National Glass Centre What's On September - December 2024
Blast furnace 2.00am Midsummer night 1986.
Courtesy of the artist.
Redcar
Photograph.
Welcome
For a free day out with a difference, visit National Glass Centre and Northen Gallery for Contemporary Art.
Discover the history of pioneering glass making in Sunderland and enjoy world class exhibitions and experiences at National Glass Centre. You and your family will love our sensational glass blowing demonstrations and our hands-on creative activities.
Visit Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art using our new entrance around the righthand side of National Glass Centre, next to the riverside - follow the signs. The gallery has been bringing art from around the globe to Sunderland and revealing the depth of talent in the North East for 50 years.
Complete your visit to the centre with a bite to eat or a coffee in The Glass Yard Café, or browse handmade jewellery, studio glass, and a range of unique gifts and homeware in our shop. Both relocated upstairs for visitors to experience and enjoy.
Group Visits
Groups are always welcome at National Glass Centre. On arrival you will be greeted by our Visitor Services team who will give you an overview of National Glass Centre, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, and our current exhibitions. You’ll then visit our galleries, our Hot Glass Studio to experience a live glass blowing demonstration, our shop and café. Private glass blowing demonstrations are available on request. Advance notice of your group visit is always appreciated.
Free Glass Making Demonstrations
Watch our expert glass making team craft stunning pieces before your eyes in our amazing glass blowing demonstrations. For further information, please visit nationalglasscentre.com.
Glass Blowing:
Daily 12:00, 13:45 and 15:00 (30 mins)
Little Artists Drop In
Come along to our Little Artists Drop-ins every Monday during term time, where your under 5’s can explore the world around them through imaginative play in self-led activities. Sessions are free, fun and tailored to support early learning and exploration.
Adventure Backpacks
Explore National Glass Centre with our Adventure Backpacks which are full of fun investigatory activities including a set of activity cards. We also have individually tailored SEND Adventure Backpacks for visitors with additional needs. The Backpacks are free to use, suitable for ages 4+ and available at Reception.
Kids Activity Trails and Colouring in Sheets
Pick up one of our free kids’ activity trails which will guide you around the building or enjoy our range of colouring in sheets. Our activities change regularly to different themes and are a great way to entertain the kids.
EXHIBITIONS
NGCA Collection Space
Jeremy Deller: The Battle of Orgreave
Runs until
Sunday 3 November
To mark the 40th anniversary of the 1984 miners’ strike – which had, and still has, a profound impact on Sunderland and the North East of England - NGCA Collection Space is screening The Battle of Orgreave, Mike Figgis’ film of Jeremy Deller’s re-enactment.
On display alongside The Battle of Orgreave is a selection of photographs taken during the 1984 North East miners’ strike including photos of pickets at Monkwearmouth and Easington collieries, marches and demonstrations in Sunderland and everyday family life.
NGCA Collection Space
Harry Griffin: My name is Harry, these are my pictures and they are nice
Saturday 23 November 2024 – Sunday 2 March 2025
My name is Harry… is the first gallery exhibition of British photographer and tour manager Harry Griffin on display across NGCA Collection Space and Pop Recs (172-175 High St West, Sunniside, Sunderland, SR1 1UP). The exhibition comprises hundreds of photographs from Harry’s photographic archive providing a unique insight into Britain’s vibrant comedy circuit, family and friendships, moments of joy, celebration and boredom all shot through with wit, humour, and candid moments of life on tour.
Curated with Gabrielle Barkess-Kerr. This exhibition has been produced in partnership with the Northern Centre of Photography, University of Sunderland.
Harry Griffin,
Image: Jeremy Deller, The Battle of Orgreave, 2001. Production photograph: Parisa Taghizadeh.
Image:
Kissing by the Exford, Melbourne, May 2023. Photo: Courtesy of the artist.
Wally Dogs, date unknown. White Staffordshire earthenware pottery with gold lustre. On loan from Compton Verney NGC Gallery
A celebration of Folk Art by unnamed artists
Runs until Sunday 1 December
This exhibition celebrates art created by unnamed artists. Objects referred to as Popular Art or Folk Art were often beautiful, functional, and part of daily life. They reflect our economic and social history and were often remarkably well made, evidenced by their survival for decades or more through constant use.
Despite the historic and aesthetic importance of these objects we rarely ask, “who was the artist,” or consider their importance within the history of art and design. People’s Art will aim to elevate the profile of Popular Art by commissioning five contemporary artists to respond to selected objects loaned from Compton Verney’s Folk Art collection and from a private collection. The newly commissioned works will be shown alongside the loans, encouraging the visitor to think about the principles we apply when considering the value of art.
EXHIBITIONS
NGCA Main Gallery
The Skin We Live In: Portraits from the NGCA Collection
Saturday 23 November 2024
– Sunday 2 March 2025
The Skin We Live In is the inaugural exhibition of artwork from Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art’s collection brought together in a group show exploring contemporary portraiture through photography, painting, sculpture, film, and printmaking.
The exhibition features artwork by 28 contemporary artists and photographers who turn the tables on historic associations and practices of portraiture to go beyond skin deep delving further into our shared human condition.
Collection Gallery
Bernard Lloyd Collection
From Saturday 14 September
An updated presentation of selected works from the Bernard Lloyd Collection celebrating international styles and glass making techniques.
