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, Cultural Partnership, we launched the Twenty , 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 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 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

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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 artists from 30 nations working venues flexible, state-of-the-art gallery. (Kill Zones) and Giles Bailey (The Islanders). 5 in glass. This exhibition is held every ten years 638 participants The gallery opened with Material Sight, a new Last year also marked the onset of a new when work from artists under the age of 35 is Young people watch glass exhibition by photographer and installation programme of research and publications working 625 selected by a panel of international experts. More blowing in action artist Fiona Crisp, whose work is held by several with publishers, curators and leading academics school visitors than 320 artists applied to be included and just 984 national collections of contemporary art, across the UK and internationally, placing the over 50 were chosen, including Erin Dickson and Arts Awards • Material Journeys by artist and University of including Tate, the British Council, Arts Council gallery at the forefront of new thinking about Evelyn Cromwell, both recent graduates of the Sunderland lecturer Inge Panneels England and Government Art Collection. photography, video, and digital imaging. 3 new University of Sunderland’s Glass and Ceramic 1,155 publications courses based within National Glass Centre. • Enfolded Surface by Sun Ju Lee, who undertook glass baubles The themes woven through the gallery’s Achieving a permanent legacy has also been a residency offered jointly by National Glass blown programme this year have been recognising the an important focus, with the gallery leading Other National Glass Centre highlights have included: Centre and Northern Print as part of the contribution of women artists and regionally- on the acquisition of entire bodies of work by International Print Biennale held in 2016. based artists who are working internationally. established artists which will be toured, loaned • Vessels of Memory, an exhibition of glass ships 16 and exhibited globally, creating a new collection in bottles by Dr Ayako Tani in our Balcony exhibitions Main gallery exhibitions have included: of contemporary art for Sunderland. Gallery • John Kippin (Romanitas) • Forgiveness, an exhibition presenting new work • Dan Holdsworth (Continuous Topography and by Carrie Fertig commissioned as part of the Spatial Objects) commemorations of the 100 year anniversary of the Armistice

6 7 Annual Review 2018-2019

SUNDERLAND MUSEUM ARTS CENTRE AND WINTER GARDENS WASHINGTON

This year saw the arrival of one of the most • Naval Heroes - This exhibition of Britain’s naval anticipated exhibitions ever to be held in L to R: heroes included an iconic portrait of Admiral Deputy Mayoress Coun Sunderland – Leonardo Da Vinci: A Life in Lord Nelson, on loan from the National Portrait 401,915 Dianne Snowdon, young Drawing. Gallery, to celebrate the arrival of the Tall Ships visitors curator Isabella Cameron, Races to the city. Sunderland Culture’s The exhibition, held in Sunderland Museum Rachel Hamer, Posy and Winter Gardens’ main gallery, attracted • Julie Cope’s Grand Tour: The Story of a Life by 33,405 Jowett, from Arts Centre huge numbers of visitors – more than 33,000. Grayson Perry - This Crafts Council touring visitors to Washington, Deputy Sunderland was one of only twelve UK Leonardo Mayor Coun David exhibition featured two large-scale tapestries Snowdon and young venues chosen by the Royal Collection Trust by the Turner Prize winning artist. exhibition curator Georgia Donkin to simultaneously host the exhibition, which featured a total of 144 of Da Vinci’s drawings • Life in Colour: Ranbir Kaur - Ranbir Kaur is a Arts Centre Washington and marked the 500th anniversary of the Italian textile and rangoli artist who has developed an 12,418 master’s death. A programme of events and international profile through her work with school visitors activities complemented the exhibition. communities across the world. This exhibition brought together a wide range of exquisite pieces A welcoming artistic and community hub, The centre also staged and supported work from Other Museum highlights over the last year 7,382 Arts Centre Washington delivered a mixed educational, community and amateur theatre of work made across her 35-year career. participants 168,664 include: programme of performance, exhibitions and groups, including Sunfest, the week-long takeover visitors participation over the past year, including more by drama students from the University of • BP Portrait Award 2017 - This prestigious than 100 public performances of theatre, music, Sunderland’s Drama department. 103 portrait exhibition returned to Sunderland exhibitions, dance and comedy. 249 from the National Portrait Gallery. Some of the highlights of the visual arts volunteer days performances The theatre programme combined new writing programme include the Youth Arts Exhibition: and events such as Rhum and Clay’s Testosterone and Paines Bright Lights, where this year three young 41,130 Plough’s Pop Music, with fresh adaptations of curators selected the work to be included in the participants classics like War of the Worlds by The Pantaloons exhibition. Washington Camera Club celebrated and Austen’s Women by Dyad productions. their 50th anniversary with an exhibition at the centre as well as hosting a talk from renowned 149 exhibitions, photographer Joe Cornish. performances and events THE FIRE STATION

