Annual Review 2018-2019 - Sunderland Culture
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Annual Review 2018-2019
Annual Review
2018-2019
DELIVERING STEP CHANGE CHAIRMAN’S
THROUGH CULTURE WELCOME
Sunderland Culture brings together the investment of the In March 2018 working with partner organisations through
three main drivers and funders of arts provision in the city, Sunderland Cultural Partnership, we launched the Twenty
Sunderland City Council, University of Sunderland and Music, Four Seven programme; an ambitious seven year £60m
Arts & Culture Trust into a single, independent, and resilient project running to 2024. Twenty Four Seven has been built
delivery model. In 2018 we became an Arts Council England from the excitement, drive and imagination of people from
National Portfolio Organisation. communities, sectors and organisations across the city who
contributed to the UK City of Culture 2021 bid. It will deliver
We deliver the programme in National Glass Centre and
much of what was in our bid; using arts and culture to deliver
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland Museum
5 step changes in the city; improved profile and reputation of
& Winter Gardens, Arts Centre Washington and The Fire
the city; more vibrant creative economy; raised outlook and
Station, as well as cross-city projects such as Sunderland
Stages and our Great Place programme. Our mission is to
aspiration of young people; improved health and wellbeing; “The Sunderland model has been
and a more socially cohesive city.
improve life for everyone in Sunderland through culture. highlighted nationally as an example
of transformative culture-led
SUNDERLAND Arts Centre Washington regeneration.”
National Glass Centre
Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art
NORTH The Fire Station
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens The ambition of Sunderland City However, our first year has been about more than delivering
excellent arts. Our mission is to improve life for everyone in
Unlock the City
(creative economy)
Council, University of Sunderland and Sunderland through culture. And to achieve this, we’ve set
WASHINGTON
Unify Sunderland MAC Trust in setting up the company ourselves three ambitions:
(community cohesion) was to transform the reach, visibility 1. Ensure an excellent, diverse artistic and heritage offer
WEST Unleash the Coalfieds
(health and wellbeing)
and impact of Sunderland’s cultural 2. Encourage everyone to get involved
3. Secure a revitalised, joined-up and accessible cultural
Uncover Wearside scene. Our first year has certainly set infrastructure
(children and young people) the bar high – twelve unforgettable
Our brilliant first-year programme has certainly helped us
months of breath-taking events and with aims one and two – but we’ve also been busy with our
EAST
hundreds of exciting activities right third ambition.
COALFIELDS across the city. We’ve been laying the foundations needed for sustainable
growth. We’ve established our Sunderland Culture team and
But it has also led us to realise we are only at the start of what worked with our founding partners Sunderland City Council,
is possible. University of Sunderland and MAC Trust to develop an
From Pages of the Sea at Roker, the Danny Boyle-inspired innovative, joined-up cultural infrastructure – including the
“The University of Sunderland is proud “We’ve seen more investment in arts and “Sunderland’s cultural sector has commemoration of the Armistice, to a cultural village at opening of a new exhibition gallery and collection space at
to be a founding partner of Sunderland culture in Sunderland announced in the maintained the impressive momentum Hetton Carnival, to memorable exhibitions, such as Young NGCA and a new pop-up gallery at Mackie’s Corner in the city
Culture, and we’re delighted how quickly last 18 months than the previous 18 years. built during our bid to be UK City of Culture. centre (thanks to the generosity of the Kirtley family who own
the organisation has become part of the This is in large part testament to the Glass at National Glass Centre and Naval Heroes at Sunderland
fabric of the city. commitment and vision of the partnership “We may not have won the title, but Museum and Winter Gardens, our inaugural year has been the Hutchinson Buildings).
that founded Sunderland Culture and with drive, ambition and energy, we are packed with artistic highlights.
“Its first year could have been one of quiet becoming a city of culture anyway. We’re In doing so, the Sunderland model has been highlighted
is evidence that Sunderland is now seen
foundation building, but Sunderland within the arts sector as a place that can delivering major events, exhibitions We’ve had major solo shows by Fiona Crisp, Dan Holdsworth nationally as an example of transformative culture-led
Culture has delivered major exhibitions at deliver, a city known for artistic endeavour and performances for the enjoyment of and Kelly Richardson at Northern Gallery for Contemporary regeneration.
