Skip to main content

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

See full listings

See & Do

View all
WITCH
Free

Exhibitions

WITCH

This exhibition contains artworks that explore themes which some visitors—particularly children—may find upsetting.

28 Oct – 01 Nov 2025
More

Arts Centre Washington

Ro Robertson: The Ribs Begin To Rise
Free
Three abstract artwork metal constructions made of right angled pieces standing on square tables.

Exhibitions

Ro Robertson: The Ribs Begin To Rise

Showing in Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Main Gallery

28 Oct 2025 – 10 Jan 2026
More

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Robert McQueen Exhibition
Free

Exhibitions

Robert McQueen Exhibition

28 Oct – 22 Nov 2025
More

Arts Centre Washington

Animate Club Halloween Special
Free

Children and Young People's Activities

Animate Club Halloween Special

28 – 29 Oct 2025

Ages 11-19

More

Arts Centre Washington

Earth Requiem 25
Free

Exhibitions

Earth Requiem 25

28 Oct – 15 Nov 2025
More

Arts Centre Washington

Jill McKnight: Past and Future Pact
Free
A painting of a number women working in a shipyard. The way they are dressed it appears it is set during the war. The painting consists of shades of blue for the women and a deep red hull for the ship.

Exhibitions

Jill McKnight: Past and Future Pact

Showing in Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Collection Space

28 Oct 2025 – 10 Jan 2026
More

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Weaving
Sold Out
A multicoloured weaved flag. The weave is different thicknesses which nave been sewn together. The bottom of the flag is made of blue and green stands of wool to form tassels and larger green spotted ribbon.

Children and Young People's Activities

Weaving

28 Oct 2025

Ages 8+

More

National Glass Centre

Creepy Creatures Trail
Free
A white wolf surrounded by other animals including a deer and an emu

Children and Young People's Activities

Creepy Creatures Trail

28 Oct – 01 Nov 2025

Ages 4+

More

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens

Read more
A view of Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens as seen from across the lake in Mowbray Park. A pond with ducks and other birds in a park. On the other side of the pond is a modern building with a large glass dome. Tree branches with leaves hang over the top of the image. The sky is blue with white clouds.

Just the ticket - much loved museum scoops £5m National Lottery win

1st October

 

Sunderland City Council has secured £5.2m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to transform the city’s much-loved Museum and Winter Gardens.

Read more

Our Venues

Arts Centre Washington

Arts Centre Washington

National Glass Centre
A modern art gallery with white walls and gray floors displays colorful glass sculptures. In the front, tall blue and clear glass tubes stand upright on a white platform. Behind them, two people walk past white shelves holding more glass art pieces in blue, red, and orange colors. The ceiling has track lighting and the space feels bright and open.

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

Celebrating the impact of UKSPF in Sunderland

Celebrating the impact of UKSPF in Sunderland

Read more
Community Partnership in Action
A woman in a green jacket holds a wooden garden planter. She is standing in a garden.

Community Partnership in Action

Read more
Arts Council cash helps Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens tell the city's story
A view of Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens as seen from across the lake in Mowbray Park. A pond with ducks and other birds in a park. On the other side of the pond is a modern building with a large glass dome. Tree branches with leaves hang over the top of the image. The sky is blue with white clouds.

Arts Council cash helps Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens tell the city's story

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