ANNUAL REVIEW 2019-2020 CHAIR’S WELCOME

It gives me great pleasure to introduce this summary of all the work which Culture completed between April 2019 and March 2020. As the incoming independent Chair of the Sunderland Culture Board it is a great joy to see all the achievements which have been delivered for the people of Sunderland. As someone brought up in Sunderland, it’s a huge privilege and a pleasure to be able to come back to see the city in such great shape, and it is powerful to see what the efforts of Sunderland City Council, , and MAC Trust have made happen.

I must start by paying tribute to my predecessor as Chair of Sunderland Culture, Graeme Thompson. Graeme has been a towering figure in the development of Sunderland Top left - Chinese New Year celebrations at Sunderland Culture and without his commitment and drive, we Museum & Winter Gardens would not be in the fortunate position we find ourselves Bottom left - Musuem Pieces, five short plays by local today. On behalf of all my board colleagues, thanks for all writers, was staged at Sunderland Museum & Winter you have done Graeme. Gardens The achievements of the last year are not just the Middle top - Erin Dickson Coronet, 201, National Glass responsibility of the partners at Sunderland Culture, but Centre Collection. Photograph: David Williams are based on the huge – and ever growing - wealth of Top right - aerial action from Celebrate Different’s artistic and creative talents within the city. The thriving takeover of Arts Centre Washington music scene, the developing support for creative and cultural businesses, and the work on developing audiences have all played their part in the successes reported here. Thanks to all the artists who have shared their skills and expertise with us. We pay tribute to all of you – whatever art form you practise, we salute you for your energy and dedication. As you read through the report, you’ll see that there We couldn’t achieve much of what we do without the are some world-class venues within Sunderland support of funding from national partners. Sunderland showcasing work, but I hope you’ll also see the work Culture has been very successful in attracting funds for which is going on within communities across the projects from Arts Council England, and we thank them city area. Our work with older people, and with sincerely for their support. We have also been fortunate to people from ethnically diverse communities is be supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund, and it’s all contributing to the richness and diversity of their support - along with many others - who have made the city. And the work which is undertaken in some of the cultural high points of the year possible. local communities is another important part of As you will all be aware, in March 2020, we were forced After four years as founding Chair of Sunderland offering opportunities across the population. to close our venues because of the pandemic. Whilst Culture I am delighted to introduce Jane Earl this was a major blow, everyone has worked tirelessly as my successor. Jane’s experience as a chief to focus on what we can do and how we can deliver on executive in local government and as a director in our mission for the future. Thanks to all the staff and Whitehall will be invaluable. And her leadership volunteers, as well as my board colleagues for keeping experience in - and enthusiasm for - the arts the faith and producing some amazing work. is infectious. I look forward to supporting Jane in my continuing role as a University of Read on to see some of the highlights of what we have Sunderland trustee on the board. I’d also like to done, and we look forward to engaging with you on even “Our work with older people, and thank my board colleagues for their friendship more cultural highlights for the future and support since we came together in 2016 to with people from ethnically diverse Jane Earl create Sunderland Culture. The city’s partnership Sunderland Culture Chair approach to culture-led regeneration is the envy communities is all contributing to of towns and cities throughout the UK and I can’t wait to see what this remarkable organisation will the richness and diversity of the city.” achieve over the next four years. Graeme Thompson Outgoing Sunderland Culture Chair

2 3 OUR VENUES DELIVERING STEP CHANGE AND PROJECTS THROUGH CULTURE

Sunderland Culture brings together Wearside’s most Council, University of Sunderland and Sunderland Music, important cultural assets and activities, and works to Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust into a single, independent, realise the ambition of a city brimming with creative and resilient delivery model. In 2018 we became an Arts potential. We deliver the creative programme in National Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Glass Centre and Northern Gallery for Contemporary Our mission is to improve life for everyone in Sunderland Art, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens, Arts through culture. To do so, we are driving five step Centre Washington and The Fire Station, as well as with changes: improved profile and reputation of the city; communities across the city. more vibrant creative economy; raised outlook and We bring together the investment of the three main aspiration of young people; improved health and funders of arts provision in the city, Sunderland City wellbeing; and a more socially cohesive city.

