Sunderland Culture

Sunderland Culture Sunderland Culture brings together some of
Wearside’s most cherished cultural venues
and activities.

Sunderland Culture brings together some of Wearside’s most cherished cultural venues
and activities and works to realise the ambition of a city brimming with creative potential. We deliver the creative programme in National Glass Centre, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Arts Centre Washington and The Fire Station, as well as with communities across the city.

Applications are now open for our Unlock: Creative Business Mentoring Programme.Independent creative practitioners and e...
01/09/2026

Applications are now open for our Unlock: Creative Business Mentoring Programme.

Independent creative practitioners and employees of creative businesses and organisations based in Sunderland are invited to apply for a bespoke mentoring or training package worth up to £1200.

ℹ Find out more: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/projects-partnerships/unlock/

01/09/2026

Jasmine is 9 and feels excited during creative sessions because she gets to try new things.

Creative activities help her express herself and feel proud about what she has done. Through Culture Start she’s made animations, paper dragons and beaded bracelets and tried out acting. Jasmine has made new friends and wants to be an actor when she’s older.

As part of It Starts With Culture, our advocacy event on Monday 6 April, we commissioned Blue Bandit Media to create five case studies exploring the experiences, ideas and learning gathered throughout the last two years of Culture Start.

Each case study focuses on a different perspective, highlighting the work taking place across Sunderland to remove barriers, increase access to arts and culture, and create meaningful opportunities for children and young people.

You can see Jasmine’s story now on the Culture Start impact page: sunderlandculture.org.uk/projects-partnerships/culture-start/impact/

Culture Start is supported by a £1.2m Place Partnership award from Arts Council England through the National Lottery and generously funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Sir James Knott Trust, and the Gillian Dickinson Trust.

30/08/2026

Jade takes her child to Culture Start’s Creative Sparks workshops at Space4 in Houghton-le-Spring.

Space4 is a welcoming, inclusive community project that gives people a place to feel accepted without judgement. Through Culture Start, children and young people have been able to access creative workshops that Space4 would not otherwise have been able to offer, including animation and graffiti art.

The sessions have helped remove barriers around cost, location and access to specialist creative skills. They have also given children the chance to work together, make friends, build confidence and connect face to face in a safe local space.

As part of It Starts With Culture, our advocacy event on Monday 6 April, we commissioned Blue Bandit Media to create five case studies exploring the experiences, ideas and learning gathered throughout the last two years of Culture Start.

Each case study focuses on a different perspective, highlighting the work taking place across Sunderland to remove barriers, increase access to arts and culture, and create meaningful opportunities for children and young people.

You can see Jade’s story now on the Culture Start impact page: sunderlandculture.org.uk/projects-partnerships/culture-start/impact/

Culture Start is supported by a £1.2m Place Partnership award from Arts Council England through the National Lottery and generously funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Sir James Knott Trust, and the Gillian Dickinson Trust.

27/08/2026

Belle is 13 and loves singing, dancing and performing.

With the Ignite Bursary, Belle was able to pay for singing lessons and other opportunities. This led to the confidence to join Sunderland Empire’s Summer School, getting a behind-the-scenes look at that creative industry and making friends across the week. Most of all, the confidence gained from knowing she had support behind her has led her to look for more opportunities.

As part of It Starts With Culture, our advocacy event on Monday 6 April, we commissioned Blue Bandit Media to create five case studies exploring the experiences, ideas and learning gathered throughout the last two years of Culture Start.
Each case study focuses on a different perspective, highlighting the work taking place across Sunderland to remove barriers, increase access to arts and culture, and create meaningful opportunities for children and young people.

You can see Belle’s story now on the Culture Start impact page: sunderlandculture.org.uk/projects-partnerships/culture-start/impact/

Future Creatives is part of Culture Start, a programme delivered by Sunderland Culture, supported by a £1.2m Place Partnership award from Arts Council England through the National Lottery, and generously funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Sir James Knott Trust, and the Gillian Dickinson Trust.

📢 Coming SoonAudrey Amiss - Kitchen Sink Realism, the inaugural exhibition in Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art’s ne...
27/08/2026

📢 Coming Soon

Audrey Amiss - Kitchen Sink Realism, the inaugural exhibition in Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art’s new home at Culture House Sunderland

Charting the artistic journey from her formative years in Sunderland through to her final years in Clapham, South London, Kitchen Sink Realism brings together previously unseen paintings, drawings, and archival material, offering a rare glimpse into the artist and her incredible archive.

