Website navigation
National Glass Centre
In 2023, National Glass Centre celebrated the opening of Confluence, an exhibition that explored the relationship between the mediums of ceramics and glass. Co-curated by Julia Stephenson, Andrew Livingston and Greg Parsons, and featuring the extraordinary Dutch artist Bouke de Vries, NGC European Glass Prize second prize winner Andrea Walsh and University of Sunderland’s professor Andrew Livingston, the exhibition showcased the commonalities and differences between these two mediums as well as their confluence – the point at which the two materials intersect.
Supported by the expertise and specialist equipment at the Glass and Ceramics department based in National Glass Centre, the three artists were invited to extend their creative practices into glass, presenting works developed during a ten-day residency. National Glass Centre has acquired one piece of work, commissioned for the exhibition by each artist for its permanent collection.
Works from the National Glass Centre’s permanent collection were proudly presented in the exhibition Glass World in October. In recent years, National Glass Centre has developed a permanent collection of international Studio Glass that includes work by artists from or based in 30 different countries. Glass World presented a wide selection of works from this collection and created a unique opportunity to celebrate the international reach of National Glass Centre.
A selection of works from the Bernard Lloyd Collection were displayed at National Glass Centre for the first time in 2023. The collection, which consists of over 300 pieces, included works by leading national and international artists working in glass including Colin Reid, Rachel Woodman, Tessa Clegg, Dale Chilhuly, PIno Signoretto and Harvey Littleton.
National Glass Centre’s Learning and Engagement Team continued to develop a creative programme of activities for all ages and budgets featuring action-packed family workshops and free family trails. A new series of evening workshops were introduced, including informal Drink & Draw classes and six-week ceramics course, both of which proved extremely popular.
The school and education programme saw increased engagement with the addition of a new sculpture workshop and the establishment of a new audience in the home educated community – bringing new learners and children to the building.
A collaborative project funded by the Local Cultural Education Partnership, InspirED, saw the Learning Team undertake an action research project with Usworth Colliery Primary School. The project explored the connection between science and art, working with the school’s science and art leads, pupils, artists and scientists, aiming to bridge the relationship between art and science through a series of play and exploration workshops. The project will culminate in a new school STEAM workshop, set to launch in 2024.
The Learning Team also delivered bespoke programmes with community organisations such as the Women’s Institute, University of the Third Age, Scouts and Rainbow groups and The Creative Dimension Trust.
In October, following significant building damage from Storm Babet, the riverside front of National Glass Centre was forced to close. However, the team worked at pace to pivot the visitor offer and in November we were able to re-open the upstairs of the building with a packed exhibition, participation, cafe and shop offer. We’re delighted to say that our Hot Glass Studio also remained open for demonstrations.
My family love visiting National Glass Centre and we do the workshops every school holiday. There is something for everyone, we always have a fab visit!
Visitor feedback