The Fire Station is an arts hub, meeting space and popular bar/bistro, developed by the MAC Trust thanks to a £2.4m grant from National Lottery Heritage Fund and was officially opened in February 2018 by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Work begins on the new Auditorium How the new auditorium in 2019. will look L to R: Ranbir Kaur: Life in Colour, a retrospective of the artist’s The Fire Station hosts regional dance agency The Fire Station work Dance City and respected theatre company Live Students at Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing Theatre. Grayson Perry’s Julie Cope tapestries, with Exhibitions, Dance City delivers more than 20 different dance Collections and Archives Manager Jo Cunningham classes in its Sunderland studio, including ballet, tap, jazz and aerial. The studio also hosts a number of artist residencies - the first in 2018 was Robby Graham and his company Southpaw Dance. Live Theatre uses its studio as a base from which to deliver its Live Tales schools writing programme to schools in Sunderland and the surrounding area.

8 9 Annual Review 2018-2019

CITYWIDE PROGRAMME Part of the entertainment at Wonderlooper, the opening event of the Sunderland Culture’s vision is to deliver great art across the whole city – not just 1,052 in our venues. participants Events such as The Tall Ships Races and Pages of the Sea have helped us 20 volunteer achieve this over the last twelve months, as well as our Great Place programme wonder – a 3 year initiative funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council wardens L to R: artists Lyn Kileen and Padma Rao of Sangini England to put great art into the heart of communities. worked with Sunderland Culture’s Laura Brewis to open 5 an exhibition to mark International Women’s Day at community Mackie’s Corner group partners The Tall Ships Races entertainment An image of fallen WW1 soldier 2nd Lt Hugh Carr Wonderlooper Mackie’s Corner was etched into the Roker sands as part of Danny 200 Boyle’s Pages of the Sea Our Great Place programme is working with We’ve been working with our partners events and community partners across Sunderland. including Sunderland City Council, Sunderland performances Business Improvement District and Tyne and Highlights this year have included Wonderlooper, Wear Building Preservation Trust to bring an interactive installation delivered by artist Di added vibrancy to Sunderland city centre – Mainstone to mark the opening of The Northern 1,200 and improving its cultural infrastructure by children Spire. The event was held on the new bridge and 20 supporting programmes in four out-of-use performed involved creating kaleidoscopes from cast-off Creative SME’s historic buildings. pieces of plastic used to encase the bridge’s huge supported steel cables. The spaces are all within Sunderland’s Heritage 1,000 Action Zone: Mackie’s Corner and Mackie’s Arts Awards delivered 100 Workshop with property developers Henry artists and Alex Kirtley, The Athenaeum led by Breeze The Tall Ships Races 2018 Pages of the Sea supported Creatives and 170- 175 High Street West, led The visit of The Tall Ships Races in July 2018 350 Sunderland was chosen by 1418 Now as one of by Pop Recs with Buildings was enjoyed by more than 1.2 million visitors, volunteers 30 locations nationwide to host Danny Boyle’s £100,000 Preservation Trust. bringing millions of pounds into the city. commemoration of the 100th anniversary of leveraged for creative Mackie’s Corner reopened in time for The Tall Armistice Day. The city’s cultural partners came together to 120 businesses participants Ships Races in July 2018. deliver a cultural programme as part of the Sunderland Culture delivered Pages of the Sea with our events to accompany the arrival of more than 50 on Roker Beach, produced the Teesside event and support tall ships to the city for the four-day event. supported the Northumberland coast event. The mesmeric dance performance, Contagion, part Hundreds of artists took part in a programme Pages of the Sea featured the creation of a large- of Sunderland Stages, performed in St Gabriel’s of over 200 street theatre, dance and circus scale portrait of First World War casualty 2nd Sunderland Culture’s Great Place Village during Church Hall Hetton Carnival performances; featuring UK artists such as Lieutenant Hugh Carr etched into the sand on Southpaw Dance and disability-led Extraordinary Roker Beach, which was gently washed away on Great Place Village at Hetton Carnival Bodies alongside international performers from the tide. Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Norway and USA. Our Great Place Village was a major part of last Members of the public made their own year’s Hetton Carnival at Hetton Lyons Country 98% The high point of the programme was the 10,000+ personal acts of commemoration by stencilling visitors to Park. Our mini festival, aimed at improving of visitors felt spectacular large-scale finale “Portolan” by Cirque soldier silhouettes into the sand, and listened Roker Beach health and wellbeing through culture, was happier for Bijou, which saw a high-wire walk from the banks on headsets to a recording of a specially- full of free workshops, performances and visiting of the to Wearmouth Bridge. Watched commissioned poem, The Wound In Time, written demonstrations. by over 10,000 people, the event also included 120 by Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy, and read by volunteers a large volunteer choir, local dancers and a local community voices. Other projects we’re delivering with communities wonderful pyrotechnic waterfall from the bridge. in the Coalfields area include an allotment and Sunderland Stages 788 foodbank initiative in partnership with Hetton participants Our cross-city performance programme, New Dawn and a young carers programme in 20 Sunderland Stages, delivered a series of at community Houghton with Sunderland Carers. performances engagement performances at venues such as The Peacock, The activities Royalty Theatre, St Gabriel’s Church Hall and 4 Pop Recs, was also instrumental in ensuring our locations delivery was truly citywide.

10 11 Annual Review 2018-2019

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Our ambition is to improve life for everyone in Sunderland OLDER PEOPLE through culture, and we are working hard to ensure existing • Through our Great Place Unleash • Our Creative Age groups with Equal audiences can experience more of our programme and programme we are working with local Arts at Arts Centre Washington and partners, communities and groups National Glass Centre are specially encourage new audiences to discover what’s on offer. We know on projects which celebrate food, designed for people living with the that in order to achieve this there are some communities and creativity, health and community in early stages of dementia and their the Coalfields. carers. groups where we need to focus our attention. • In 2018 we began working with Hetton Some of this year’s highlights include: New Dawn on a creative allotment project. The fresh produce at the allotment will support their food bank and soup kitchen. CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Part of the Creative Age group at Arts Centre Washington

• Team 21 is our cultural leadership • Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing project for young people aged 13- exhibition was accompanied by an BME COMMUNITIES 18, giving them a voice to shape our innovative programme of visits, programme. It has engaged 413 young trails, assemblies, workshops, relaxed people since it began during our UK visits and activities for young people • Our Great Place Unify programme • We’re continuing to build on solid City of Culture 2021 bid. In 2018 they inspired by the exhibition. aims to tackle issues around social relationships with culturally diverse were nominated for a Journal Culture • Arts Centre Washington’s youth cohesion, with cultural projects that networks such as the BME Network, Award for youth achievement. theatre group was commissioned to link disconnected communities and Young Asian Voices, Friends of the • We have been working with groups of write and perform a new play ‘The support them to develop their creative Drop In and International Community young carers at National Glass Centre Secret Earl of Biddick’, performed leadership skills. Organisation of Sunderland and Sangini. and through our Great Place Unleash during the The Tall Ships cultural • Our ‘Who Would you Like to Meet?’ programme in the Coalfields to build programme. Pupils from Usworth Primary School perform on Roker Beach as part of a mini culture festival project in partnership with Helix Arts, • This year’s Chinese New year confidence and improve mental health commissioned six groups to collaborate celebration attracted 1590 visitors and wellbeing. with other groups they hadn’t met to Sunderland Museum and Winter before to create a performance for Gardens. The Duchess of Cambridge shares a joke with sharing in summer 2019. members of Young Asian Voices at the official opening of The Fire Station. Picture courtesy of . SCHOOLS PEOPLE WITH ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND/OR AUTISM