National Glass Centre and the new NGCA and ambition. Wearsiders and the broader north east all
Art, and Ranbir Kaur at the Museum. My thanks to our brilliant team and board and to our amazing
gallery space as well as unforgettable of which is raising our profile nationally
events across the city such as 1418 Now “Following the award-winning and internationally. Our Wonderlooper event brought 1,000 people together to supporters who include Arts Council England and the National
and Danny Boyle’s unforgettable Pages of redevelopment of The Fire Station, the MAC Lottery Heritage Fund. We are also hugely grateful for the help
the Sea as part of Sunderland’s Armistice Trust’s next project is the £8m development “Sunderland Culture is an innovative, mark the opening of the spectacular new Northern Spire
commemorations. of The Auditorium, a 450-seat venue at the partnership approach to transforming a bridge; while our innovative arts programme helped the city of all the volunteers who have given their time and energy
heart of the MAC Quarter. This prestigious city’s relationship to arts and culture, and celebrate the visit of the Tall Ships Races last summer. during this amazing year. Our first year of operations has been
“Such an impressive start points to a bright new venue will become a major asset for it’s an approach that is working – and being extraordinary. The year to come is already shaping up to be
and exciting future for the organisation Sunderland Culture, and we’re very much watched closely by other towns and cities. More recently, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens was equally memorable.
and the city.” looking forward to seeing it rise from the I am proud of Sunderland City Council’s chosen to be one of only twelve venues across the country to
ground over the next few months.” role in its foundation.” host Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life in Drawing, a prestigious series
Sir David Bell, Vice Chancellor at the
University of Sunderland Paul Callaghan, CBE, DL, Chair of Sunderland Councillor John Kelly, Portfolio holder for of exhibitions to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of
Music, Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust Communities and Culture at Sunderland City the Italian Renaissance master.
Council
Our work has reached almost two million people. Graeme Thompson
2 3
Annual Review
2018-2019
ACHIEVING THE YEAR
OUR MISSION IN FIGURES
2.026
IMPROVING LIFE FOR EVERYONE IN
SUNDERLAND THROUGH CULTURE
MILLION 16,728
Improving the Creating Building Improving Growing
city’s profile connectivity confidence health and our creative
and reputation amongst our and aspiration wellbeing economy
communities in young
people
TOTAL VISITORS
OUR AIMS
to our venues and SCHOOL
Delivering an excellent
and diverse arts and
Encouraging everyone
to get involved
Securing a revitalised
and resilient cultural
city programme VISITORS
52,659 participants
heritage programme infrastructure
OUR ASSETS, AUDIENCES AND PARTNERS
Across our venues and Growing our existing Working with our
city wide: and building new partners to maximise
audiences: resources
• National Glass Centre
484 547
• Local residents • Sunderland City Council
• Northern Gallery for
244,703
Contemporary Art • Visitors to the city • University of Sunderland
• Sunderland Museum • Artists and creative • MAC Trust
and Winter Gardens businesses • Sunderland Cultural
Partnership
• Arts Centre • BME communities
WEBSITE
VOLUNTEERS
Washington • Funders
• People with additional
• Businesses
EXHIBITIONS, VISITS
• Fire Station needs
• Health Sector
PERFORMANCES
• City programme • Older people AND EVENTS
See pages 6-11 See pages 12-13 • Education Sector
• Voluntary and
1,547 69,645 £5m
community organisations
See page 14
A UNIQUE MODEL FOR ARTS AWARDS SOCIAL MEDIA RAISED IN GRANTS
CULTURAL REGENERATION
DELIVERED FOLLOWERS AND AWARDS
4 5
Annual Review
2018-2019
Continuous Topography Young Glass, one of
by Dan Holdsworth at the most successful
Northern Gallery for exhibitions of the past
Contemporary Art year at National Glass
Centre
Caption to go here
Caption to go here
Caption to go here
7
exhibitions
66
artworks
NORTHERN GALLERY FOR NATIONAL
CONTEMPORARY ART collected GLASS CENTRE 224,276
3
visitors
In March 2018, Northern Gallery for
Contemporary Art reopened after a large,
• Canadian-born Kelly Richardson (Pillars of
Dawn)
new
exhibitions
toured to
One of National Glass Centre’s most successful
projects of the past year was Young Glass,
5,848
school visitors
5
industrial space within National Glass Centre at which showcased work by the finest young,
638
• The Collections Gallery exhibited work by local
University of Sunderland was converted into a artists, including photographer Craig Ames international artists from 30 nations working
flexible, state-of-the-art gallery. (Kill Zones) and Giles Bailey (The Islanders).
