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National Glass Centre

Sunderland Culture Annual Review 2024-25

In April 2024, Glass World was displayed in the National Glass Centre Gallery. Featuring works from National Glass Centre’s collection, the show highlighted the geographic diversity of artists working in glass and their representation in our collection. Connections were made with countries ranging from Argentina to Japan and from Canada to New Zealand.

The Collection Gallery presented a selection of international works from the Bernard Lloyd Collection donated to National Glass Centre in 2022. Artists represented included major figures in international glass including Dale Chihuly, Harvey K. Littleton and Pino Signoretto.

Following a collaborative project initiated by National Glass Centre, Ruthin Craft Centre and North Lands Creative, artist Effie Burns created a new body of work shown at the Harley Gallery in Nottinghamshire, from April to July 2024. This exhibition was then displayed at National Glass Centre in the Balcony Gallery from September to December 2024.

Graduates of the University of Sunderland’s Artist Designer Maker: Glass & Ceramics BA(Hons) took over the National Glass Centre Gallery in June 2024 for their final show. This exhibition was followed by People’s Art, which commissioned five contemporary artists – Ingrid Murphy, Zac Weinberg, Liaqat Rasul, Julia Griffiths and Francisca Onumah – to respond to selected objects loaned from Compton Verney’s Folk Art collection and from a private collection. The newly commissioned works were shown alongside the loans, encouraging visitors to think about the principles we apply when considering the value of art. People’s Art toured to the Harley Gallery where it was shown from January to April 2025.

The exhibition is probably the best we’ve seen. Lots to relate to and discuss. Excellent food for thought

Visitor comment

Two blue ceramic bird shaped vases with orange beak style tops
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Two colorful painted clay figures sit on round bases against a white background. The left figure wears a red hat with decorations and bright clothes in blue, red, and yellow. It sits in a chair next to a small gray dog. The right figure has orange and red hair and holds a tiny puppet or doll. Both figures have big smiling faces with white teeth and wear many bright colors like stripes and patterns. These look like old folk art toys or puppets.
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A hand holds a large piece of amber-coloured glass resembling a sea anemone. The material is clear and shiny with bumpy, wavy shapes that stick out in different directions. Light shines through it, making it glow bright orange and yellow. The hand holding it shows against a plain grey background.
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Following storm damage, the full building re-opened in September allowing a redisplay of Hassina Khan’s work in the Research Gallery, created following a residency funded by The Glass Society. In September 2024 the Collection Gallery was redisplayed presenting works by British artists included in the Bernard Lloyd Collection.

A new programme of exhibitions opened in December exploring the theme of animals. Menagerie, shown in the National Glass Centre Gallery was a group show presenting animals made in glass and ceramics. Highlights included a life size boar by Susan O’Byrne, Andrew Livingstone’s ceramic Yorkshire Terrier, lovingly known as Sean Bone, wearing a jumper asking ‘Does my bum look big in this?’, and work by the winner of Netflix’s 3rd series of Blown Away, John Moran. John came to National Glass Centre in March 2025 to do a glass-blowing demonstration and to work with students. Glass Zoo featuring animal themed works from the collection was shown in the Balcony Gallery and PhD student Inga Hamilton presented her research exploring communication between species in the Research Gallery.

National Glass Centre saw a developing programme of family, school and community opportunities focusing on the collections and exhibitions shown in both the NGC and NGCA main galleries. Bespoke family exhibition guides accompanied each exhibition to support families to engage and have fun in the spaces and around the building.

An updated school offer was developed alongside Culture Start’s Poverty Proofing initiative to support more schools to visit and access creative opportunities, enabling them to bring more students for less money, actively encouraging young people into our galleries and talking about the work and their own ideas. The offer includes bespoke sessions for home education groups, neurodiverse students, and areas of specific focus, such as the recent photography project run with Academy 360.

New outreach workshops saw the Learning and Engagement team delivering talks and practical workshops off-site at schools and community venues, enabling a wider audience to engage with glassmaking.

Adult courses continue to sell out and in response to demand, the family workshop programme delivered new ceramics sessions which have proven extremely popular across the year.

This year the team were also delighted to take part in the Bright Lights Youth Arts Festival, the Autonomy project with young autistic adults, Hand of Children Charity, and The University of Sunderland’s PGCE programmes.

Beautiful place to walk through and explore…The displays are breathtaking, as is the glass blowing demonstration

Visitor comment

Data Dogs, 2024 – Ingrid Murphy. Ceramic and resin, bespoke box plinth, LED programmable panels and micro processor. Two ceramic wall dogs sit inside the background. Four replica dogs with micro processors installed in the heads sit in the foreground/ The background display is red.
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A child in a black top stands at a bright blue touch screen table, placing coloured squares on the lit surface. An adult in a purple hoodie leans over to watch. The interactive table shows orange, blue, and green shapes scattered across a white background. Blue light fills the room around them.
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An open decorative box sits against a black background. The box has a dark painted outside with gold designs. Inside the lid is a painted scene in gold showing Asian buildings, trees, and boats by water. The bottom of the box holds small carved objects in white, green, and clear colors that look like tiny animals, flowers, and decorative pieces. The box appears to be an antique jewellery or treasure box.
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Large black letters spelling
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Sunderland Culture Annual Review 2024-25