• DesignLab Nation in partnership with • Arts Centre Washington worked with • In December 2018 we commissioned • As part of our Uncover programme V&A Museum saw eighteen students children from Barmston School and an audit of our venues and and through our partnership with from Year 10 at Castle View Enterprise well-known artists on Washington ‘Art programme, working with autistic and Columbia Grange School in the Academy expand their creative skills Zine’. The workshops also provided disabled groups and their carers, to Uncover programme, we delivered through workshops at National Glass children with transport and free identify barriers to participation and exciting and accessible experiences for Centre. healthy meals during holiday time. measures which can support inclusion. young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Severe Learning • Through our Great Place Uncover • Our venues continue to offer a • During The Tall Ships Cultural Disabilities. These were deivered programme we are working in comprehensive programme for Programme we brought a ground- with Bamboozle Theatre at Arts close partnership with Biddick schools. From National Glass breaking new outdoor show by a Centre Washington, Bare Toed Dance Academy, Columbia Grange Primary Centre and Sunderland Museum’s pioneering UK circus company. Company, and Continued Professional and Usworth Colliery Primary in comprehensive cross-curricular offer, Extraordinary Bodies is made up of Development for teachers with Bamboozle Theatre Company with Class 4 from Washington exploring creativity in the to Art Centre Washington’s innovative Extraordinary Bodies at the Tall Ships Races exceptional disabled and non-disabled Columbia Grange School as part of Uncover renowned theatre director Tim Webb, curriculum to inform the development Art Zine programme, we have engaged artists, working together to making Wearside formerly of Oily Cart. We will apply of our wider city offer for schools. over 21,700 school children through radical, bold and joyous performance, this learning to our ongoing offer. our ongoing offer this year. accessible to everybody and involving disabled members of the local community.

