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Special Events
Bright Lights Youth Art Festival: Secrets and Shadows - Sunderland’s Dark Past
Monday 23 February
Quick summary
- Price
- Free
- Audience type
- Ages 11+
- Running time
- 11am - 3pm
- Venue
-
- Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Additional information
Event description
Are you interested in exploring the darker side of Sunderland’s history?
Join local heritage partners and students from Sunderland College’s Travel and Tourism course for a student-led takeover event at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens. Through displays, crafts, tours and trails students will explore how museums interpret people and places connected to Sunderland’s dark past.
The event engages with sensitive historical themes including tragedy and loss, which some visitors may find distressing. It is recommended for adults and older children who feel comfortable engaging with challenging subject matter. Parental discretion is advised.
This event is supported by the Sunderland Heritage Partnership.
Bright Lights Youth Arts Festival 2026
Saturday 21 February – Saturday 28 February
A celebration of creativity featuring free workshops and special events across the city for young people aged 11-19.
Bright Lights Youth Arts Festival 2026 is supported by Culture Start and the Autonomy project. The Autonomy project is supported by Association of Independent Museums’ Connected Communities programme, funded by the Department for Culture Media and Sport’s Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, through Arts Council England.