NORTH

WASHINGTON Sunderland University of Sunderland Music, Arts and City Council Sunderland Culture (MAC) Trust I want to thank everyone who helped Sunderland Culture gave us much 2019-20 was another successful WEST organise, contribute and, of course, to celebrate and enjoy in 2019/20. A year for culture in the city. At the who visited our ever improving and highlight for me personally, as well Fire Station, Dance City delivered a varied programme of culture and as for the University, was the 21st range of programmes including its events in 2019/2020. The growing birthday of . MA in Dance and Live Tales allowed numbers of visitors is telling a very Based on our Sir Tom Cowie Campus children to explore and develop strong story. Sadly, as we all know, at St Peter’s, National Glass Centre their creative writing. Auditorium other matters began to have their is an exceptional exhibition space. construction began in September influence as the year drew to a close. But behind the scenes, there is and, when open in 2021, will provide a However, even when people were a warren of studios and creative further step change in Sunderland’s EAST not able to attend events we quickly spaces, inhabited by our glass and cultural provision. The Trust again engaged many with a fantastic ceramics students, teaching staff supported the Summer Streets digital programme that reached and research academics. So it was festival held each July, bringing COALFIELDS thousands. particularly pleasing to see the a diverse programme of music and exceptional work of many of our spoken word to engage people of I want to also thank my predecessor current and former staff and students all ages and it continues to partner John Kelly who has stepped down represented, alongside that of other with University of Sunderland and from his Cabinet Culture role after glass artists from around the world in the Customs House, in the Cultural nearly ten years in the post. John was the exhibition marking the Centre’s Spring, the ACE-funded Creative always devoted to raising our cultural ‘coming of age’. Also housed in People and Places programme that profile and I like others applaud him National Glass Centre is the Northern has been a catalyst for significant for his strong leadership, his drive, Gallery for Contemporary Art. Among cultural activity, working in and his determination in all matters its solo exhibitions during 2019/20 communities to help deliver exciting Arts Centre Washington (page 11) (page 13) of culture. A lot of progress and big was the work of two artists connected cultural projects and classes. steps forward were made with John National Glass Centre (page 9) Hudson Road Primary (page 13) to the University: Marjolaine Ryley, and we all have every intention of Paul Callaghan, CBE, DL, FRSA, who is an academic based in our Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (page 8) Castle View Enterprise Academy (page 13) continuing the good work that he Chair of Sunderland Music, Arts and Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries, and others have achieved. Culture (MAC) Trust The Fire Station (page 18) Oxclose Community Academy (page 13) and alumnus John Askew. Finally, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens (page 10) (page 13) Councillor Linda Williams, among the other brilliant work Unlock the City (creative economy) (page 17) Usworth Colliery Primary (page 13) Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet delivered by Sunderland Culture, and Member for Vibrant City detailed in these pages, is the Unlock Unify Sunderland (community cohesion) (page 14-15) FODI (page 14) programme. This initiative has opened Unleash the Coalfieds (health and wellbeing) (page 14-15) Columbia Grange School (page 15) up many opportunities for those in the creative industries to show or sell Uncover Wearside (children and young people) (page 13) Mackie’s Corner (page 17) their work, build networks and more. Hetton Carnival (page 15) High Street West (page 17) Sir David Bell KCB, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland

4 5 ACHIEVING THE YEAR OUR MISSION IN FIGURES

IMPROVING LIFE FOR EVERYONE IN SUNDERLAND THROUGH CULTURE 798,399 visitors to our venues and programmes Improving the Creating Building Improving Growing city’s profile connectivity confidence health and our creative and reputation amongst our and aspiration wellbeing economy communities in young people 63,421 participants OUR AIMS 20,597 family participants Delivering an excellent Encouraging everyone Securing a revitalised and diverse arts and to get involved and resilient cultural 42,824 heritage programme infrastructure adult participants

OUR ASSETS, AUDIENCES, PARTICIPANTS AND PARTNERS exhibitions, performances and events Across our venues, Growing existing and Working with our citywide and online: building new audiences, partners to maximise 313 and opportunities to resources • National Glass Centre take part: • Sunderland City Council • Northern Gallery for • People who live and Contemporary Art • University of Sunderland visit Sunderland • Sunderland Museum • MAC Trust 261,867 With a particular focus and Winter Gardens social media engagements on: • Vibrancy Group • Arts Centre • Creative, cultural and • Artists and creative Washington digital sector 17,967 school visitors businesses • Fire Station • Funders • Ethnically diverse • City programme communities • Businesses See pages 8-11 • People with disabilities, • Health sector autism or additional • Education sector needs • Voluntary and • Older people community organisations 375volunteers See pages 13-15 See page 17 74,236 social media followers A UNIQUE MODEL FOR 284,004 CULTURAL REGENERATION visits to our website

