a leading international centre of excellence for glassmaking, while unlocking economic growth for the city, contributing to the regeneration of Sunniside, and securing important heritage skills for the future.
“Glassworks: Sunderland will be a nationally-significant centre of excellence for glassmaking, connecting Sunderland’s 1,350 years of glassmaking heritage and the city’s creative future.
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“If we can achieve our ambition, Sunderland will remain one of the few places in the UK with specialist glassmaking facilities to create, make and produce in glass.”
In 2022 the University of Sunderland commissioned a feasibility study which concluded the National Glass Centre (NGC) building, which houses a community of artists and makers, is no longer fit for purpose. The University announced its intention to close NGC in summer 2026.
The V&A plans to work collaboratively with partners in Sunderland to champion the skills needed for the future creative economy, through this new national collaboration.
Dr Tristam Hunt, Director at the V&A, said: “Glassworks: Sunderland will play an important nationwide role in supporting excellence in making and the retention and the development of skills.”
Councillor Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism, at Sunderland City Council, said: “While there is still some way to go, we believe this would complement our own ambitious regeneration plans for Sunniside which centre around plans to encourage the growth of new and existing creative industries.”
Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland, said: “Glassworks: Sunderland represents a brand new opportunity to create an exciting model for the future of glassmaking in Sunderland. It will link the city’s heritage with its creative future, driving growth and productivity, and supporting cultural regeneration.”
Lewis Atkinson MP for Sunderland Central said, “I know how proud the people of Sunderland are of 1,350 years of glassmaking: that’s why I’ve been working with Sunderland Culture to support their bid for this new, nationally-significant facility.
“I’m delighted Ministers have recognised the strength of our case and have granted this £5m investment to continue Sunderland’s proud glassmaking heritage. Working together as a city, I’m confident we can secure the remaining £2.5m and further boost Sunderland’s bright creative future.”