Saving the National Glass Centre: both the tangible and the intangible heritage

St Peter’s in Roker has been breaking glass ceilings since 674 AD and celebrates 1350 years of continuous glass making on the river Wear.

Jo Howell, Save the National Glass Centre campaigner and photographic artist tells us about the importance of the National Glass Centre after attending the Contemporary Glass Society conference on 20/04/24

I was very grateful to attend the Contemporary Glass Society conference. It was held across two venues at the University of Sunderland on Saturday 20th April 2024. All of the organisers, speakers and the attendees themselves should be immensely proud as they were absolutely fascinating. I need a whole week to replay it in my head so I can absorb the experience! I spent the entire time with my mouth open in awe.

There was so much to take in and think about. The speakers did a tremendous job of showing us how glass, new technologies and reclaimed materials are all taking centre stage in contemporary arts practice. Informed by the climate crisis and new digital ways of production. All of the artists surpassed and surprised us with their innovative approaches. From Helen Pailing’s explorations of re-using the waste from glass processes in conjunction with embroidery practices.

To the commercial and artistic journey of Jo Mitchell, blending together computer aided design CAD and new technologies in glass production.

To some intensely AMAZING demonstrations of glass blowing ginormous stuff by Zac Weinberg whilst assisted by Colin Rennie

Then a quick gander at flame working as we settled into the 3pm vase blowing demo.

The artworks were all intriguing but I happened to spot a cyanotype on glass with a glass walking stick on top. Anyone who knows me knows that I love cyanotype. Blue maybe twee to you but it ain’t twee to me!

Wrong end of the stick by Liz Waugh Macmanus

The artwork ‘Wrong end of the stick’ by Liz Macmanus Waugh was so much fun! You hovered your hand above an electronic sensor hidden in copper plated text to activate it. The sensors were hooked up to a micro processor that then played snippets of audio. The cyanotype showed pages from a notebook that had half conversations written by her grandmother who was deaf. The audio was of the random half conversations! A really lovely interactive piece.

I was lucky enough to catch the final knock off of a humongous glass vessel by Zac Weinberg. The heat and the weight of the glass! Really skilful. I was melting and feeling tired just watching. The choreography of movement always impresses me. To be in the ‘zone’ and in the moment is integral to the glassblowing success. There are so many things both physically and mentally that the glassblower must be in complete control of or else risk some awful injury.

I can’t stress enough how impressive the talent, the skill, the facilities and the building are. Okay. The building doesn’t look the smartest on the outside but it still proudly commands the riverside skyline. Its silhouette is unmistakable to all who love it. Buildings are never just buildings. For 25 years the National Glass Centre has been an icon of the Sunderland landscape and has a firm grip on all of our hearts.

Art of the North – save the national glass centre

The value of what we stand to lose far outstrips the need to demolish a building and landscape contaminated land. Maybe the National Glass Centre doesn’t need or want the University either. Maybe it’s time for a conscious uncoupling, as the wise Gwyneth Paltrow once said. It would be nice to remain friends when we gain custody of the NGC.

I digress! The open day held by Contemporary Glass Society was informative and inspiring. Though everything was tinged with heartfelt sadness the important contributions of the National Glass Centre to the British studio glass movement cannot be understated.

What will happen to all of this specialist equipment? Will it go the same way as the brise soleil? Quietly removed and scrapped. How much money will they spend demolishing and landscaping a site they have repeatedly said they have no plans for? In a climate crisis we really cannot afford to demolish buildings. End of story.

NGC see yourself reflected in the impressive mirrored silhouette of the building

Are we not responsible to save the heritage both tangible and not, so that future generations can access it? And the upward social mobility that having a national cultural asset on your doorstep has? I want my nieces to be able to dream big.

I took my niece age 14 to the contemporary glass society day and as we walked home she excitedly told me that she wants to be an engineer. Then she said that she will help me make the building what we think it should be. She could see the opportunity. She understood the dramatic importance of hands on skills. This inspired her as it did me.

Keep tagging us on social media in your posts, sign the petition, share everything. We only have one chance to make the difference here. Let’s make it count. Use the hashtag and ask everyone what they think.

#savethenationalglasscentre

We at Save the National Glass Centre campaign have solutions and funding pots that we will be able to access that cannot be accessed by the university or Sunderland Culture because of the structures of their business model set up. We believe that a new model of ownership should be explored.

