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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National Glass Centre

Discover the art of glassmaking and its roots in the city

Featured Exhibition

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

12 Feb – 31 May 2025
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National Glass Centre

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.

See & Do

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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

12 Feb – 27 Apr 2025
More

National Glass Centre

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

12 Feb – 31 May 2025
More

National Glass Centre

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

Exhibitions

Glass Zoo

Showing in the Balcony Gallery

12 Feb – 01 Jun 2025
More

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

12 Feb – 09 Mar 2025
More

National Glass Centre

Five Week Kiln Formed Glass Course
A series of decorated glass tiles. The designs are from left to right; a sunflower, five brown fish swimming in a sky blue sea, a dog, a butterfly, an orange cat, seven green rectangles, and a navy blue and pink fish swimming between sea plants.

Adult Workshops and Activities

Five Week Kiln Formed Glass Course

5 week course running on Thursdays

13 Feb – 27 Mar 2025

16+

More

National Glass Centre

Two Day Flameworking Skills Course
A glass artist heats up a tube over a hot flame.

Adult Workshops and Activities

Two Day Flameworking Skills Course

15 Feb – 26 Apr 2025

16+

More

National Glass Centre

See & Do

Explore what’s on

Exhibitions, workshops, glassmaking and more

See & Do
Visit Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
A large grey room with a polished cement floor and large abstract paintings hung on the wall. Two people are gesturing at one painting in front of them and smiling.

We’re home to Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Based inside National Glass Centre, the gallery showcases contemporary art in a range of media from talented national and international artists.

Visit Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Learn & Create

Schools & Education
A group of school children stand in a workshop that has by tables with art supplies on them and various pieces of equipment. An adult at the head of the circle talks to the group looking down at something in front of them.

Schools & Education

Educational workshops for various ages and subjects as well as guidance for self-led visits.

Schools & Education
Children & Families
A group of children and adults stand behind a barrier and watch as molten glass is poured out of a metal ladle and into a dish of sand.

Children & Families

Enjoy your family trip with fun activities and trails to inspire little ones.

Children & Families
SEND
A child wearing an orange backpack looks through a pink piece of plastic they are holding in their hand. Another child behind them is wearing a pink backpack and looking down at a booklet they're holding.

SEND

Make the most of your visit with fun activities and safe spaces for SEND children and young people.

SEND
Plan your visit
An angular glass and metal building, the National Glass Centre, with a large paved area in front of it with wooden benches.

Plan Your Visit

Find out how to get here and about our facilities before you visit

Plan your visit
Two children wearing colourful backpacks walk along a balcony in a glass building. At the end is a rounded, metal pod-shaped room with a window in the side.

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