Important Visitor Notice

From Sunday 16 March 2025, National Glass Centre will close on Sundays.

This will bring it in line with the opening hours of other galleries and museums across the city. National Glass Centre remains open with our usual programme of exhibitions and activities Monday-Saturday.

Additionally, in line with the new opening hours, Glass Yard Café will also close on Sundays and offer a revised menu on Mondays.

Read the full statement from University of Sunderland about the planned changes:  University of Sunderland Statement

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See & Do

Exhibitions

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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

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

Glass Zoo
Free
A gold bird shaped artwork with a clear glass head.

Exhibitions

Glass Zoo

Showing in the Balcony Gallery

21 Feb – 01 Jun 2025
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National Glass Centre

Inga Hamilton: The Things That Nonhuman Animals Make
Free
A ring made of brown glass

Exhibitions

Inga Hamilton: The Things That Nonhuman Animals Make

Showing in the Research Gallery

21 Feb – 09 Mar 2025
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National Glass Centre

Autonomy
Free
Four framed colour portraits of teenagers and young adults. The pictures framed. The frame is black. They hang on a wall in a gallery. behind the portraits is a large blue block colour.

Exhibitions

Autonomy

Showing in the Learning Gallery

21 Feb – 26 Apr 2025
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National Glass Centre

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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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Children & Young People’s Activities

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Glass Fused Animals
Two children taking part in crafting activities under the supervision of a woman in a blue top.

Children and Young People's Activities

Glass Fused Animals

24 Feb – 23 Apr 2025

5+

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National Glass Centre

Animal Sandcasting
Limited Availability
A fused glass hedgehog

Children and Young People's Activities

Animal Sandcasting

25 Feb – 22 Apr 2025

5+

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National Glass Centre

Wildlife Glass Engraving
Sold Out
A piece of square glass is being engraved. The left hand of the engraver is holding the square steady. The right hand is using an electric engraving tool.

Children and Young People's Activities

Wildlife Glass Engraving

Part of Bright Lights Youth Arts Festival 2025

25 Feb 2025

11+

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National Glass Centre

Imaginary Coiled Creatures
Limited Availability
Children playing in a room with colourful chairs and toys. The room has a wall of glass looking out on a collection of green trees.

Children and Young People's Activities

Imaginary Coiled Creatures

26 Feb 2025

5+

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National Glass Centre

Ceramic Animal Tiles
A number of clay tiles sit on a work bench. There are animal designs moulded into each tile.

Children and Young People's Activities

Ceramic Animal Tiles

27 Feb – 25 Apr 2025

5+

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National Glass Centre

Ceramic Animal Art
Sold Out
Hands hold up a ball of clay. In the right hand there is a small brush. The clay has several holes. In the background, there are a number of school children. They have been blurred.

Children and Young People's Activities

Ceramic Animal Art

Part of Bright Lights Youth Arts Festival 2025

28 Feb 2025

11+

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National Glass Centre

Adult workshops & Activities

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One Day Introduction to Ceramics: Handbuilding Technique
A woman moulds clay inside a yellow plastic tray. She is wearing a vest and burgundy tights . There is a white star pattern on the tights.

Adult Workshops and Activities

One Day Introduction to Ceramics: Handbuilding Technique

01 Mar – 03 May 2025

16+

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National Glass Centre

Chainmaille Bracelet Making
Sold Out
A chunky metal chainmaille bracelet with silvers, golds and blue

Adult Workshops and Activities

Chainmaille Bracelet Making

01 Mar 2025

16+

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National Glass Centre

Glass Tableware Taster Session
Sold Out
Glass artifacts - a bowl with two tone blue patternation, a plate with green and yellow colours, and a selection of glass pictures - are placed on a grey surface.

Adult Workshops and Activities

Glass Tableware Taster Session

02 Mar 2025

16+

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National Glass Centre

Stained Glass and Copper Foil Botanicals
Three stained glass flowers, with brightly coloured petals, sit in orange ceramic pots

Adult Workshops and Activities

Stained Glass and Copper Foil Botanicals

08 Mar – 31 May 2025

16+

More

National Glass Centre

One Day Introduction to Ceramics: Throwing Technique
Sold Out
A woman moulds clay inside a yellow plastic tray. She is wearing a vest and burgundy tights . There is a white star pattern on the tights.

Adult Workshops and Activities

One Day Introduction to Ceramics: Throwing Technique

22 Mar 2025

16+

More

National Glass Centre

Flameworked Marbles
Sold Out
Three glass marbles, one with green patterns, the second with blue and purple, and the third with turquoise and purple glimmer against a white background

Adult Workshops and Activities

Flameworked Marbles

22 Mar – 12 Apr 2025

16+

More

National Glass Centre

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Find out more about Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
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

Playing on the Screen: Kasia Parker - The Land of Oak and Iron
Free
A forest scene with lots of green foliage. A stone wall is covered in moss.

Exhibitions

Playing on the Screen: Kasia Parker - The Land of Oak and Iron

Showing on National Glass Centre Ground Floor Screen.

21 Feb – 23 Mar 2025
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Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Hetain Patel: Come As You Really Are
Free
A colourful abstract mosaic of red, salmon pink, yellow and orange

Exhibitions

Hetain Patel: Come As You Really Are

Showing in the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

22 Mar – 06 Jul 2025
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Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

The Caravan Gallery: Sunderland Pride of Place Project - Ten Years On
Free
A social club on a street. Between the upstairs and downstairs windows there is a large sign. The sign has the words The Cavern written on it. Behind the social club is a block of flats. The sky is blue.

Exhibitions

The Caravan Gallery: Sunderland Pride of Place Project - Ten Years On

Showing in Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Collection Space

22 Mar – 11 May 2025
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Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

NHS Darkroom with Johannah Churchill: Come As You Really Are
Free
A split image. The left hand image shows a female with eyes closed. She may be blind. She is dressed in a sky blue NHS nurses work shirt. The right hand image shows an operating theatre. There are two surgeons dressed in scrubs working an operation. This image is in black and white.

Exhibitions

NHS Darkroom with Johannah Churchill: Come As You Really Are

Showing in Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Collection Space

17 May – 05 Jul 2025
More

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Daily glass making demonstrations

Experience the heat of our 1000-degree furnace and watch our expert glassmaking team craft works of art right before your eyes.

Glass making – 12:00, 13:45, 15:00 daily*

Flameworking – 11:00, 15:45. Not available on Tuesday or Sunday.

*Check out website alerts for schedule changes before visiting.

Special Events

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More events coming, please check back soon.