Colin Reid, Untitled, 1985
Joanna Piotrowska, Untitled, from the Self-defence series, 2015. Silver gelatin hand print. Photo: Courtesy of the artist.
NGCA Main Gallery
Ian Macdonald: Fixing Time
Runs until Sunday 3 November
Fixing Time is a retrospective exhibition across two venuesSunderland Museum & Winter Gardens and Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art - exploring 50 years of work by renowned British artist and photographer Ian Macdonald.
Macdonald, boasts a rich and prolific career spanning five decades behind the lens. His photographic journey has been dedicated to documenting life, the evolution of working-class communities, and the rise and fall of industry in Teesside and Cleveland, located in the NorthEast of England. Macdonald’s extensive body of work aligns
with the tradition of British documentary photography that emerged during the mid 1970s and into the 1980s, a period marked by political shifts and social upheaval.
The exhibition at Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art spotlights key photographic series such as The River Tees Estuary, Greatham Creek and People, Towns and Portraits. Concurrently, the exhibition at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens delves into other significant series like Heavy Industry, Smith’s Dock Shipyard, Redcar Blast Furnace and School Portraits.
Canteen staff catching up on the day at the end of their shift, Redcar Blast Furnace, Autumn 1983. Photograph. Courtesy of the artist.
What’s on for Adults
All courses are suitable for ages 16+ unless otherwise specified.
Saturdays 5 October, 30 November 10:00 – 16:00 / £60
For further info, tap to find out more.
Unless marked *, collection is after workshop
Special Hot Glass Studio Experiences ON SALE FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
Make a Glass Pumpkin
Saturdays 12, 19, plus Saturdays 26 and Sunday 27 October 10am – 11am / 11am – 12pm 12pm – 1pm / 2pm – 3pm 3pm – 4pm 3 people per hour
Cost £70 pp Age 16+
Note: Collection one week after workshop
Packing and Postage £10 each, max postage £20 payable at reception
NB: Please note: no demos on these dates.
A wonderful opportunity to work with the studio glass blowers to make your own unique glass pumpkin. These experiences offer you the chance to personalise your pumpkin by applying coloured glass at over 1100 degrees centigrade.
Working closely with our Hot Glass Studio Team you will make your own pumpkin, choosing the colour you desire and then watch it come to life. They will finish your artwork by using a mould to create the pumpkin shape and add a colourful stem in the effect of your choice.
What’s On for Families
Fantastic Fusing
Monday 28 October
10:00, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30
Age 6+ / £12
Booking essential
Gruesome Glass Painting
Tuesday 29 and
Wednesday 30 October
10:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 15:30
Age 4+ / £5 / Drop-in
Haunted House Glass Fusing
Thursday 31 October
10:00, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30
Age 6+ / £12
Booking essential
Felt Hand Puppets
Saturday 2 November
10:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 15:30
Age 4+ / £3 / Drop-in
Weekend Workshops
Fantastic Fusing
Saturdays 14 September and 12 October
10:00, 11:30, 13:30 and 15.30
Age 6+ / £12 / Booking essential
Winter Workshops
Reindeer Alert Light
Monday 23 December
10:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 15:30
Age 4+ / £3 / Drop-in
Festive Fusing
Sundays 24 November and 15 December
10:00, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30
Age 6+ / £12
Booking essential
Animal Glass Painting
Friday 3 January
10:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 15:30
Age 4+ / £5 / Drop-in
Animal Fusing
Saturday 4 January
10:00, 11:30, 13:30 and 15:30
Age 6+ / £12
Booking essential
Special Hot Glass Studio Experiences
ON SALE FRIDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
Make Your Own Christmas Bauble
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 13 November until 22 December
10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 15:00
Age 12+ (anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the session)
£40 / Booking essential Collection one week after workshop
Packing and Postage £7 each, maximum postage £20 payable at reception.
This unique experience offers the opportunity to work with molten glass at over 1100 degrees centigrade. During this workshop, you will create a beautiful glass bauble to hang on your Christmas tree or to give as the perfect handmade gift. Using a variety of coloured glass, you can personalise your design before you watch your bauble come to life.
National Glass Centre are delighted to be celebrating Heritage Open Days. Events run throughout September. For the latest info, please visit: sunderlandculture.org.uk/ our-venues/national-glasscentre
Hot Glass Studio Sale
Saturday 11 – Sunday 12 January 2025, 10am-5pm National Glass Centre Shop
Come on down to our Studio Glass Sale for the opportunity to purchase a unique piece of Studio Glass made right here in National Glass Centre’s Hot Glass Studio.
You will be able to choose from a wide array of glass including one off pieces and slight seconds. All available at a bargain price.
The Glass Yard
Open for breakfast and lunch, The Glass Yard is the perfect place to get together with family, friends and loved ones.
Follow on social media to keep up to date with offers and daily specials: theglassyardcafe @theglassyardcafe
National Glass Centre and Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art are part of the Sunderland Culture family, which delivers an exciting programme across some of the city’s key cultural venues including Arts Centre Washington and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, as well as a programme of cultural engagement and events with communities across the city. Highlights across our other venues include...
Visit: Travel, Contact, and Connect
Parking: We have car parking on site. Car park charges apply: Free for under 20 minutes, 60p per hour or £3 all day. Blue Badge holders may park for free. For a more detailed map and directions, please visit sunderlandculture.org.uk/visit-ngc
Our building is fully accessible in all areas. For more info, please visit: sunderlandculture.org.uk/access