#sunderlanduni #contemporaryglasssociety #cgs #glassuk #climatecrisis

An Open Letter to the Board of Governors of the University of Sunderland

Regarding Their Intent to Close and Demolish The National Glass Centre, Sunderland

14th March 2024

Dear Board of Governors

How do histories end? Is it through neglect, by the misguided actions of a few, the averted gaze of many, or by compliance when there should have been challenge? This year 2024, is thought to be the 1350th anniversary of the start of glassmaking in Sunderland. An important historic event many want to recognise and celebrate.

Instead, in 2026 it will be the end of that history if the University of Sunderland is successful in its campaign to demolish our National Glass Centre (NGC) and in the process deny future generations the opportunity to understand, revere and continue the history and tradition of glassmaking in our unique and proud city. Given that this will cause extensive, irreparable economic and cultural damage it is natural that this decision should be open to the highest levels of scrutiny.

When the University, as owners of the NGC, made the shock announcement in January 2023 of its intention to close and demolish Sunderland’s “world class cultural asset” (2021 City of Culture Bid), it was met with widespread disbelief. People immediately questioned how the University could announce that it would cost £45million to repair an existing building when the construction costs for the brand- new Culture House in the city centre are reported to be £25million. It is not even clear what the basis is for the £45million cost as it was not an option covered in GSS Architecture’s 2022 Roof Level Feasibility Report. There was no explanation as to why the more affordable Option 2 costing was not considered.

The £45million figure has been met with derision by construction industry professionals who have examined the Cost Estimate in detail (see attached Report pg 9 onwards), and who point to Option 2 as a viable solution. Has the quoted repair bill of £45million discouraged any potential financial backers?

The University’s actions show scant regard for, or reference to, the usual regulatory framework, including the: Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Charities Act 2022, Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 1974, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and The Seven Principles of Public Life (Nolan Principles) 1995.

According to The Seven Principles of Public Life, as a Board of Governors you are “…public officeholders… both servants of the public and stewards of public resources.”

Yet the decision to close and demolish the NGC was made without any public consultation over what would happen to a much treasured educational establishment, visitor attraction and charity, run solely for the “public benefit”.

Instead, your Executive presented you with a set of biased, partial evidence. The decision was made without an Impact Assessment, or a Change Programme, or planning as to the future usage of a site with limited potential for redevelopment. There has been no strategic plan to ensure sustainable, future growth. In addition, there has been no viable plan to relocate the many and varied functions of the building, the academic courses, the galleries, the public engagement and visitor facilities and tenanted studios. This is an astonishing lack of objectivity, due diligence and a rejection of well-established management techniques used to arrive at Best Outcomes. The only determination was to rid yourself of the civic obligations of ownership of a public, charity run asset, described by Vice Chancellor, Sir David Bell as “the burden” when he wrote that “…the University cannot be expected to carry all of the burden on that front…” (letter to Bridget Phillipson MP, 24.08.2023). He considers that “…much of what takes place in the Centre is not ‘core’ to the University’s overarching academic mission as an educational institution…” (letter to Julie Elliott MP, 14.05.2023). His approach to the ethical function of a university within society is somewhat different to other universities such as Durham University, which evidently applies a different moral stance when running its seven visitor attractions.

In October 2022 the Executive’s evidence, the Roof Level Feasibility Report (2022), led to the University making major structural changes to the NGC’s main glass façade by removing the brise soleil and external frame. This was done without planning permission or the involvement of Building Control.

Contractors removed the bracing that stiffened and strengthened the façade and protected it from the force of the wind. Damage occurred in October 2023 during high winds, but before the main impact of storm Babet. Luckily no one was hurt when a large panel of glass dropped out of position. It is the very definition of a near miss; for a year thousands of people worked, walked, sat, ran and cycled past tonnes of glass held in a potentially weakened structure due to the University’s maintenance choices. It led to the University declaring the façade as a “dangerous structure”. Whilst Sir David Bell has continued to insist that it was: “…simply untrue to suggest that the University has failed to maintain the building adequately.” (letter to the office of Julie Elliot MP, 26.10.2023). The University Environmental Sustainability Plan 2025 states that it has been neglectful of the fabric of the building in that they “…fail to plan, invest and maintain the University’s physical estate…”. In addition, it has revealed that “The University does not have an Operation and Maintenance document for the NGC.” (FOI2324/01/10) This explains why there has been no systematic maintenance routine; a potential factor in the current state of disrepair and the resultant increased costs to rectify the situation.