6 7 NORTHERN GALLERY FOR NATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART GLASS CENTRE

Two Peacocks by Chair and Stool with Rene Lalique, 1920 Glass Legs by Caroline (designed). Victoria Broadhead, 2020. and Albert Museum Photographer: David Collection, London Williams

Kelly Richardson’s Pillars of Dawn Above: John Peter Above: Colin Rennie Askew, from the Magnitudo II, 2017, A school participant National Glass series We, 1996-2019 in DesignLab Nation Centre Collection. Photograph: David Left: Artist Marjolaine Williams Ryley, whose Right: Jade exhibition This Is Tapson Motif, 2019, What I See was National Glass presented at NGCA. Centre Collection. Photo courtesy David Photograph: David James Williams

In 2019-20 Northern Gallery for Contemporary Another highlight was Tim Mitchell’s project National Glass Centre celebrated its 21st Bring to Light, an exhibition of light sources Art created a programme of new exhibitions, Product which looked at the environmental anniversary in 2019. The NGC21 exhibition told made by artists and designers who have publications, events and acquisitions that crisis through an unorthodox lens. Mitchell 13,398 the story of the venue and Sunderland’s role used glass and ceramics to create beautiful 199,743 balanced its international outlook with strong spent much of the last two decades working within the development of the International lights. The exhibition consisted of works from visitors support of local talent. with anthropologists and geographers in visitors Studio Glass Movement, presenting work of National Glass Centre’s own collection and universities nationwide to track the life- artists who have worked in Sunderland before loans from the Victoria & Albert Museum’s In March 2019, the gallery revealed newly- stories of the commodities all around us. and since National Glass Centre’s opening. (V&A) collection. The V&A loaned these works commissioned work by Vancouver-based Getting a rare backstage all-access pass to to support DesignLab Nation - the V&A’s 2732 1293 That included work from the founders and Kelly Richardson. Pillars of Dawn combined Paris Fashion Week, he plotted the ‘birth’ National Schools Programme. school participants innovators of the Studio Glass Movement high-tech 4K cinematic projection of clothes and their promotion on the world including Erwin Eisch from Germany, Our Gifted 19 exhibition gave visitors an visitors with monumental photographic prints. stage, to their ‘death’ and rebirth through and Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava opportunity to buy unique, high quality, Richardson is concerned with imagining recycling in India. our possible environmental future. Her 13 Brychtováfrom the Czech Republic. The hand-made gifts made in glass and ceramics. painstakingly created imaginary landscapes Each of the exhibiting artists generously show was brought up to date with newly- The artists represented were working at 4989 were covered with millions of individual donated works to the gallery’s collection, exhibitions commissioned work by Erin Dickson and Jade various stages of their careers, and while participants crystals – roughly one for each species extant which now numbers more than 100 works. and events Tapson, two of our most promising recent some were local, others were from as far in our lifetimes. The project drew together We undertook research projects around graduates. afield as Denmark. leading academics from Canada, the US, three of these artists that accompany these NGC21 included more individual artists than National Glass Centre’s collection continued 1189 Scotland and England and NGCA toured the acquisitions, creating substantial publications any other exhibition presented at National to grow during 2019/20. Works from the baubles work from Southampton to Dundee. with Berlin-based publisher Kerber who have Glass Centre in recent times. collection were featured in NGC21, Bring to distributed them Europe-wide. Two of these blown In the summer, the gallery awarded a one- Light and a specific exhibition shown on the books won international awards as amongst Other highlights of the year included: Balcony Gallery. person exhibition to University of Sunderland the best photobooks published in 2019. John graduate John Askew, whose photographic Askew’s project received a ten-minute slot on Caroline and Maisie Broadhead‘s Through the 14 project We was created in Europe’s easternmost Russian national television. His work can be Looking Glass exhibition which considered exhibitions city, Perm, in Russia – across the 1990s, 2000s seen to exemplify the gallery’s own ambition how we perceive what we see when we look and 2010s. In the autumn it awarded University to act locally and think internationally. into, or out of a window. and events of Sunderland lecturer Marjolaine Ryley a retrospective of 20 years of work.

