Annual Review 2018-2019 Annual Review 2018-2019
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Annual Review 2018-2019 Annual Review 2018-2019 DELIVERING STEP CHANGE CHAIRMAN’S THROUGH CULTURE WELCOME Sunderland Culture brings together the investment of the In March 2018 working with partner organisations through three main drivers and funders of arts provision in the city, Sunderland Cultural Partnership, we launched the Twenty Sunderland City Council, University of Sunderland and Music, Four Seven programme; an ambitious seven year £60m Arts & Culture Trust into a single, independent, and resilient project running to 2024. Twenty Four Seven has been built delivery model. In 2018 we became an Arts Council England from the excitement, drive and imagination of people from National Portfolio Organisation. communities, sectors and organisations across the city who contributed to the UK City of Culture 2021 bid. It will deliver We deliver the programme in National Glass Centre and much of what was in our bid; using arts and culture to deliver Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland Museum 5 step changes in the city; improved profile and reputation of & Winter Gardens, Arts Centre Washington and The Fire the city; more vibrant creative economy; raised outlook and Station, as well as cross-city projects such as Sunderland aspiration of young people; improved health and wellbeing; Stages and our Great Place programme. Our mission is to “The Sunderland model has been and a more socially cohesive city. improve life for everyone in Sunderland through culture. highlighted nationally as an example of transformative culture-led SUNDERLAND Arts Centre Washington regeneration.” National Glass Centre Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art NORTH The Fire Station Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens The ambition of Sunderland City However, our first year has been about more than delivering Unlock the City Council, University of Sunderland and excellent arts. Our mission is to improve life for everyone in WASHINGTON (creative economy) Sunderland through culture. And to achieve this, we’ve set Unify Sunderland MAC Trust in setting up the company ourselves three ambitions: (community cohesion) was to transform the reach, visibility 1. Ensure an excellent, diverse artistic and heritage offer WEST Unleash the Coalfieds 2. Encourage everyone to get involved (health and wellbeing) and impact of Sunderland’s cultural scene. Our first year has certainly set 3. Secure a revitalised, joined-up and accessible cultural Uncover Wearside infrastructure (children and young people) the bar high – twelve unforgettable Our brilliant first-year programme has certainly helped us months of breath-taking events and with aims one and two – but we’ve also been busy with our EAST hundreds of exciting activities right third ambition. COALFIELDS across the city. We’ve been laying the foundations needed for sustainable growth. We’ve established our Sunderland Culture team and But it has also led us to realise we are only at the start of what worked with our founding partners Sunderland City Council, is possible. University of Sunderland and MAC Trust to develop an From Pages of the Sea at Roker, the Danny Boyle-inspired innovative, joined-up cultural infrastructure – including the “The University of Sunderland is proud “We’ve seen more investment in arts and “Sunderland’s cultural sector has commemoration of the Armistice, to a cultural village at opening of a new exhibition gallery and collection space at to be a founding partner of Sunderland culture in Sunderland announced in the maintained the impressive momentum Hetton Carnival, to memorable exhibitions, such as Young NGCA and a new pop-up gallery at Mackie’s Corner in the city Culture, and we’re delighted how quickly last 18 months than the previous 18 years. built during our bid to be UK City of Culture. centre (thanks to the generosity of the Kirtley family who own the organisation has become part of the This is in large part testament to the Glass at National Glass Centre and Naval Heroes at Sunderland fabric of the city. commitment and vision of the partnership “We may not have won the title, but Museum and Winter Gardens, our inaugural year has been the Hutchinson Buildings). with drive, ambition and energy, we are that founded Sunderland Culture and packed with artistic highlights. In doing so, the Sunderland model has been highlighted “Its first year could have been one of quiet is evidence that Sunderland is now seen becoming a city of culture anyway. We’re foundation building, but Sunderland within the arts sector as a place that can delivering major events, exhibitions We’ve had major solo shows by Fiona Crisp, Dan Holdsworth nationally as an example of transformative culture-led Culture has delivered major exhibitions at deliver, a city known for artistic