In 2010 the transfer of ownership of the NGC to the University, thought to be for £1, was probably the best solution at the time. Since then, the University has enjoyed the benefit of ownership and the use of facilities that would have cost many thousands to rent annually. The University chose to run the visitor attraction business in a particular way that did not truly take advantage of the unique potential of the NGC. The recent damage to the building has further weakened the visitor attraction business, and people’s livelihoods. Although the NGC enjoys extensive, loyal, public support, and the diligent staff have made heroic efforts to reconfigure the building and provide a warm welcome, inevitably visitor numbers have declined as the building is partially open, less accessible and frankly looks neglected.

Further damage to the NGC has been caused by the lack of a planned future: it was undoubtably a factor in Sunderland Culture and the NGC’s unsuccessful bid to become the new venue for The British Glass Biennale. The prestigious international exhibition and events could have been of great economic and cultural benefit to the city.

This apparent “managed decline” of the NGC as a visitor attraction has been compounded by the lack of support for, and promotion of, the glass and ceramics academic courses leading to a climate of uncertainty. The offer to students has been weakened so that numbers will fall, and the courses will be cancelled, resulting in the permanent loss of vital material knowledge and expertise: glass is a sustainable, future facing material, not an anachronism.

Now after over a year there is no definite plan to relocate the many and varied activities that take place within the NGC. Half-hearted attempts have been made to relocate the NGC gallery and the academic course facilities into two locations, an unbuilt new development and an old building on the other side of the river, neither of which can provide the required specialist facilities. There is no plan for glassmaking to continue anywhere. The University is a Founding Partner of the charity, Sunderland Culture, and glassmaking is written into its Charitable Objects, a fact that the Board of Governors appears to have completely ignored, or been unaware of, when making the decision to close (see Report pg 5 onward).

In October 2023, it was revealed that the University had decided that they were not in the position to ‘lead the charge’ on the creation of a new glassmaking facility (University Internal update) thereby threatening the purpose and assets of a charity.

When is the University going to acknowledge that the NGC is a public asset run by a charity, with millions of pounds of embodied public funds invested in its creation and maintenance? Its inauguration in 1998 was not just about creating a visitor attraction or an asset for the University to dispose of as it wished. The NGC was, and still is, essential to the regeneration of Sunderland after the years of economic decline led by the demise of heavy industries. According to the Seven Principles of Public Life, as “public office holders” the Board of Governors have a duty to act as “…servants of the public and stewards of public resources” and “…act solely in terms of public interest.” The obligation is to “…act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.” And to be “…accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit …to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.” You must be aware that there is an online petition to save the NGC which has a wealth of public opinions. If you are in any way unclear as to what people think about your decision read the Report (pg 20 onwards).

Change needs to happen. There is no reason why the NGC cannot be placed on the path to a sustainable future if given the backing of organisations with the expertise, enthusiasm and commitment to effect real change. The campaign to # Save The National Glass Centre have amassed a wealth of evidence and a network of highly skilled supporters ready and able to contribute to a positive outcome for

Sunderland, our children, visitors, the creative community and world-wide glass artists. All that is needed is for the Board of Governors to abide by the Seven Principles of Public Life, review their decision making and start a dialogue with the public over our National Glass Centre’s future.

On behalf of #Save the National Glass Centre, we would welcome the opportunity to meet face to face and if you require any clarification, we are more than happy to oblige.

We await your response with anticipation.

Top Academics fail Test

A Save the National Glass Centre article

Written by Allyn Walton solicitor and local heritage activist. (Amended and republished 10/04/24)

It’s rather depressing to note the lack of basic maths and fact finding present at the very top of our academic institutions these days.
And what makes it worse is when you consider that the particular institution in question can’t even accurately quote from their own expensively purchased Architectural report. It’s here if you want to read it.

Glass art outside the National Glass Centre referencing the long heritage with glass at St Peter’s church

https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/help/corporate-legal/legal-finance/national-glass-centre/

Yes folks, it’s official the University of Sunderland (UoS) gets no more than a D-minus when it comes to their custodianship of the National Glass Centre. And now that the ‘evidence’ has finally been revealed, we know that the so-called £45 million pounds figure for restoring this glorious Sunderland Monument to Glass, is more than 3 times the real cost!