8 9 SUNDERLAND MUSEUM ARTS CENTRE AND WINTER GARDENS WASHINGTON

Above: Hudson Road pupils at the Received Wisdom exhibition

Right: Received Above: NEPN curated the Observe, Wisdom included Experiment, Archive exhibition in Above: Shane work from Amikan our Special Exhibitions Gallery. Toren Shambhu’s Left: Our Arts Champions have Confessions of a Cockney Temple helped us develop our programme Top: Action Transport Above Left: Celebrate Dancer Theatre’s Adrift for Different took school audiences over Arts Centre Left: People’s Pyrex Washington was a popular exhibition Above Right: Guy the Musical

In March 2019 Sunderland Culture was to both scientific innovation and historical chosen as one of only three UK galleries to collections. host artwork from the acclaimed Arts Council • The final events of the memorable 381,119 Collection, as part of the National Partners Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing visitors Programme (NPP) for 2019-2022. exhibition were held in April and May 2019. This year boasted a packed programme their stunning tap dance show Oscillate and new to Arts Centre Washington was The focus of NPP is to increase the diversity Twelve drawings from The Royal Collection of performances highlighting some of the the Halle Orchestra’s Halle Magic, a series of and number of people experiencing the Arts were displayed at our main gallery as part very best of small-scale touring artists. 198,200 children’s workshops given by members of Council Collection in England. At the start of of a nationwide event to mark the 500th 9950 Well-known for its programme of work for visitors this renowned orchestra. our NPP programme we brought together anniversary of the Master’s death. school visitors children, this year the venue featured the likes of Action Transport Theatre’s Adrift for a group of Art Champions, a fantastic group • The Spaghetti Factory’s series of exhibitions, Highlights of the exhibition programme school audiences and Garlic Theatre’s Billy of local residents, most with little or no HOT NEW IT, featuring contemporary included People’s Pyrex, which was a Goats Gruff catering for younger children. Full 1904 experience of contemporary art, to work with Sunderland talent. The exhibitions 9363 celebration of our city’s close relationship to school visitors us on the development of the programme incorporated artwork from Sunderland Circle’s In the Middle of our Street maintained Pyrex glass to coincide with National Glass over the next three years. Museum’s permanent collection, and participants our commitment to working with disabled Centre’s 21st birthday – members of the public responded to the Received Wisdom artists and Bamboozle’s work Pulse provided were invited to bring along their own pieces The Arts Council Collection was founded exhibition. a unique experience for children with of Pyrex for display in the exhibition as well as in 1946 and is the most widely circulated 46,241 learning disabilities. sharing stories and memories with us about national loan collection of modern and • Journeys Drawn: Illustrations from the 73 participants lifelong friendships made on the factory contemporary British art in the world. Refugee Crisis – the exhibition humanised exhibitions, Our membership of the REACH partnership the refugee crisis through powerful performances saw us bring Shane Shambhu’s hilarious floor. Women: a Cartography saw artists One of the highlights of our 2019-2020 depictions of refugee journeys. It featured Confessions of A Cockney Temple Dance and Rachel Cochrane and Maggie Hickman Smith 17 1 programme was Received Wisdom, an Arts refugee artists as well as reportage and events LGBTQ+ show Guy:The Musical. REACH is a bring together arts and science in a creative Council Collection NPP exhibition which illustrators and graphic novelists strategic partnership of nine performance response to the cellular pathology from their exhibitions, celebrated lifelong creativity and challenged • The Story of Pyrex was a fascinating venues in the north east, aiming to bring hysterectomy and mastectomy operations. performances ideas about what is expected of us at exhibition to mark National Glass Centre’s some of the most exciting companies and Sunderland Culture’s Young Ambassador and events different stages of our lives 21st birthday. Pyrex glassware was produced artists to the region. Our ongoing partnership Team took over our venue to Celebrate Other highlights included: in Sunderland between 1922 and 2007. with new writing company Paines Plough Different. This free event, created for young • 140th Anniversary of Sunderland Museum included I Wanna Be Yours and we were people by young people, explored the themes • North East Photography Network (NEPN) – a display marked the 140 years of the also able to support performances by several of body positivity and identity through curated the Observe, Experiment, Archive Borough Road building opening – and of emerging theatre makers such as Jake Jarratt specially commissioned artworks made by exhibition in our Special Exhibitions collecting art for the city. who brought his show Blokes Fellas Geezas. professional artists, performances, music and Gallery. The exhibition considered how Dance company Old Kent Road brought an exhibition. contemporary photographic artists respond

10 11 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Bare Toed Dance Company Top Left - Maxwell Golden, performed a spectacular London-based writer, circus workshop for performer and theatre students with Special maker teaches rap and Educational Needs (SEN) lyrical performance to pupils at Columbia Grange from Biddick Academy. Primary School Bottom Left - Pupils from Usworth Colliery Primary take part in a creative careers taster event. Right - Autistic pupils from Columbia Grange Primary take part in physical circus workshops alongside professionals.

