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The Riverside entrance is currently closed due to the bad weather – please use the main entrance.

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National Glass Centre

Discover the art of glassmaking and its roots in the city

Exhibitions

People's Art
Free
Wally Dogs - White Staffordshire earthenware pottery with gold lustre. The background is bright red.

Exhibitions

People's Art

24 Nov – 01 Dec 2024
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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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Festive Fusing
Sold Out
Glass tiles with red, blue, orange, and green mosaics sit alongside small pots containing red and blue glass.

Children and Young People's Activities

Festive Fusing

24 Nov – 15 Dec 2024

6+

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National Glass Centre

Make your own Christmas Bauble
Sold Out
A red mottled glass Christmas bauble hangs on a tree, attached with a red ribbon. The tree has small white globe shaped lights on every branch.

Adult Workshops and Activities

Make your own Christmas Bauble

24 Nov – 22 Dec 2024

Age 12+

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National Glass Centre

People's Art
Free
Wally Dogs - White Staffordshire earthenware pottery with gold lustre. The background is bright red.

Exhibitions

People's Art

24 Nov – 01 Dec 2024
More

National Glass Centre

Veterans into Clay Sunderland
Free
A red brown ceramic pot. The lid, which is the same colour, is being lifted off by a white hand

Exhibitions

Veterans into Clay Sunderland

Showing in National Glass Centre Learning Gallery

25 Nov 2024 – 31 Jan 2025
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National Glass Centre

Re-imag(in)ing WORK: Photographs from the IPRN Changing Faces Collection
Free
An abstract forest scene with four pictured in green boiler suits. One man, situated to the left of the picture sits on the woodland floor looking up. The other three men push against a giant pine trunk. In the distance is a red coloured water slide and a pine lodge. The sky is extremely misty.

Exhibitions

Re-imag(in)ing WORK: Photographs from the IPRN Changing Faces Collection

Showing in Sunderland Creatives Gallery

25 Nov 2024 – 30 Mar 2025
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National Glass Centre

1 Day Introduction to Ceramics: Handbuilding Technique
Sold Out
Two hands covered in wet clay push down on a potters wheel containing clay that is being moulded into a pot or dish

Adult Workshops and Activities

1 Day Introduction to Ceramics: Handbuilding Technique

This session is sold out. Join our waitlist and we will let you know if any places free up or when future sessions are announced. Please include your full name and contact number in the email.

Join our waitlist

30 Nov 2024

16+

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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.

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