Yes, that’s worth saying again isn’t it? The real cost of restoring NGC to the pristine condition it was in when UoS were gifted it in 2010, according
to the university’s own report, is actually less than £14 million.

And what is the basis for this? Are we going to have one of those battles of the
experts played out in front of the High Court? Well no actually we’re not! Can you believe that the £45m sum they’re quoting includes mechanical and electrical work already carried out in 2013.

Even in its present configuration it is something UoS have shown they are completely incapable of maintaining to the most basic standards. What about this quote from UoS Head of Estates as far back as 2013:

“the centre has suffered as a business and its maintenance regime hasn’t been as robust as it could have been.”
University estates officer 2013

In February 2024 the University Finally Admitted they DO NOT have an Operation and Maintenance Document! this maintenance guide would have guaranteed the professional upkeep of The National Glass Centre.

So what, you might say! £14m is still a lot of money isn’t it? You can virtually hear the sound of the bulldozers behind those words can’t you! Who is going to come up with £14m? Well it isn’t going to be Sunderland City Council, not according to the reported words of Councillor Paul Stewart:

We’re open sign outside the closed off public footpath on the river front of the National Glass Centre

Though not necessarily agreeing to this himself, the Council’s position is to keep the Glass Centre at a distance from the Council as they see it as the responsibility of the University.

It looks as though we are on our own.

So, let’s use just a little bit of that expensively purchased university education to look at these figures a bit more closely shall we. Guess what it does include?

It includes an array of Solar PV across 550m2 of newly refurbished roofing.

That’s sufficient to radically reduce the running costs of NGC for the next 40 years! In what world are we expected to live where an organisation pretends to want to expand its incompetence to an additional floor of a building they’ve admitted they can’t properly maintain, at the expense of that? Just imagine those electric furnaces being fired up every day with carbon free electricity!

And according to the experts that have been brought in to look at this situation, the contingencies built into the significantly lower £14m figure are much too generous than they need to be for work of this nature in this sector!

How the light used to flow through the building photograph by Gill Helps

That brings the cost or refurbishment down again to below £10m when this job is properly put out to tender with a serious intention to get the price right. Okay I can still hear you saying it… Who’s going to come up with that amount of money? Who’s got £10m tucked away for this rainy day?

Now we get to the most important cost of all. Guess what? The monetary cost of moving in those bulldozers and demolishing this fantastically important building is actually MORE than the cost of restoring it!

That’s definitely something worth saying again … the cost of demolishing the National Glass Centre is MORE than the cost of saving it.

And we’re not just talking here about money. We’re talking about the cost to the people of Sunderland for whom 1350 years of glass manufacturing finally comes to an end.

We’re talking about the environmental cost of demolition, releasing thousands of tonnes of carbon back into the environment, not even mentioning the big unseemly hole that’s left, where once stood the mighty JL Thompson shipyard. And yes, we are also talking about the mammoth mistake and reputational cost to the university itself for failing so drastically in this test.

University of Sunderland sign in front of the National Glass Centre stacks

University of Sunderland are not listening to us, at least not yet! So, why don’t you help say it for us?

Tell your friends the shocking truth, get your family to sign the petition, have your work colleagues write to their MP. Or, if you’re not able to do any of that don’t worry, why don’t you just join the 35,000 of us who are already part of stopping this nonsense!

Petition link

Save the National Glass Centre #savetheNGC

We are shining a light!

Article written by Nigel Taylor, Chartered Engineer and a Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. I also have over 40 years experience on large construction projects and was an Operations Director for a tier one national building contractor.

Glass optics circa 1950’s curtesy of Tyne and Wear Archives, Sunderland Museum collection. Pyrex magazine.

Have you heard that the University of Sunderland has decided that one of our City’s landmark buildings, the National Glass Centre (NGC), is to close in 2026?

I am a member of a campaign group set up with the aim of stopping what amounts to vandalism of one of the City’s cultural assets and visitor attractions. Would you like to support the campaign to keep glassmaking alive on the River Wear? We would love more residents of Sunderland, Washington and the coalfields to get involved, along with any other friends and family far and wide who believe that the decision by the University is short sighted and against the wishes of the vast majority of the people of the area.

The NGC was opened by Prince (now King) Charles in October, 1998. Sunderland was chosen as the preferred site, due to our long history in glassmaking. Indeed, this year, sees the 1350th anniversary of Benedict Biscop bringing craftsmen from Europe to start making glass on the banks of the Wear at St Peter’s Church.