Our ambition is to improve life for everyone in Sunderland Centre worked with students attending Castle View through culture, and we work hard to ensure existing Enterprise Academy, Oxclose Community Academy audiences can experience more of our programme and and Sandhill View Academy. The young people took encourage new audiences to discover what’s on offer. part in workshops at National Glass Centre making desk Some of this year’s highlights include: sculptures inspired by the Memphis design movement. Schools Arts Centre Washington welcomed school groups from across the region to see shows including Journey to the Our venues offer an exciting programme for schools. Centre of the Earth, Bird’s Nest Billy, Adrift, Pulse and their From National Glass Centre and Sunderland Museum’s Christmas production Jack Frost. The centre also hosted comprehensive cross-curricular offer, to Art Centre weekly arts sessions with pupils from Usworth Colliery Washington’s innovative Art Zine programme, we have Primary culminating in an exhibition at the Arts Centre engaged with thousands of school children through our called Living Things featuring drawings, painting and ongoing offer this year. sculptures inspired by the natural world. At Sunderland Museum, 321 pupils from Key Stages We worked with Biddick Academy, delivering a creative 1 – 4 took part in our schools’ programme between careers event using artists from all artforms. This led to a February and May 2019. Schools were offered a variety series of creative career breakfast talks to develop pupils’ of guided introductions, creative enquiry tasks, art and understanding of creative industries. science workshops and outreach assemblies. Across the programme activities were planned that promoted STEAM Children and young people (Science, Technology, English, Art and Maths) and helped We worked regularly in weekly sessions with Sunderland develop pupils’ teamwork, problem solving and creative Young Carers from the Coalfields, developing new skills enquiry skills. of enterprise and resilience through arts practice. These In November, 42 Year 8 Pupils from St Aidan’s Catholic sessions included printmaking workshops and shaping Academy took art in a National Careers Week event an artist’s commission for the Hetton Carnival. The at the Museum, learning how to become a curator by Young Carers also worked on a project based around exploring the Observe Experiment Archive exhibition with the Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing exhibition at Sunderland Culture’s Exhibitions Officer, and taking part Sunderland Museum. in a team exercise to redisplay and interpret some of the The Celebrate Different Collective is a group of young featured artworks. people from across Wearside, who meet weekly, supported Year 10 art pupils from Sandhill View Academy took part by Sunderland Culture. The Collective’s members are aged in an exhibition visit and research day with Museum and between 13 and 25 and co-produce and run their own school staff, and a follow-up skills share session delivering events as well as working with artists and learning new activities for Hudson Road Primary Year 5 pupils as part practical skills. It was set up in June 2019 and its members of their Received Wisdom Bronze Arts Award project. are united on a mission to get their voices heard and to The artwork produced by pupils was displayed alongside inspire other young people across Sunderland. the Art Room project work in an exhibition and sharing Working together, the Celebrate Different Collective: session in the Learning Space in March. • Participated in Helix Art’s Make it Happen course - Our DesignLab Nation partnership with V&A Museum learning leadership and arts project management skills. continued. In the academic year 2019/20 National Glass

12 13 Far Left: Marion, age Left: This interactive game 95 from Primrose Care was part of a ‘sharing’ event Home, Hetton, trying her for the Who Do You Want hand at suspended aerial to Meet? project hanging at an Ageing Well Right: Trying out a swing Connectedness event as part of our Ageing Well Left top: Dancing together Connectedness Event as part of the Who Do You Want to Meet? project Left bottom: Members of the Celebrate Different Collective with staff from Sunderland Culture and Helix Arts

