It Starts With Culture

Culture Start was established to address a clear issue: too many children and young people in Sunderland face barriers that prevent them from accessing arts and culture.

Since 2024, Sunderland Culture has led a citywide programme that brings together a range of cross-sector partners to create a cultural eco-system designed to benefit children and young people experiencing financial disadvantage, or facing other barriers that prevent them from taking part.

Culture Start is supported by a £1.2m Place Partnership award from Arts Council England through the National Lottery, and generously funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Sir James Knott Trust, and the Gillian Dickinson Trust.