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Final Thoughts
It’s been a packed first year in my role as Chief Executive of Sunderland Culture. As you’ve read throughout this review, we deliver an extraordinary amount for the city – from world- class venues run in partnership with our founding organisations, to grassroots participatory work that reaches communities across Wearside.
Since joining in September 2024, I’ve felt a deep sense of excitement and aspiration for both Sunderland Culture and the city itself. I was also keenly aware of the legacy I was stepping into, following Rebecca Ball’s move to Arts Council England. I’m delighted to say that the reality of the role has far exceeded my expectations.
The true highlight has been leading a creative programme that is both rich in quality and far-reaching in impact. Nowhere is this more evident than in our free-to-enter public venues, where we deliver outstanding, year-round cultural experiences. This year, those venues welcomed nearly half a million visitors and more than 10,000 school and college students.
The National Glass Centre bounced back from its storm-related partial closure – reopening fully in September. Throughout the year, we continued to showcase joyful, inspiring exhibitions of contemporary glass, including Menagerie – a celebration of animal-themed works by both established and emerging British artists.
Our photography exhibitions shed light on the region’s industrial legacy. Fixing Time, a powerful retrospective by Teeside photographer Ian Macdonald was followed by Coal Face. An exhibition which paired original tintype portraits by Sunderland photographer Andy Martin with verbatim poetry by award-winning writer Louise Powell, capturing the voices of the city’s last generation of coal miners.
Participation remains at the heart of what we do. This year, more than 42,000 people took part on our activities – around 10% of our total audience. Our annual Bright Lights Youth Arts Festival was bigger and bolder than ever, expanding outwards from its home at Arts Centre Washington to include every one of our venues for the first time. Bright Lights is the culmination of our year-round young people’s programme – providing platforms to shine in film, theatre and visual art.
Partnerships are central to our impact. Our founding partners – the University of Sunderland, Sunderland City Council and the MAC Trust – never rest on their laurels in setting a vision for the city. Their support drives us to adapt, evolve and innovate in response to community need.
That drive is powerfully reflected in Culture Start- a major new partnership ensuring children and young people living in poverty have access to high-quality cultural experiences and the freedom to express their creativity where they live. Strategic in vision and rooted in community, it marks a major step forward in reaching those who need us most.
Nationally, we continue to work closely with leading cultural partners. Our long-standing collaboration with the National Theatre has brought real energy and opportunity to Sunderland. While the Theatre Nations Partnership comes to a close with Public Record and Speak Up, we’re excited about what comes next.
One such future-facing collaboration is with the V&A, as we develop Glassworks – a new world-class facility for people of all ages to explore and create with glass.
None of this would be possible without our extraordinary team. I’ve been warmly welcomed by a passionate and talented group of colleagues across Sunderland Culture and our partner venues. Their work is powered further by a network of brilliant freelancers, creative agencies and community partners.
I’m proud we can support this ecosystem through initiatives like Unlock, which has backed over 40 creative businesses in the city this year.
Finally, I want to thank our Board and partners for placing their trust in me. It’s a privilege to lead Sunderland Culture at such an exciting time. As we look ahead to our tenth anniversary in 2026, I can’t wait to share more of our ambitions and continue building a creative city that belongs to everyone.
Nick Malyan
Chief Executive, Sunderland Culture