• Took over Arts Centre Washington for the Celebrate 65s dance group, and FODI, an asylum seeker support Professional artists have led the groups’ sessions and lead by professional SEN storytellers and a silent disco Different free event that explored themes of body group. Participants of these groups, a collection of local they have explored a range of different mediums such where students had freedom and autonomy to use space positivity and identity through specially-commissioned women over the age of 65 and a group of single mothers as drawing, textile, glass making, animation, singing creatively, to choose their own music tracks and control artworks, performances, music and an exhibition. seeking asylum, worked together to create a piece of and performance. Artwork created by Creative Age the volume of their headsets while moving or dancing dance that explored connection and separation. Another participants is showcased in exhibitions and events at around the space. • Curated Arts Centre Washington’s annual Youth Arts group connected writers based in Hendon with young, Arts Centre Washington. Exhibition Bright Lights. Our work with children and young people also saw us asylum-seeking men. They worked together to create commission an autism consultant to create and support • Held a roundtable conversation with Arts Council writing about shared lived experience. Ethnically diverse communities the composition of social stories and pre-visit tours for SEN Collection’s Director and Arts Council England’s Deputy We continue to work closely with culturally diverse The third group from this strand brought together audiences which are now available in all of our venues. Chief Executive - exploring questions important to them networks such as Sunderland BME Network, Young residents living in Gentoo housing with young adults from as young people and gaining insights for their exhibition Asian Voices, Friends of the Drop In for Asylum Seekers In spring 2019 we collaborated with Bamboozle Theatre the Young Asian Voices youth groups. This project explored project. and Refugees, International Community Organisation of Company and 11 students from Columbia Grange Primary sharing cultural differences from board games to dance Sunderland and Sangini. School at Arts Centre Washington. Accompanied by four styles, sharing stories and personal experiences. Connecting generations actors, the young people went on a theatrical adventure Journeys Drawn: Illustration provided a rare opportunity A Coalfields Connectedness event united the generations There were two projects in the second strand of Who which was co-designed with their teachers. to see the UK’s first exhibition to explore the refugee through a circus project run by Bare Toed Theatre Do You Want To Meet? The first brought together a crisis through illustration. The exhibition, at Sunderland Company, who took aerial rigs and circus equipment watercolour painting group from Grindon with a mental Social prescribing Museum, featured 40 multi -media works by 12 into care homes. Meanwhile, Age of Creativity Festival health support group from the wider city. They worked During the year we undertook a social prescribing pilot contemporary artists, two of whom were themselves activity included exploring the innovative work of The together to create a beautifully illustrated leaflet exploring project as part of our Unleash programme working in the refugees. The exhibition also included war zone reportage Little Onion Club, a Community Interest Company which different ways of coping with mental health problems. Coalfields area. The pilot programme explored the impact by George Butler from Syria, Olivier Kugler’s digital runs a programme of intergenerational programmes in the arts can play in health improvement. This involved portraits of refugees arriving on the Greek Island of Washington. The club worked with care home residents Finally, the last project brought together the Click Click an analysis of the current creative offer in the Coalfields Kos, and Kate Evans’ graphic novel that recounts her on an Intergenerational Arts Award linked to the Received Club (a photography club for deaf photographers) with the community and developing ten artistic commissions that experience of volunteering in the Calais Jungle. Wisdom exhibition and exploring themes such as change over 50s users of the Sunderland Deaf Centre. Together addressed specific health issues, some of which were: they created a beautiful book containing portraits and and human lifespans. In February the city’s Chinese New Year celebrations • COPD personal stories of the deaf community and their life in were once again hosted at Sunderland Museum & Winter Sunderland. • mental health Connecting communities Gardens. The celebrations, delivered in partnership with • social isolation Sunderland Business Improvement District, were attended Our Great Place Unify programme aims to tackle issues Older people • dementia around social cohesion, with cultural projects that link by more than 1,500 people, included music, food stalls, • trips and falls In 2019, the Museum was supported by Arts Council disconnected communities and support them to develop dragon and lion dances and children’s crafts. • anxiety England to set up a Creative Age group to help those creative leadership skills. • mental health for young people living with dementia, and their carers, take part in arts People with additional needs and/or autism Who Do You Want To Meet? was a project that brought activities. Through our Uncover programme, and with the support The project also involved supporting the creation of together community groups in Sunderland to connect in a community allotment, developing a constituted The Museum group worked with artists in weekly of Sunderland City Council’s Social Investment Business a new way and create new artwork together. The project community group to look at programme legacy and sessions to explore the Museum’s collections through (SIB) funding, we introduced specialist, creative physical ran over two strands, the first being focused around connecting with city-wide health and wellbeing networks. different art forms including textiles, clay modelling, resin theatre opportunities for Special Education Needs (SEN) connecting with people with different social and cultural pupils. In March 2019, we delivered an arts carousel in backgrounds and the second focused around connecting casting and printing. As in previous years, we were involved in Hetton Carnival as Columbia Grange Primary School where aerial artists Bare part of the Unleash initiative. groups with different needs and abilities . Creative Age groups had previously been established at Toed Dance delivered an inclusive circus experience for all During the first round there were three projects. The first Arts Centre Washington in 2016. There are two groups, the pupils. Each child in the school had the opportunity to take saw a collaboration between Falling on your Feet, an over Have-a-Goers and Singing in the Rain. part. Also on offer was multisensory story telling sessions