📅Opens Saturday 12 September
10am - 6pm / Free Entry

ℹ Find out more: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/audrey-amiss-kitchen-sink-realism/

Kitchen Sink Realism has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wellcome Collection, London

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, supported through funding from Arts Council England.
Sunderland, UK

Image credit: Audrey Amiss, Bridge Across A River, c.1950s, Graphite and gouche on paper, 25 x 36.5cm, Courtesy of Wellcome Collection, London

Welcome to the next chapter of Northern Gallery for Contemporary ArtIntroducing our new brand identity; a look that refl...
26/08/2026

Welcome to the next chapter of Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Introducing our new brand identity; a look that reflects our passion for bold, modern art and the incredible artists we represent. While our visual style has changed, our core mission stays the same: connecting our community with inspiring work.

We reopen in our new home of Culture House Sunderland on Saturday 12 September.

Stay tuned for updates on our programme: northerngalleryforcontemporaryart.org.uk

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, supported through funding from Arts Council England.

24/08/2026

Ellie is 19 and loves filming interviews.

The Ignite Bursary allowed Ellie to get her own equipment, allowing her to build skills and experience on her own terms. That in turn leads to confidence, motivation, and practical experience for her future career.

As part of It Starts With Culture, our advocacy event on Monday 6 April, we commissioned Blue Bandit Media to create five case studies exploring the experiences, ideas and learning gathered throughout the last two years of Culture Start.

Each case study focuses on a different perspective, highlighting the work taking place across Sunderland to remove barriers, increase access to arts and culture, and create meaningful opportunities for children and young people.

You can see Ellie’s story now on the Culture Start impact page: sunderlandculture.org.uk/projects-partnerships/culture-start/impact/

Culture Start is supported by a £1.2m Place Partnership award from Arts Council England through the National Lottery and generously funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Sir James Knott Trust, and the Gillian Dickinson Trust.

More than £82,300 has been awarded through Ignite Bursaries, helping young people across Sunderland overcome barriers an...
19/08/2026

More than £82,300 has been awarded through Ignite Bursaries, helping young people across Sunderland overcome barriers and realise their creative potential✨

Since launching, the programme has awarded 172 bursaries, supporting young people to access creative opportunities, equipment and experiences.

For Belle, the bursary helped pay for essential ballet shoes, enabling her to continue pursuing her passion for dance🩰

Read more about Belle’s story and the Ignite Bursary programme sunderlandculture.org.uk/news

The Ignite Bursary is part of Culture Start - a programme led by Sunderland Culture, supported by a £1.2m Place Partnership award from Arts Council England through the National Lottery and generously funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Sir James Knott Trust, and the Gillian Dickinson Trust.

12/08/2026

Are you aged 13-18, or up to 25 with SEND, and interested in creativity?

Future Creatives is a free community for young people in Sunderland who want to explore creative opportunities, meet new people and try something different.

Members can hear about workshops, events and experiences across music, theatre, visual art, performance, film and more. The programme is shaped around young people’s interests, ideas and ambitions, with opportunities designed to be welcoming, accessible and free to take part in.

Whether you already know what you love, or you want to try something new, Future Creatives can help you find creative experiences that feel right for you.

Sign up to Future Creatives to hear about upcoming opportunities.
sunderlandculture.org.uk/projects-partnerships/culture-start/future-creatives/

Future Creatives is part of Culture Start, a programme delivered by Sunderland Culture, supported by a £1.2m Place Partnership award from Arts Council England through the National Lottery, and generously funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Sir James Knott Trust, and the Gillian Dickinson Trust.

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Capturing the moment🖌️Hannah Graham Story Teller’s live illustrations capture the Going Places project journey so far – ...
06/08/2026

Capturing the moment🖌️

Hannah Graham Story Teller’s live illustrations capture the Going Places project journey so far – from developing exhibition ideas to selecting objects from Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens stores and seeing them on display at the National Memorial Arboretum.

The full illustrations will be revealed when the Green Spaces, Shared Places exhibition lands in Sunderland next spring.

We can’t wait to see all the project’s moments documented through art 🎨

To find out more about Green Spaces, Shared Places, visit sunderlandculture.org.uk/projects-partnerships/green-spaces-shared-places

Going Places is an Art Fund programme made possible with major support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Julia Rausing Trust, with additional support from a generous group of trusts, foundations and individuals.

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