venues in glass. This exhibition is held every ten years
participants
625
The gallery opened with Material Sight, a new Last year also marked the onset of a new when work from artists under the age of 35 is Young people watch glass
exhibition by photographer and installation
artist Fiona Crisp, whose work is held by several
programme of research and publications working
with publishers, curators and leading academics school visitors
selected by a panel of international experts. More
than 320 artists applied to be included and just
over 50 were chosen, including Erin Dickson and
blowing in action
984
Arts Awards
3
national collections of contemporary art, across the UK and internationally, placing the
1,155
Evelyn Cromwell, both recent graduates of the • Material Journeys by artist and University of
including Tate, the British Council, Arts Council gallery at the forefront of new thinking about
new University of Sunderland’s Glass and Ceramic Sunderland lecturer Inge Panneels
England and Government Art Collection. photography, video, and digital imaging.
publications courses based within National Glass Centre. • Enfolded Surface by Sun Ju Lee, who undertook glass baubles
The themes woven through the gallery’s Achieving a permanent legacy has also been a residency offered jointly by National Glass
an important focus, with the gallery leading Other National Glass Centre highlights have blown
programme this year have been recognising the Centre and Northern Print as part of the
16
contribution of women artists and regionally- on the acquisition of entire bodies of work by included:
International Print Biennale held in 2016.
based artists who are working internationally. established artists which will be toured, loaned • Vessels of Memory, an exhibition of glass ships
and exhibited globally, creating a new collection in bottles by Dr Ayako Tani in our Balcony exhibitions
Main gallery exhibitions have included: Gallery
of contemporary art for Sunderland.
• John Kippin (Romanitas) • Forgiveness, an exhibition presenting new work
• Dan Holdsworth (Continuous Topography and by Carrie Fertig commissioned as part of the
Spatial Objects) commemorations of the 100 year anniversary
of the Armistice
6 7
Annual Review
2018-2019
SUNDERLAND MUSEUM ARTS CENTRE
AND WINTER GARDENS WASHINGTON
This year saw the arrival of one of the most
401,915
• Naval Heroes - This exhibition of Britain’s naval L to R:
anticipated exhibitions ever to be held in heroes included an iconic portrait of Admiral Deputy Mayoress Coun
Sunderland – Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life in Lord Nelson, on loan from the National Portrait Dianne Snowdon, young
Drawing. Gallery, to celebrate the arrival of the Tall Ships visitors curator Isabella Cameron,
33,405
Races to the city. Sunderland Culture’s
The exhibition, held in Sunderland Museum Rachel Hamer, Posy
and Winter Gardens’ main gallery, attracted • Julie Cope’s Grand Tour: The Story of a Life by Jowett, from Arts Centre
huge numbers of visitors – more than 33,000. Grayson Perry - This Crafts Council touring visitors to Washington, Deputy
Leonardo Mayor Coun David
Sunderland was one of only twelve UK exhibition featured two large-scale tapestries Snowdon and young
venues chosen by the Royal Collection Trust by the Turner Prize winning artist. exhibition curator Georgia Donkin
12,418
to simultaneously host the exhibition, which
• Life in Colour: Ranbir Kaur - Ranbir Kaur is a Arts Centre Washington
featured a total of 144 of Da Vinci’s drawings
and marked the 500th anniversary of the Italian textile and rangoli artist who has developed an
master’s death. A programme of events and international profile through her work with school visitors
7,382
activities complemented the exhibition. communities across the world. This exhibition
168,664
brought together a wide range of exquisite pieces A welcoming artistic and community hub, The centre also staged and supported work from
Other Museum highlights over the last year of work made across her 35-year career. Arts Centre Washington delivered a mixed educational, community and amateur theatre
include: participants programme of performance, exhibitions and groups, including Sunfest, the week-long takeover
visitors
103
participation over the past year, including more by drama students from the University of
• BP Portrait Award 2017 - This prestigious
portrait exhibition returned to Sunderland
from the National Portrait Gallery.
exhibitions,
than 100 public performances of theatre, music,
dance and comedy.