14 15 GROWING OUR CREATIVE ECONOMY

Left: Through our Unlock programme, we Artist Padma Rao at awarded 14 Creative Development Fellowships Mackie’s Workshop to support Sunderland artists in developing during FODI’s their practice. residency for National Refugee Week Above: the Rebel Women of Sunderland project celebrated inspiring women from the city

Our Unlock the City programme aims to Working with Building increase confidence and facilitate a more Preservation Trust and Open Heritage, diverse, sustainable and profitable creative and using High Street West as a base, we 37 sector within Sunderland. celebrated Heritage Open Day 2019 by artists and commissioning two artists, illustrator Kathryn organisations One of the Unlock initiatives was Sunderland Robertson and writer Jessica Andrews to Stages Writer’s Project. This gave Sunderland- celebrate the stories of the Rebel Women of resident in based writers, either published, emerging or Sunderland. This involved rediscovering the Mackie’s novice, the opportunity to write for the stage. stories of inspiring women from Sunderland’s The project included talks and workshops by past and present. The resulting exhibition a range of established theatre writers, such toured local community venues and was used 14 as Ishy Din and Laura Lindow, accompanied to mark International Women’s Day at Hope Creative by visits to various theatre performances. Street Exchange in March 2020. Development The project culminated in a live brief to write Through the Unlock programme, we awarded Fellowships a short script taking an artefact, gallery or 14 Creative Development Fellowships to character featured in Sunderland Museum support Sunderland artists in developing and Winter Gardens. Five short plays were their practice, and supported 13 residencies chosen to be staged collectively as Museum 13 and commissions. We helped individual residencies Pieces performed site-specifically in the practitioners successfully apply for more than Museum by a professional cast. £125,000 of additional funding. Together with and We continued to programme pop-up galleries Sunderland BME Network, Digital Catapult commissions Mackie’s Corner and Mackie’s Workshop and North East Business Innovation Centre, we Supported through 2019, providing space and support for launched a programme of cultural industries 37 artists, collectives and organisations in the support, including workshops, training, artists to raise city to show their work and hold workshops mentoring and advice surgeries, and reached and events. more than 560 participants and 52 businesses. 125k The pop up galleries hosted seven exhibitions We worked with University of Sunderland in funding by organisations as diverse as Unfolding to offer advice surgeries to students on Theatre, who used the space to hold their professional practice, mentoring, supported Multiverse Arcade, to local community group lectures on routes into the creative industries 560 FODI, who used the space to celebrate and attended careers events. We offered participants National Refugee Week. Mackie’s Corner also 11 paid internships, offering roles inside in support hosted end of year exhibitions by Fine Art Sunderland Culture and with partners such as Students from University of Sunderland. Sunderland Music Hub and NEPN, aimed at sessions Dancer and Choreographer Patrick Ziza supporting people to get their first roles in the We also continued to support other brought Dandyism to Sunderland through creative sector. our Unlock programme, during Black History developments in the city’s Heritage Action 52 Month. Dandyism is inspired by the Dandies of Zone, supporting capital redevelopments by creative the Congo. Breeze Creatives in the Athenaeum Building businesses on Fawcett Street and Pop Recs Ltd on High Street West. supported

