Skip to main content

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

See full listings

Sunderland Shorts Film Festival
Promotional poster for the 10th Anniversary Edition of the Sunderland Shorts Film Festival, taking place 12–18 May 2025. The design features a bold red and cream colour scheme with stylised film reels, popcorn, a theatre mask, and the Northern Spire bridge. The large number

Sunderland Shorts Film Festival 2025

Monday 12 – Sunday 18 May
Various locations

Celebrating their 10 year anniversary, Sunderland Shorts Film Festival is back and bigger than ever. Showcasing the best new short films and big ideas, immerse yourself in the world of short form cinema with screenings, talks and workshops.

We’re delighted to be a partner in Sunderland Shorts Film Festival 2025.

Sunderland Shorts Film Festival

See & Do

View all
Sensory Backpacks
Free
A child wearing a dark green and white striped top, holding a pair of scissors.

Children and Young People's Activities

Sensory Backpacks

12 May – 28 Jun 2025
More

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

Sheila Fell: Cumberland on Canvas
Free
A painting of a white snowy landscape with a small brown building to the left of the scene.

Exhibitions

Sheila Fell: Cumberland on Canvas

12 May – 28 Jun 2025
More

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

University of Sunderland Fine Art Exhibition Presented in SketchUp
Free
A digitally created surreal image shows a large boat sitting inside an art gallery. The boat is deep grey with black lines showing the skeleton structure of the boat. In the background are repeated colour images of buttocks being kicked by a boot.

Exhibitions

University of Sunderland Fine Art Exhibition Presented in SketchUp

Showing on National Glass Centre Ground Floor Screen

12 May – 02 Jun 2025
More

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Read more
Five people stand around a wooden table displaying historical and scientific artifacts inside a modern, well-lit room. Items on the table include a blue vintage garment, display cases with preserved specimens, a bowl, and various documents. The group appears to be part of a workshop or educational event, and the atmosphere is casual and collaborative.

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens collection to reach new audiences through UK-wide touring exhibition

7th May

 

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens is one of 20 organisations across the UK taking part in Going Places – a landmark £5.36m exhibition programme from Art Fund.

Read more

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

Find out more

Culture Start

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

Find out more

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

News

Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden’s collection to reach new audiences through UK-wide touring exhibition
Five people stand around a wooden table displaying historical and scientific artifacts inside a modern, well-lit room. Items on the table include a blue vintage garment, display cases with preserved specimens, a bowl, and various documents. The group appears to be part of a workshop or educational event, and the atmosphere is casual and collaborative.

Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden’s collection to reach new audiences through UK-wide touring exhibition

Read more
Ro Robertson: The Ribs Begin to Rise
An abstract painting featuring violent different sized brush strokes and blue, green, cream, and grey paint with thinner black strokes.

Ro Robertson: The Ribs Begin to Rise

Read more
Talent of young musicians will be on Public Record

Talent of young musicians will be on Public Record

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

Make a donation

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

Select an amount to donate