Sunderland’s Drama department.
Some of the highlights of the visual arts
249
volunteer days
performances
41,130
The theatre programme combined new writing programme include the Youth Arts Exhibition:
and events such as Rhum and Clay’s Testosterone and Paines Bright Lights, where this year three young
Plough’s Pop Music, with fresh adaptations of curators selected the work to be included in the participants
classics like War of the Worlds by The Pantaloons exhibition. Washington Camera Club celebrated
and Austen’s Women by Dyad productions. their 50th anniversary with an exhibition at the
centre as well as hosting a talk from renowned 149
exhibitions,
photographer Joe Cornish.
performances
and events
THE FIRE
STATION
The Fire Station is an arts hub, meeting space
and popular bar/bistro, developed by the MAC
Trust thanks to a £2.4m grant from National
Lottery Heritage Fund and was officially opened
in February 2018 by the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge. Work begins on the new Auditorium How the new auditorium
in 2019. will look
L to R:
Ranbir Kaur: Life in Colour, a retrospective of the artist’s The Fire Station hosts regional dance agency The Fire Station
work Dance City and respected theatre company Live
Students at Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing Theatre.
Grayson Perry’s Julie Cope tapestries, with Exhibitions, Dance City delivers more than 20 different dance
Collections and Archives Manager Jo Cunningham classes in its Sunderland studio, including ballet,
tap, jazz and aerial. The studio also hosts a number
of artist residencies - the first in 2018 was Robby
Graham and his company Southpaw Dance.
Live Theatre uses its studio as a base from which to
deliver its Live Tales schools writing programme
to schools in Sunderland and the surrounding area.
8 9
Annual Review
2018-2019
CITYWIDE PROGRAMME Part of the entertainment at Wonderlooper, the
Sunderland Culture’s vision is to deliver great art across the whole city – not just
opening event of the Northern Spire bridge
1,052
in our venues. participants
Events such as The Tall Ships Races and Pages of the Sea have helped us 20
volunteer
achieve this over the last twelve months, as well as our Great Place programme wonder
– a 3 year initiative funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council wardens
5
L to R: artists Lyn Kileen and Padma Rao of Sangini
England to put great art into the heart of communities. worked with Sunderland Culture’s Laura Brewis to open
an exhibition to mark International Women’s Day at
community Mackie’s Corner
group partners
200
The Tall Ships Races entertainment An image of fallen WW1 soldier 2nd Lt Hugh Carr Wonderlooper Mackie’s Corner
was etched into the Roker sands as part of Danny
Boyle’s Pages of the Sea Our Great Place programme is working with We’ve been working with our partners
events and community partners across Sunderland. including Sunderland City Council, Sunderland
performances Highlights this year have included Wonderlooper,
Business Improvement District and Tyne and
1,200
Wear Building Preservation Trust to bring
an interactive installation delivered by artist Di
added vibrancy to Sunderland city centre –
20
Mainstone to mark the opening of The Northern
and improving its cultural infrastructure by
children Spire. The event was held on the new bridge and
supporting programmes in four out-of-use
performed involved creating kaleidoscopes from cast-off Creative SME’s historic buildings.
1,000
pieces of plastic used to encase the bridge’s huge supported
steel cables. The spaces are all within Sunderland’s Heritage
Arts Awards
delivered
100
artists
Action Zone: Mackie’s Corner and Mackie’s
Workshop with property developers Henry
and Alex Kirtley, The Athenaeum led by Breeze
350 supported
The Tall Ships Races 2018 Pages of the Sea
Creatives and 170- 175 High Street West, led
The visit of The Tall Ships Races in July 2018
was enjoyed by more than 1.2 million visitors, volunteers
Sunderland was chosen by 1418 Now as one of
30 locations nationwide to host Danny Boyle’s £100,000 by Pop Recs with Tyne and Wear Buildings
Preservation Trust.