12 13 Annual Review 2018-2019

WORKING WITH PARTNERS TO LOOKING FORWARD REVITALISE OUR CULTURAL TO 2019 AND BEYOND INFRASTRUCTURE

As well as an amazing programme of We have also been supporting our partners in some significant Hopefully, this review has given you an improvements to the city’s cultural venues: high-profile arts and culture across insight into our busy year of delivering • We have worked with Sunderland City Council on their the city, Sunderland Culture has impressive improvements to Sunderland Museum and a richly diverse arts programme been doing lots behind the scenes Winter Gardens. The new entrance area and shop has while at the same time building been an instant hit with visitors and will be followed soon to bring new resources, funds and by a fantastic new learning and activity space funded by Sunderland’s cultural infrastructure. opportunities to the city and the wider Sunderland City Council and the DCMS/Wolfson Museum Looking ahead, as well as continuing to work with our partners region. and Galleries Improvement Fund. and stakeholders to roll out a brilliant programme, there are • We have supported University of Sunderland in the creation some significant events and projects we’re planning for the We have been very successful at bringing new funds to expand of the new Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art at coming months and years which we are particularly looking out work and deliver our ambitious plans over the next few National Glass Centre. A new space for contemporary art in forward to. years: the city funded by the University, Sunderland City Council First of all, we celebrate the 21st birthday of National Glass • £1.2 million grant from the Great Place Scheme (funded by and Arts Council England. Centre, with University of Sunderland, in June 2019 with a National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England) major exhibition opening in April and a city-wide programme • We continue to work with the Sunderland MAC Trust on Rebecca Ball, Sunderland Culture’s Creative Director to establish Sunderland Culture and deliver our citywide the plans for a new Auditorium in the heart of the city at the including exhibitions in the Museum and Arts Centre Keith Merrin, Sunderland Culture’s Chief Executive programme over three years. One of just twelve grant awards Fire Station. Washington to mark Sunderland’s place as a global leader in made from the fund in the UK. creative excellence. We continue to be ambitious for what can be achieved in • £2 million grant from Arts Council England as part of its Sunderland. During the past year we have built strong Work will begin this year on the Fire Station Auditorium, which National Portfolio of funded organisations to deliver our partnerships with artists, businesses and communities that will open in Sunderland’s growing cultural quarter in 2020. programme across the venues have led to many new spaces across the city for creativity. These This new venue will allow us to have and produce an eagerly awaited dynamic programme of music, theatre, dance and • £750,000 grant from Arts Council England’s Ambition for have been in empty shops, outdoors and even in a shed! We will comedy. Excellence Fund to deliver Glass Exchange, a three year be continuing our plans to try and find a new home for Little programme of major commissions for new works in glass. Inventors (a globally successful project started in Sunderland) National Glass Centre and Northern Gallery for Contemporary and also to secure new longer term work spaces and skills Art will deliver Glass Exchange, bringing five major • £550,000 grant from Arts Council Collection National development opportunities for artists and creative businesses. contemporary visual artists to Sunderland to create five new Partners Programme, one of only three nationally, and the works of art in glass, creating an exhibition trail stretching opportunity to bring this amazing collection to the city. It has been an amazing first year delivering a breath- taking programme of arts alongside building a sustainable between Sunderland and Durham. • Over £250,000 in smaller grants, donations and infrastructure through Sunderland Culture and continuing We are thrilled that Sunderland Culture will be an Arts Council sponsorships including from 14-18NOW, Sunderland City the momentum and goodwill generated through our City of Collection National Partner from 2019 to 2022. The museum Council, Sir James Knott Trust, Sunderland BID and NEXUS. Culture campaign. We look forward to another great year of will become the North East home for this inspiring and That’s nearly £5million of new money for arts and culture success and creating more opportunities to improve the lives of extensive collection of contemporary art which spans from activity in Sunderland generated in our first year of activity! people in Sunderland and the north east. 1948 to present day. Just as significantly, we have put in place a new single ticketing A special thanks to our three founding partners for helping And 2021 will mark 50 years of Northern Gallery for and customer relationship management system across all us to realise a vision for world-class culture for everyone in Contemporary Art in Sunderland when we will curate a of our venues linked to a brand new website. This means Sunderland. city-wide celebration of the last 50 years of exceptional that people are able to buy tickets for any of our events and contemporary art in the city. activities in all of our venues, all in one place. It also means that we can give visitors and local residents information tailored to them and show them the breadth of arts opportunities that exist here.

Rebecca Ball, Creative Director

Keith Merrin, Chief Executive

14 15 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 There are lots of ways you can help more people experience great their generosity, help and collaboration during our first year. Thank art and culture, by making a donation, leaving a legacy, sponsoring you for your support, it enables everyone who lives, works or visits an activity or volunteering your time. Sunderland to experience and enjoy world-class art and culture. For more information on how to make an incredible difference, please visit www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/about-us/support-us

1418 Now Arts Council England Community Foundation serving Tyne and Wear and Northumberland Culture Bridge North East Equal Arts Gentoo Group Ltd Hays Travel Foundation National Heritage Lottery Fund NEXUS Sir James Knott Trust Sunderland Business Improvement District The Cultural Spring Our front and back cover pictures are taken from Portolan, the fantastic Tall Together for Children Ships Races event over the River Wear. Front cover picture courtesy of North News Victoria and Albert Museum and Pictures