Over the years, glass making grew as an industry. Sunderland glass developed a worldwide reputation and, by 1860, more than 1,000 glass makers were employed in the area working in more than 20 companies.

Most of us will have some glassware made in Sunderland in our cupboards. Who hasn’t got the odd Pyrex bowl, plate, or casserole dish, which often has been passed down through the generations. These were all manufactured on Wearside by Jobling, the glassmakers. Some of the designs are quite valuable now, so hang on to these prized possessions.

The NGC itself is not only a place for local glassmakers and artists to showcase their innovative designs, but is alsokeeping the tradition of glassblowing alive for new generations to see. Many of you may have been on one of the short, day courses to make a Christmas bauble, paperweight, or tile, and have felt the satisfaction, as I have, of creating something unique and beautiful. I am reminded of this every year when the Christmas decorations come out and I see the bauble I made some years ago, with a lot of help from one of the excellent craftsmen employed within the NGC. All of this will be lost if the NGC closes.

Pyrex science department circa 1950’s curtesy of Tyne and Wear Archives, Sunderland Museum collection. Photograph by Leslie Bryce.

This area’s cultural heritage has already been decimated over recent years with the loss of the mining and shipbuilding industries. Are we prepared to let people from outside of the area now running the University of Sunderland make arbitrary decisions without proper consultation and without fully understanding the impact this will have on the local community?

Local children will lose the experience of seeing the traditional skills, for which Sunderland was once famous; school trips to the NGC were often a high point of a school year. Local history is made more real by experiencing an activity, rather than reading about it in a book. Can we afford to lose this important landmark for ever?

Over the years, the NGC has evolved into more than just a museum or workshop space—it has become a cultural landmark and a symbol of Sunderland’s regeneration. It has attracted many visitors to the region from all over the world, which helps the local economy. Glass artists who have studied at the NGC have gone on to receive worldwide acclaim for their work and even now sing the praises of where their journey started, in Sunderland.

Our group has been set up to try to prevent this closure. We meet regularly and have set up a petition which already has over 32,000 signatures, a website and a blog, to keep people up to date with the campaign. You are all welcome at the monthly meetings

If you are as affronted as us by the impending closure, pleasesign the petition and add your weight to the cause.

You can sign the petition here https://www.change.org/p/save-glass-blowing-in-the-historic-st-peter-s-ward-save-the-national-glass-centre?recruiter=1299637260&recruited_by_id=66116780-bc22-11ed-85f2-d5d47b59f0d0&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard&utm_medium=copylink

and view the website here: https://savethengc.art.blog/

If you would like to become more involved with the project, please email the campaign on savethengc@gmail.com

Let’s try and keep our local history alive for future generations #SavetheNGC #savethenationalglasscentre

Join us in action against this crass act of cultural vandalism

Save the National Glass Centre campaign fully supports any action the unions or the workers wish to take. Solidarity!

We stand in solidarity with all of the staff and students. We are distraught to hear that like a thief in the night Sunderland University is taking away our glass and ceramic courses leading to inevitable loss of highly skilled staff, valued teachers and of course eventually the building itself.
Filling their boots with Sunderland’s heritage and the future of glass making in the North East.

We stand with you and we will fight to keep you.

savethenationalglasscentre #unison #sunderlanduni #sunderlandnow #sunderlandecho #northeastnews #sunderlandnews #universityofsunderland #nationalglasscentre #glassuk #artemergency #sunderlanduk #acenorth #levellingup #looknorth

2024 marks 1350 years of glass making on the banks of the river Wear.

By Jo Howell Sunderland based photographic artist and save the National glass centre activist

Save the National Glass Centre needs you to share the petition!

2024 marks 1350 years of glass making on the banks of the river Wear. A humongous triumph to be celebrated.

Yet there is silence.

The cathedral for glass is no longer permitted to shine with pride. This is a great tragedy that we have the power to stop.

Glass heritage on the river Wear, St Peter’s

We need radical change. Right now. To stop the cultural vandalism that is going to be inflicted on Sunderland. The City builds towards net zero and digital infrastructure whilst denying the people their authentic cultural identity.

Now is not the time to divest in our unique skills and throw away more than a millennium of prestige. As we move away from plastic towards sustainability we need to be investigating the potential of glass in future technologies.

