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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See & Do

Exhibitions

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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

05 Apr – 31 May 2025
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National Glass Centre

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

Exhibitions

Glass Zoo

Showing in the Balcony Gallery

05 Apr – 01 Jun 2025
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National Glass Centre

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

05 – 27 Apr 2025
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National Glass Centre

Autonomy
Free
Four framed colour portraits of teenagers and young adults. The pictures framed. The frame is black. They hang on a wall in a gallery. behind the portraits is a large blue block colour.

Exhibitions

Autonomy

Showing in the Learning Gallery

05 – 26 Apr 2025
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National Glass Centre

Children & Young People’s Activities

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Animal Sandcasting
A fused glass hedgehog

Children and Young People's Activities

Animal Sandcasting

14 – 22 Apr 2025

5+

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National Glass Centre

Glass Fused Animals
Two children taking part in crafting activities under the supervision of a woman in a blue top.

Children and Young People's Activities

Glass Fused Animals

15 – 23 Apr 2025

5+

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National Glass Centre

Glass Painted Animal Tiles
2 smiling girls crafting at National Glass Centre. Both girls have long hair and are sitting at a desk. The girl on the left is wearing a stripey t-shirt. The girl on the right also has a striped shirt on, she also has large yellow flowers sewn onto the top.

Children and Young People's Activities

Glass Painted Animal Tiles

16 – 24 Apr 2025

4+

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National Glass Centre

Ceramic Animal Tiles
A number of clay tiles sit on a work bench. There are animal designs moulded into each tile.

Children and Young People's Activities

Ceramic Animal Tiles

17 – 25 Apr 2025

5+

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National Glass Centre

Adult workshops & Activities

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Five Week Ceramics Course
Sold Out
One ceramic pot and one ceramic mug. Both are mottled with green, cream, and beige patterns.

Adult Workshops and Activities

Five Week Ceramics Course

08 Apr 2025

16+

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National Glass Centre

Flameworked Marbles
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Three glass marbles, one with green patterns, the second with blue and purple, and the third with turquoise and purple glimmer against a white background

Adult Workshops and Activities

Flameworked Marbles

12 Apr 2025

16+

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National Glass Centre

One Day Introduction to Ceramics: Handbuilding Technique
A woman moulds clay inside a yellow plastic tray. She is wearing a vest and burgundy tights . There is a white star pattern on the tights.

Adult Workshops and Activities

One Day Introduction to Ceramics: Handbuilding Technique

03 May 2025

16+

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National Glass Centre

Stained Glass and Copper Foil Botanicals
Three stained glass flowers, with brightly coloured petals, sit in orange ceramic pots

Adult Workshops and Activities

Stained Glass and Copper Foil Botanicals

03 – 31 May 2025

16+

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National Glass Centre

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

Find out more about Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
Hetain Patel: Come As You Really Are
Free
A colourful abstract mosaic of red, salmon pink, yellow and orange

Exhibitions

Hetain Patel: Come As You Really Are

Showing in the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

05 Apr – 06 Jul 2025
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Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

The Caravan Gallery: Sunderland Pride of Place Project - Ten Years On
Free
A social club on a street. Between the upstairs and downstairs windows there is a large sign. The sign has the words The Cavern written on it. Behind the social club is a block of flats. The sky is blue.

Exhibitions

The Caravan Gallery: Sunderland Pride of Place Project - Ten Years On

Showing in Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Collection Space

05 Apr – 11 May 2025
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Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

NHS Darkroom with Johannah Churchill: Come As You Really Are
Free
A split image. The left hand image shows a female with eyes closed. She may be blind. She is dressed in a sky blue NHS nurses work shirt. The right hand image shows an operating theatre. There are two surgeons dressed in scrubs working an operation. This image is in black and white.

Exhibitions

NHS Darkroom with Johannah Churchill: Come As You Really Are

Showing in Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Collection Space

17 May – 05 Jul 2025
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Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

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.

Special Events

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More events coming, please check back soon.