16 17 A BIG COVID AND THANK YOU BEYOND

At Sunderland Culture we were incredibly lucky 2019-20 was another brilliant year for Sunderland Culture as we delivered the to work with many inspirational artists and life-changing benefits of arts, culture and heritage to the communities of organisations during 2019 -20, so I want to say a Sunderland. However, as the year drew to a close it became very clear that all huge thank you to all of those who helped deliver of us were about to enter an unprecedented time of turmoil and change as we our creative programme. began to understand the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The year started with Royal Collection Sunderland Culture was created by a How Sunderland Culture has been I am hugely proud of the way that Trust bringing 14 exquisite drawings partnership between Sunderland City able to adapt, innovate and respond Sunderland Culture is responding to by Leonardo Da Vinci to Sunderland Council, University of Sunderland and to the needs of our communities, the current challenges and excited Museum & Winter Gardens, as part Sunderland MAC Trust, so it has been support artists and build our own by the things that we are still able of their phenomenally ambitious wonderful this year to see so many resilience will no doubt be fully to do. I am constantly in awe of the Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing creative projects grow and flourish set out in our next Annual Review. creativity, dedication and capability of project. This was a once in a lifetime thanks to new partnerships both in The closure of our venues was a our staff, trustees and volunteers and opportunity to see the Trust’s Sunderland and across the UK. I am necessary step but a huge blow those that we work with in the City collection in Sunderland and it looking forward to seeing what meaning that amazing exhibitions Council, University, MAC Trust and attracted more than 35,000 people. these and even more new creative would suddenly become on-line creative community of the city. collaborations might bring to the only experiences, performances National Glass Centre turned 21 On a personal level I am now moving Picture taken in 2019 by David Allan. cultural life of the city in the future. cancelled and community groups in 2019. The birthday proved a on to a new role and will be leaving and classes no longer able to meet wonderful opportunity to celebrate Sunderland Culture. I do so in the in person. Yet, within weeks, our the artists who have shaped National Work on the Fire Station Auditorium certain knowledge that the work dedicated team had found new ways Glass Centre, over the past 21 years. continued, led by Sunderland we are doing is more important to connect with audiences, deliver The NGC21 exhibition featured MAC Trust, and we look forward to than ever in supporting people’s creative experiences and be useful the work of over 50 artists from 12 delivering an incredible performance mental health, contributing to the in supporting people locked-down different countries and provided programme for Sunderland and the economic and social recovery of the at home. the opportunity to offer special new wider region. Meanwhile, Dance City city, championing diverse voices and Rebecca Ball commissions to two exceptionally and Live Theatre continued to deliver Our own team has had to get to grips ultimately improving life for everyone Creative Director talented recent graduates of the dance and schools’ engagement with working from home or being in Sunderland through Culture. University of Sunderland’s Glass and programmes in The Fire Station. placed on furlough leave and our Ceramics courses, Erin Dickson and finances have taken a huge blow and Jade Tapson. Alongside our creative partners, yet with the support of our partners we were proud to collaborate with and funders we have remained a People’s Pyrex at Arts Centre many magnificent organisations strong presence in the city delivering Washington shone a light on the from across Sunderland on our creative activities, supporting artists Pyrex produced by James A. Jobling engagement, learning, arts and and reopening when allowed. & Co. Ltd. at the Wear Glass Works, health and artists development Keith Merrin which was shipped from Sunderland programmes. For example, Who Aside from the current crisis, the to be sold across the world. The Would You Like to Meet? partners; organisation is actively changing exhibition featured one hundred Friends of the Drop In, Young Asian and accelerating how we reflect loans of pieces of Pyrex from the Voices, Sunderland Deaf Club and the diversity of our communities kitchen cupboards of Sunderland Impact NE and our Unlock partners; within our creative programme, staff residents and was packed with both NE BIC, Sunderland Software City, team and audiences, challenging heart-warming memories and joyfully Sunderland City Council and the inequalities and breaking down brightly coloured 70’s patterns. Sunderland BME Network. barriers. Meanwhile, thanks to our Finally, at the end of the year, we colleagues from University were thrilled, thanks to support from of Sunderland’s North East Arts Council England, to launch our Photography Network, Sunderland newest partnership. Through the Arts Museum & Winter Gardens and Council Collection National Partners NGCA, were able to present two Programme, we will be working to fascinating exhibitions about the bring some of the exceptional 8000 relationship between photography works of modern and contemporary and scientific method, as part of art from the Collection to Sunderland Observe, Experiment, Archive. over the next three years.

18 19 THANK YOU TO OUR FOUNDING PARTNERS FOR THEIR VISION AND SUPPORT IN ESTABLISHING SUNDERLAND CULTURE

We are hugely grateful to all funders, partners and supporters for their generosity, help and collaboration during the year. Thank you for your support, it enables everyone who lives, works or visits Sunderland to experience and enjoy world-class art and culture.

Armed Forces Covenant Trust NEXUS Art Fund – Jonathan Ruffer Curatorial Grant Royal Collection Trust Arts Council England Sir James Knott Trust Arts Council England/Victoria and Albert Museum Sunderland City Council – Washington Area Committee Purchase Grant Fund Sunderland BID Arts Council Collection The Arts Society Contemporary Arts Society Victoria and Albert Museum Culture Bridge North East DCMS Wolfson Museums and Galleries Fund There are lots of ways you can help more people Gentoo experience great art and culture, by making a donation, Groundwork NE & Cumbria - Together Big Local leaving a legacy, sponsoring an activity or volunteering Hays Travel Foundation your time. Helix Arts Imperial War Museum - 14-18NOW For more information on how to make an incredible Institute of Physics difference, please visit: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/about-us/support-us - Coastal Communities Fund National Lottery Heritage Fund Sunderland Culture is a Registered Charity, no 1184073. Newcastle University