Glassworks: Sunderland finds a home
With the closure of the National Glass Centre in 2026, the government is funding a £5m facility dedicated to the craft in Borough Road, Sunniside.
A former antiques warehouse has been chosen to preserve 1,350 years of glass-making history in the area.
The National Glass Centre is closing due to the cost of repair, with Sunderland University citing estimates of between £14-45m.
The new site will be operated by Sunderland Culture, which will work alongside the Victoria and Albert Museum, Sunderland City Council, and the University of Sunderland, on the centre of excellence for glassmaking.
The hope is that the centre becomes a self-sustaining specialist glassmaking hub.
Nick Malyan, chief executive of Sunderland Culture, said: “Glassworks: Sunderland is a hugely ambitious project that will unleash the creative potential of Sunniside, a place that is already brimming with creativity.”