endeavour and performances for the enjoyment of and Kelly Richardson at Northern Gallery for Contemporary regeneration. National Glass Centre and the new NGCA and ambition. Wearsiders and the broader north east all Art, and Ranbir Kaur at the Museum. gallery space as well as unforgettable of which is raising our profile nationally My thanks to our brilliant team and board and to our amazing events across the city such as 1418 Now “Following the award-winning and internationally. Our Wonderlooper event brought 1,000 people together to supporters who include Arts Council England and the National and Danny Boyle’s unforgettable Pages of redevelopment of The Fire Station, the MAC “Sunderland Culture is an innovative, mark the opening of the spectacular new Northern Spire Lottery Heritage Fund. We are also hugely grateful for the help the Sea as part of Sunderland’s Armistice Trust’s next project is the £8m development of all the volunteers who have given their time and energy commemorations. of The Auditorium, a 450-seat venue at the partnership approach to transforming a bridge; while our innovative arts programme helped the city heart of the MAC Quarter. This prestigious city’s relationship to arts and culture, and celebrate the visit of the Tall Ships Races last summer. during this amazing year. Our first year of operations has been “Such an impressive start points to a bright new venue will become a major asset for it’s an approach that is working – and being extraordinary. The year to come is already shaping up to be and exciting future for the organisation Sunderland Culture, and we’re very much watched closely by other towns and cities. More recently, Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens was equally memorable. and the city.” looking forward to seeing it rise from the I am proud of Sunderland City Council’s chosen to be one of only twelve venues across the country to role in its foundation.” Sir David Bell, Vice Chancellor at the ground over the next few months.” host Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life in Drawing, a prestigious series University of Sunderland Paul Callaghan, CBE, DL, Chair of Sunderland Councillor John Kelly, Portfolio holder for of exhibitions to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Music, Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust Communities and Culture at Sunderland City the Italian Renaissance master. Council Our work has reached almost two million people. Graeme Thompson 2 3 Annual Review 2018-2019 ACHIEVING THE YEAR OUR MISSION IN FIGURES IMPROVING LIFE FOR EVERYONE IN SUNDERLAND THROUGH CULTURE Improving the Creating Building Improving Growing city’s profile connectivity confidence health and our creative 2.026 and reputation amongst our and aspiration wellbeing economy communities in young people MILLION TOTAL VISITORS 16,728 OUR AIMS to our venues and SCHOOL Delivering an excellent Encouraging everyone Securing a revitalised city programme VISITORS and diverse arts and to get involved and resilient cultural heritage programme infrastructure OUR ASSETS, AUDIENCES AND PARTNERS participants Across our venues and Growing our existing Working with our city wide: and building new partners to maximise 52,659 audiences: resources • National Glass Centre • Local residents • Sunderland City Council • Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art • Visitors to the city • University of Sunderland • Sunderland Museum • Artists and creative • MAC Trust and Winter Gardens businesses • Sunderland Cultural 244,703 • Arts Centre • BME communities Partnership Washington • Funders 484 WEBSITE • People with additional 547 EXHIBITIONS, VOLUNTEERS • Fire Station needs • Businesses PERFORMANCES VISITS • City programme • Older people • Health Sector AND EVENTS See pages 6-11 See pages 12-13 • Education Sector • Voluntary and community organisations See page 14 1,547 69,645 £5m A UNIQUE MODEL FOR ARTS AWARDS SOCIAL MEDIA RAISED IN GRANTS CULTURAL REGENERATION DELIVERED FOLLOWERS AND AWARDS 4 5 Annual Review 2018-2019 Continuous Topography Young Glass, one of by Dan Holdsworth at the most successful Northern Gallery for exhibitions of the past Contemporary Art year at National Glass Centre Caption to go here Caption to go here Caption to go here 7 exhibitions 66 NORTHERN GALLERY FOR artworks NATIONAL CONTEMPORARY ART collected GLASS CENTRE 224,276 visitors new In March 2018, Northern Gallery for • Canadian-born Kelly Richardson (Pillars of 3 exhibitions One of National Glass Centre’s most successful 5,848 Contemporary Art reopened after a large, Dawn) toured to projects of the past year was Young Glass, school visitors industrial space within National Glass Centre at • The Collections Gallery exhibited work by local which showcased work by the finest young, University of Sunderland was converted into a artists, including photographer Craig Ames international