120
bringing millions of pounds into the city. commemoration of the 100th anniversary of leveraged
Armistice Day.
for creative Mackie’s Corner reopened in time for The Tall
The city’s cultural partners came together to businesses Ships Races in July 2018.
deliver a cultural programme as part of the
participants Sunderland Culture delivered Pages of the Sea with our
events to accompany the arrival of more than 50 on Roker Beach, produced the Teesside event and support
tall ships to the city for the four-day event. supported the Northumberland coast event.
The mesmeric dance performance, Contagion, part
Hundreds of artists took part in a programme Pages of the Sea featured the creation of a large- of Sunderland Stages, performed in St Gabriel’s
of over 200 street theatre, dance and circus scale portrait of First World War casualty 2nd Sunderland Culture’s Great Place Village during Church Hall
Hetton Carnival
performances; featuring UK artists such as Lieutenant Hugh Carr etched into the sand on
Southpaw Dance and disability-led Extraordinary Roker Beach, which was gently washed away on
Great Place Village at Hetton Carnival
98%
Bodies alongside international performers from the tide.
Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Norway and USA.
The high point of the programme was the
10,000+
visitors to
Members of the public made their own
personal acts of commemoration by stencilling
Our Great Place Village was a major part of last
year’s Hetton Carnival at Hetton Lyons Country
of visitors felt
Park. Our mini festival, aimed at improving
spectacular large-scale finale “Portolan” by Cirque Roker Beach soldier silhouettes into the sand, and listened happier for
health and wellbeing through culture, was
120
Bijou, which saw a high-wire walk from the banks on headsets to a recording of a specially- visiting
full of free workshops, performances and
of the River Wear to Wearmouth Bridge. Watched commissioned poem, The Wound In Time, written
demonstrations.
by over 10,000 people, the event also included by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, and read by
a large volunteer choir, local dancers and a volunteers local community voices. Other projects we’re delivering with communities
wonderful pyrotechnic waterfall from the bridge.
788
participants
in the Coalfields area include an allotment and
foodbank initiative in partnership with Hetton
20
Sunderland Stages
Our cross-city performance programme,
New Dawn and a young carers programme in Sunderland Stages, delivered a series of
at community Houghton with Sunderland Carers. performances
performances at venues such as The Peacock, The
4
engagement
Royalty Theatre, St Gabriel’s Church Hall and
activities
Pop Recs, was also instrumental in ensuring our
locations delivery was truly citywide.
10 11
Annual Review
2018-2019
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT
Our ambition is to improve life for everyone in Sunderland OLDER PEOPLE
through culture, and we are working hard to ensure existing
• Through our Great Place Unleash • Our Creative Age groups with Equal
audiences can experience more of our programme and programme we are working with local Arts at Arts Centre Washington and
encourage new audiences to discover what’s on offer. We know partners, communities and groups
on projects which celebrate food,
National Glass Centre are specially
designed for people living with the
that in order to achieve this there are some communities and creativity, health and community in early stages of dementia and their
the Coalfields. carers.
groups where we need to focus our attention.
• In 2018 we began working with Hetton
Some of this year’s highlights include: New Dawn on a creative allotment
project. The fresh produce at the
allotment will support their food bank
CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE and soup kitchen.
Part of the Creative Age group at Arts Centre
Washington
• Team 21 is our cultural leadership • Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing
project for young people aged 13- exhibition was accompanied by an BME COMMUNITIES
18, giving them a voice to shape our innovative programme of visits,
programme. It has engaged 413 young trails, assemblies, workshops, relaxed
people since it began during our UK visits and activities for young people • Our Great Place Unify programme • We’re continuing to build on solid
City of Culture 2021 bid. In 2018 they inspired by the exhibition. aims to tackle issues around social relationships with culturally diverse
were nominated for a Journal Culture cohesion, with cultural projects that networks such as the BME Network,
• Arts Centre Washington’s youth
Award for youth achievement. link disconnected communities and Young Asian Voices, Friends of the
theatre group was commissioned to
• We have been working with groups of write and perform a new play ‘The support them to develop their creative Drop In and International Community
young carers at National Glass Centre Secret Earl of Biddick’, performed leadership skills. Organisation of Sunderland and
and through our Great Place Unleash during the The Tall Ships cultural Sangini.
