National Glass Centre reopens after £2.3m works

Sunderland’s National Glass Centre will reopen this weekend following a £2.3m redevelopment programme.

The investment has doubled the size of the Centre’s exhibition centre and learning studios, and the main gallery now meets nationally recognised standards for environmental conditioning and security.

Funding for the works comprised £750,000 from Arts Council England’s Large Capital Programme; £250,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund; £100,000 from the Sir James Knott Trust and £50,000 from the Foyle Foundation.

James Bustard, director of the Centre, said: “Our vision is to be a Centre of national excellence supporting the research, teaching, production and exhibition of contemporary glass – a Centre valued by the local community in Sunderland and whose reputation across the North East region as well as nationally and internationally.”

Alison Clark-Jenkins, regional director, Arts Council England, North East said: “National Glass Centre in Sunderland was one of the early beneficiaries of National Lottery funding. We’re very pleased to see that it’s entering a new era with new partnerships and innovative funding models as part of the University of Sunderland, in a city that has great ambitions for its cultural offer.

“Relationships between cultural and higher education institutions are increasingly important and I’m proud that Sunderland is an example of national and international best practice in this regard.”

Godfrey Worsdale, director of BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, said: “It will be tremendous to have a rejuvenated National Glass Centre open in the region again. As a place of cultural learning and engagement National Glass Centre will make an increasingly important contribution as one of the key institutions that is able to bring together art, the creative industries and higher education.”