Spotlight on... A Greener Future

Green Team

In 2023-24, Sunderland Culture’s Green Team developed our first Environmental Responsibility Policy and Action Plan, committed to greener and more sustainable travel and carbon literacy training for all staff. The team visited Tullie House in Carlisle to learn about reducing carbon footprints in cultural venues and three staff members became certified carbon literacy trainers, enabling in-house training. Initiatives included sustainable travel plans for each venue, changing our visitor travel information, promoting the Better Points app, and bike to work and electric car lease schemes for staff. In October 2023, we partnered with the City of Sunderland Low Carbon team to host Eco Fest, promoting green travel, waste reduction, and biodiversity.

A child leans on a green table with leaflets to the right of them and three white pots in front. The child looks into a grey card pot that they're holding in their hands.

Zoom picture 1 of 2

Two children and an adult look through fossils on display in a blue cabinet in a museum.

Zoom picture 2 of 2

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, on loan from the Natural History Museum in London, came to Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens in February. The free exhibition featured exceptional images which captured fascinating animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breath-taking diversity of the natural world. Shining a light on stories and species from around the globe, the exhibition was a powerful tool to connect visitors with nature and encourage them to become advocates for our planet.

A large white room with polished wooden floor. In the middle of the room is a large black rectangle block. Along the walls and the walls of the rectangle are photographs on display.

The Wild Escape

In 2023, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens became one of more than 500 museums across the UK taking part in The Wild Escape, a project to inspire young people to visit local museums and to respond creatively to the threat to the UK’s natural environment. The initiative was the largest ever collaboration between UK museums, organised by the Art Fund in partnership with the WWF, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the National Trust and English Heritage.

A group of children stand smiling in front of a cabinet displaying colourful crafty boxes.

Zoom picture 1 of 2

Two school children sit at a table, drawing on paper and looking at a taxidermy animal on display in a perspex display case at the centre of the table.

Zoom picture 2 of 2

Earth Day

Earth Day, on 22 April, saw the culmination of The Wild Escape with visitors invited to Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens to celebrate the project. Artwork and poems, created by Hudson Road Primary School, were on display for everyone to enjoy and visitors could also take part in creative activities, talks and tours to find out more about how they can protect and support local wildlife.