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Home to some of Sunderland’s most cherished cultural venues and activities

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Featured event

Public Record
A vibrant red poster featuring a large vinyl record. The black area of the record i made up of illustrated figures engaged in various activities - dancing, playing instruments, cycling and painting. The text 'Public Record' is written in an arch on the record's label at the centre along with credits: 'concept by Dan Canham and Emily Lim, music by Ross Millard, words by Stewart Pringle'. Logos for The Fire Station and National Theatre are in white at the top of the image. Sunderland Empire, Public Acts, and Sunderland Culture logos are in white at the bottom. The scene conveys a sense of community and celebration.

Theatre and Performance

Public Record

Presented by Sunderland Culture, Sunderland Empire & National Theatre

25 – 27 Apr 2025
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City-wide

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Bright Lights Youth Arts Festival 2025

Saturday 22 February – Saturday 1 March

A celebration of creativity featuring free workshops and special events across the city for young people aged 11-19.

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See & Do

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Oil Painting
A box of oil paint tubes with white lids.

Adult Workshops and Activities

Oil Painting

Fridays, 9:30am-11:30am
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Arts Centre Washington

The Skin We Live In: Portraits from the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Collection
Free
A barrel of a cannon points from left to right. The whole cannon has been covered in a shiny pink cloth. A female, also dressed completely in pink, bends at a right angle and sticks her head into the cannon. The cannon and the female are standing on very dry grass.

Exhibitions

The Skin We Live In: Portraits from the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Collection

21 Feb – 02 Mar 2025
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Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Harry Griffin: My name is Harry, these are my pictures and they are nice
Free
The comedian Joe Lycett stands in front of a theatre dressing room mirror. There are lights around the mirror. He is reflected reading a prompt card. He is using is mobile phone. Tour manager and photogrtapger Harry Griffin sits at the back of the room taking a photograph of Joe. Coats and clothing are hung up at the back of the room

Exhibitions

Harry Griffin: My name is Harry, these are my pictures and they are nice

Showing in Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Collection Space & Pop Recs Ltd.

21 Feb – 02 Mar 2025
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Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Canny Coal Trail
A child wearing a white and black striped top, sitting down and writing with pencil and paper.

Children and Young People's Activities

Canny Coal Trail

21 Feb – 15 Mar 2025
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Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

Coal Face Family Backpacks
Free
A child wearing a dark green and white striped top, holding a pair of scissors.

Children and Young People's Activities

Coal Face Family Backpacks

21 Feb – 15 Mar 2025
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Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

Coal Face
Free
A person looking at a black and white tintype photograph of a person with short hair. The person in the photograph is smiling at the camera.

Exhibitions

Coal Face

21 Feb – 15 Mar 2025
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Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

Re-imag(in)ing WORK: Photographs from the IPRN Changing Faces Collection
Free
A tropical garden scene. There is a very green lawn, lot's of very green shrubbery. In the background is a salmon pink house. A man in a white jacket stands in front of the building. On the lawn are a flamboyance of flamingos.

Exhibitions

Re-imag(in)ing WORK: Photographs from the IPRN Changing Faces Collection

Showing in Sunderland Creatives Gallery

21 Feb – 27 Apr 2025
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National Glass Centre

Menagerie
Free
A grey ceramic elephant stands against a gradient grey background. The elephants head is facing left.

Exhibitions

Menagerie

Showing in the National Glass Centre Gallery

21 Feb – 31 May 2025
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National Glass Centre

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Explore what’s on

Performances, films, workshops, exhibitions and more

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Our Venues

Arts Centre Washington

Arts Centre Washington

National Glass Centre

National Glass Centre

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
A large green palm tree and other tall green trees in a glass and metal building.

Sunderland Museum 
& Winter Gardens

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Culture Start

Find out about our exciting programme bringing free creative and cultural activities to children and young people across the city.

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Learn & Create

Children & Families
A person pulls a funny face while holding onto a wooden machine that looks like a large telescope. Two children stand in front of them laughing.

Children and families

Enjoy creative fun with all the family!

Children & Families
Young People
A young person sits at a table in front of a laptop while another young person stands behind them playing an acoustic guitar. Both look at the computer with concentration.

Young people

Explore opportunities to ignite and nurture your creative future.

Young People
Adults
Two people take a selfie pulling faces in front of a painting. The painting is the ‘Screaming Pope’ by Francis Bacon.

Adults

Come together to try new things and connect with others.

Adults
Schools & Education
A group of school children and two adults walk around a small field of grass that is decorated with colourful, pattern origami sculptures on wire that are stuck into the grass.

Schools & Education

Explore how we can work with your school.

Schools & Education
SEND
An adult and child lie on sports mats on the floor of a gym. They are positioned across from each other with their arms outstretched towards one another.

SEND

Inclusive learning opportunities for young people.

SEND
Young people lean over a canvas painted with a yellow and blue gradient, writing on it with pens.

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We want more people to enjoy and experience creativity and culture. Your donation can make a real difference to our work.

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