National Glass Centre on the Move
The University of Sunderland is working with its partners Sunderland City Council and Sunderland Culture to explore vibrant new city centre locations for the National Glass Centre (NGC). The NGC has been owned by the University since 2010 and is also home to the Northern Gallery of Contemporary Art (NGCA) and the University’s glass and ceramics academic programmes.
In recent years, the University has needed to undertake a series of works to address structural-related issues in the NGC, including the closure of public access to the glass roof. A specialist external review has concluded that a multi-million-pound investment would be required to address these issues if the NGC were to remain at its current riverside location. As a result, the University’s Board of Governors have decided that the best way forward is to find an alternative location, or locations, for the NGC.
The University is actively exploring a variety of options which would put a reimagined National Glass Centre at the heart of Sunderland’s cultural regeneration, with the potential to reach new and larger audiences and is working with key partners, including Sunderland City Council and Sunderland Culture to establish suitable sites. Culture House is one of the sites being discussed.
The University hopes the move to a new location(s) will be concluded within three years. Until then, the intention is for the National Glass Centre to remain at its current home and continue to operate as usual.