• Our ‘Who Would you Like to Meet?’
programme in the Coalfields to build programme. Pupils from Usworth Primary School perform on
Roker Beach as part of a mini culture festival project in partnership with Helix Arts, • This year’s Chinese New year
confidence and improve mental health commissioned six groups to collaborate celebration attracted 1590 visitors
and wellbeing. with other groups they hadn’t met to Sunderland Museum and Winter
before to create a performance for Gardens.
The Duchess of Cambridge shares a joke with
sharing in summer 2019. members of Young Asian Voices at the official
opening of The Fire Station. Picture courtesy of
Sunderland Echo.
SCHOOLS PEOPLE WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND/OR AUTISM
• DesignLab Nation in partnership with • Arts Centre Washington worked with • In December 2018 we commissioned • As part of our Uncover programme
V&A Museum saw eighteen students children from Barmston School and an audit of our venues and and through our partnership with
from Year 10 at Castle View Enterprise well-known artists on Washington ‘Art programme, working with autistic and Columbia Grange School in the
Academy expand their creative skills Zine’. The workshops also provided disabled groups and their carers, to Uncover programme, we delivered
through workshops at National Glass children with transport and free identify barriers to participation and exciting and accessible experiences for
Centre. healthy meals during holiday time. measures which can support inclusion. young people with Autism Spectrum
Disorder and Severe Learning
• Through our Great Place Uncover • Our venues continue to offer a • During The Tall Ships Cultural
Disabilities. These were deivered
programme we are working in comprehensive programme for Programme we brought a ground-
with Bamboozle Theatre at Arts
close partnership with Biddick schools. From National Glass breaking new outdoor show by a
Centre Washington, Bare Toed Dance
Academy, Columbia Grange Primary Centre and Sunderland Museum’s pioneering UK circus company.
Company, and Continued Professional
and Usworth Colliery Primary in comprehensive cross-curricular offer, Extraordinary Bodies is made up of
Bamboozle Theatre Company with Class 4 from Extraordinary Bodies at the Tall Ships Races Development for teachers with
Washington exploring creativity in the to Art Centre Washington’s innovative exceptional disabled and non-disabled
Columbia Grange School as part of Uncover renowned theatre director Tim Webb,
Wearside curriculum to inform the development Art Zine programme, we have engaged artists, working together to making
formerly of Oily Cart. We will apply
of our wider city offer for schools. over 21,700 school children through radical, bold and joyous performance,
this learning to our ongoing offer.
our ongoing offer this year. accessible to everybody and involving
disabled members of the local
community.
12 13
Annual Review
2018-2019
WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO LOOKING FORWARD
REVITALISE OUR CULTURAL TO 2019 AND BEYOND
INFRASTRUCTURE
As well as an amazing programme of We have also been supporting our partners in some significant Hopefully, this review has given you an
improvements to the city’s cultural venues:
high-profile arts and culture across insight into our busy year of delivering
• We have worked with Sunderland City Council on their
the city, Sunderland Culture has impressive improvements to Sunderland Museum and a richly diverse arts programme
been doing lots behind the scenes Winter Gardens. The new entrance area and shop has while at the same time building
been an instant hit with visitors and will be followed soon
to bring new resources, funds and by a fantastic new learning and activity space funded by Sunderland’s cultural infrastructure.
opportunities to the city and the wider Sunderland City Council and the DCMS/Wolfson Museum Looking ahead, as well as continuing to work with our partners
and Galleries Improvement Fund. and stakeholders to roll out a brilliant programme, there are
region.
• We have supported University of Sunderland in the creation some significant events and projects we’re planning for the
We have been very successful at bringing new funds to expand coming months and years which we are particularly looking
of the new Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art at
out work and deliver our ambitious plans over the next few forward to.
