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Schools & Education
Inspire your students with a whole host of workshops and resources designed to encourage engagement with art and culture.
Our buildings may be changing, but our programme is not stopping
Sunderland Culture is entering an exciting period of change. With the impending regeneration of Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens and the closure of the National Glass Centre, our programme will be spreading out across the city. We will also be working closely with the highly anticipated Culture House Sunderland to help deliver activity in the innovative new venue.
However, we remain committed to supporting children and young people across Sunderland to experience high-quality arts, culture, heritage and creative learning.
Our Learn & Create programme can travel beyond our venues and into classrooms, libraries and community spaces. We can work with schools to deliver creative learning that supports the curriculum, inspires curiosity and helps pupils connect with Sunderland’s stories, people, places and collections.
Whether you are looking for a one-off session, a longer creative project, support with local history, or ways to bring arts and culture into your curriculum, we would love to talk!
Learn & Create with our venues
Arts Centre Washington
Bring your class to Art Centre Washington with group discounts available for our exciting, year-round programme of music and theatre – including Christmas performances! Email for more information.
Culture House Sunderland
Opening 12 September 2026
Get in touch if you’re interested in Culture House Sunderland’s Education offer.
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Explore a rich collection of history and nature with workshops for all subjects and our museum loan service.
Work Experience
Our work experience programme is for anyone aged 15-18 and interested in pursuing a career in the arts sector. Applications are currently closed for this year, please check back for the next round of submissions.
Lesson plans and resources
Potty About Sunderland
Target key stage: KS1 – KS2
Target age: 8-11
Discover Sunderland’s rich pottery heritage through this creative classroom activity inspired by Maling Pottery. Learners will design and exhibit their own ceramic-inspired plates while exploring local history, colour, pattern and storytelling through art.
Pyrex 100
Target key stage: KS2
Target age: 8-11
Celebrate innovation and creativity in Sunderland and the world! The pack contains a history of Pyrex – invented in the USA and produced for over 80s years in Sunderland. Exploring various subjects, offering ideas and resources for cross-curricular projects and activities.
Blackout Poetry
Target key stage: KS1 – KS2
Target age: 8-11
Recommended duration: 50 – 60 minutes
A classroom resource inspired by the exploration of language. Explore words and art in a mindful activity all about sparking your imagination. With curriculum links to Art & Design and English.
Zine Making
Target key stage: KS1 – KS2
Target age: 8-11
Creating a zine is a fun and creative way to share ideas, artwork and stories with others. There’s no need for it to be perfect – zines are all about self-expression, personality and experimentation.
Doorstep Explorers
Target key stage: KS1 – KS2
Target age: 8-11
Inspired by nature and community, this collection of four classroom resources invites learners to create, explore and experiment using recycled and repurposed materials.
3D Environments
Target key stage: KS1 – KS2
Target age: 8-11
Children are invited to create a 3D underwater scene made of plastic and scrap materials, each building different elements to encourage conversations around pollution, global warming and climate change.
Exploring Photography
Target key stage: KS1 – KS2
Target age: 8-11
Children are invited to explore photography techniques using colour and mixed media artforms.