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New glassmaking centre ‘bittersweet’, say campaigners

Arts Professional
2 min read

Campaigners hoping to save the National Glass Centre in Sunderland have called the announcement of funding for a new glassmaking hub “bittersweet”.

The National Glass Centre is set to close next year as Sunderland University, which owns the centre, says it does not have the £45m needed for repairs required to the building.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has announced £5m for the Glassworks project, which plans to preserve 1,350 years of glassmaking history at a new site, to be run by Sunderland Culture.

The investment forms part of a £60m package of support for the creative industries across the UK, announced at the end of last week.

Jo Howell, who has been leading a campaign to save the existing glass centre, told the BBC that Sunderland risks losing a significant part of its heritage if the centre is moved to a smaller site.

“It’s like a sticking plaster over an open wound,” Howell said. “It’s great to get £5m, but over £36m of public money has been spent on the Glass Centre over its history. It just feels like we’ve been robbed.”

Sunderland Culture chief executive Nick Maylan said the Glassworks project will be “part of a broader programme of regeneration”.

“We know that the National Glass Centre isn’t financially stable, and the building is not fit for purpose anymore; for us, it’s about safeguarding the craft, the skills and the art form,” he added.