National Glass Centre. A new space for contemporary art in
years:
the city funded by the University, Sunderland City Council First of all, we celebrate the 21st birthday of National Glass
• £1.2 million grant from the Great Place Scheme (funded by and Arts Council England. Centre, with University of Sunderland, in June 2019 with a
National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England) major exhibition opening in April and a city-wide programme
• We continue to work with the Sunderland MAC Trust on Rebecca Ball, Sunderland Culture’s Creative Director
to establish Sunderland Culture and deliver our citywide including exhibitions in the Museum and Arts Centre Keith Merrin, Sunderland Culture’s Chief Executive
the plans for a new Auditorium in the heart of the city at the
programme over three years. One of just twelve grant awards Washington to mark Sunderland’s place as a global leader in
Fire Station.
made from the fund in the UK. creative excellence.
We continue to be ambitious for what can be achieved in
• £2 million grant from Arts Council England as part of its Work will begin this year on the Fire Station Auditorium, which
Sunderland. During the past year we have built strong
National Portfolio of funded organisations to deliver our will open in Sunderland’s growing cultural quarter in 2020.
partnerships with artists, businesses and communities that
programme across the venues This new venue will allow us to have and produce an eagerly
have led to many new spaces across the city for creativity. These
have been in empty shops, outdoors and even in a shed! We will awaited dynamic programme of music, theatre, dance and
• £750,000 grant from Arts Council England’s Ambition for
be continuing our plans to try and find a new home for Little comedy.
Excellence Fund to deliver Glass Exchange, a three year
programme of major commissions for new works in glass. Inventors (a globally successful project started in Sunderland) National Glass Centre and Northern Gallery for Contemporary
and also to secure new longer term work spaces and skills Art will deliver Glass Exchange, bringing five major
• £550,000 grant from Arts Council Collection National development opportunities for artists and creative businesses. contemporary visual artists to Sunderland to create five new
Partners Programme, one of only three nationally, and the
It has been an amazing first year delivering a breath- works of art in glass, creating an exhibition trail stretching
opportunity to bring this amazing collection to the city.
taking programme of arts alongside building a sustainable between Sunderland and Durham.
• Over £250,000 in smaller grants, donations and infrastructure through Sunderland Culture and continuing We are thrilled that Sunderland Culture will be an Arts Council
sponsorships including from 14-18NOW, Sunderland City the momentum and goodwill generated through our City of Collection National Partner from 2019 to 2022. The museum
Council, Sir James Knott Trust, Sunderland BID and NEXUS. Culture campaign. We look forward to another great year of will become the North East home for this inspiring and
That’s nearly £5million of new money for arts and culture success and creating more opportunities to improve the lives of extensive collection of contemporary art which spans from
activity in Sunderland generated in our first year of activity! people in Sunderland and the north east. 1948 to present day.
Just as significantly, we have put in place a new single ticketing A special thanks to our three founding partners for helping And 2021 will mark 50 years of Northern Gallery for
and customer relationship management system across all us to realise a vision for world-class culture for everyone in Contemporary Art in Sunderland when we will curate a
of our venues linked to a brand new website. This means Sunderland. city-wide celebration of the last 50 years of exceptional
that people are able to buy tickets for any of our events and contemporary art in the city.
activities in all of our venues, all in one place. It also means that
we can give visitors and local residents information tailored
to them and show them the breadth of arts opportunities that
exist here.
Rebecca Ball, Creative Director
Keith Merrin, Chief Executive
14 15
THANK YOU TO OUR FOUNDING PARTNERS FOR THEIR VISION AND SUPPORT
IN ESTABLISHING SUNDERLAND CULTURE
We are hugely grateful to all funders, partners and supporters for There are lots of ways you can help more people experience great
their generosity, help and collaboration during our first year. Thank art and culture, by making a donation, leaving a legacy, sponsoring
you for your support, it enables everyone who lives, works or visits an activity or volunteering your time.
Sunderland to experience and enjoy world-class art and culture.
For more information on how to make an incredible difference,
please visit
www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/about-us/support-us
1418 Now
Arts Council England
Community Foundation serving Tyne and Wear and
Northumberland
Culture Bridge North East
Equal Arts
Gentoo Group Ltd
Hays Travel Foundation
National Heritage Lottery Fund
NEXUS
Sir James Knott Trust
Sunderland Business Improvement District
The Cultural Spring Our front and back cover pictures are taken from Portolan, the fantastic Tall
Together for Children Ships Races event over the River Wear. Front cover picture courtesy of North News
Victoria and Albert Museum and Pictures
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