The City is enjoying success for the local film industry after the chancellors budget announcement allows for the Crown Studios to go ahead. It seems crass to allow the decline and disappearance of a unique building with such specialist artisans inside. Let me propose a UK blown away! Let me suggest that we may need glass for props in period dramas and science fiction productions.

We are a City of scientists, artists, engineers and innovators. Let’s innovate and not capitulate ❤️

Our campaign is still here and we think it’s time to supercharge it to maximum effect. Whilst we are extremely proud and grateful for every single one of you. That’s 33,000 inclusive of our local paper based petition. We want 100,000 of you on board so we can take this to government level.

I know you all agree to the vital part that the National Glass Centre has played in all of your lives is worth saving. Whether you live in one of the 78 signing countries, or right on the doorstep this legacy means something to all of you.

Please get sharing across social media ❤️ the longer we wait the harder the fight will be. Let’s get a wriggle on!

All our heartfelt thanks from everyone at

Save the National Glass Centre campaign

If you can help further please email us. We are calling all hands on deck ❤️

https://www.change.org/p/save-glass-blowing-in-the-historic-st-peter-s-ward-save-the-national-glass-centre?

We need you – Save the National Glass Centre

2024 has arrived and we need committed people to help!

By Jo Howell

As a campaign that is run entirely by volunteers from the community, and in fact from further afield, we have achieved a lot in a year.

The public meeting way back in June 2023, was well attended, and we have had a regular core group of 5 who have attended meetings on zoom and in person, and a regular in-person group of between 8 and 12.

Everyone has come to the campaign with various different backgrounds, talents, and strengths.

We are looking for some extra people to commit to our monthly zoom meetings.

We need some help digitally to ease the workload for those who have already given so much.

Do you want to help Save the National Glass Centre? Can you commit to regular attendance, and a voluntary workload?

We need the following skills:

Social media marketing – regular updates across all platforms twice weekly
Proficiency with google drive, google docs, spreadsheets, digital literacy.
Minutes and record keeping – weekly online and in-person once a month. Including meeting agendas, invites, and meeting reports.
Organisation – updating the team, events, excellent filing skills, coordination of different tasks across the team.
Data management – properly filed, and stored with data protection regulations met.
Research – archive, public data, personal stories, heritage, social equity, local economy, wider cultural landscape.
Letter writing – MPs, newspapers, governors, funders, heritage bodies, etc
Emailing newsletters – monthly newsletters with up to date info, fresh photographs, exciting and inviting, easy to read.
Blog and website management
YouTube and moving image content creators

Also in the coming months we are going to need:

Fundraisers, accountants, finance officers, policy writers and similar.

Please email Jo Howell with details of which area you can commit to help with.

You will need to have availability to attend for 1 hour Zoom meetings currently every Friday evening at 6pm, and in-person meetings are the 3rd Thursday of every month, 6pm at the Queen Vic Hotel in Roker, Sunderland.

We do have some excellent writers, photographers, industry professionals, and glass artists on board.

The second year of our campaign is going to have to raise the bar, and we need you to help.

Email: savethengc@gmail.com Include which area you are interested in helping us with, and a short paragraph about your experience.

Read through our website and blog, and share this with anyone you think could be a good fit for the campaign.

Thank you!

All the best

Jo Howell

And everyone working in the Save the National Glass Centre Campaign

What’s the crack?

Save the National Glass Centre campaigner Keith Brown explains

On the 8th of December 2022 the University of Sunderland announced its shocking decision to close the National Glass Centre (the NGC) on the banks of the river Wear in Sunderland.

The campaign to reverse that decision and to keep the NGC open in some form is gathering momentum. Campaigners have highlighted the NGC’s iconic architectural status; the devastating cultural and artistic impact of the NGC’s work, not only upon Sunderland but also upon the north-east and the entire UK. People need to be made aware that the cost of repairs widely broadcast by the University are grossly inflated.

Well-over 31,000 people have signed a petition against its closure and demolition. Campaigners are now calling for more people to help save the award-winning NGC, cited as a “World-class cultural asset” in Sunderland council’s 2021 UK City of Culture bid. The campaign already involves many local people, and also receives support from key national bodies.

Renowned international architect Piers Gough in the 20th Century Journal has said that

“Sunderland cannot afford to lose such an icon. It would seem ideal for a forward-looking University to use or repurpose, but should it be superfluous another more appreciative owner should be found.” He also stated that “the NGC references Sunderland’s shipbuilding heritage as well as glass making past, making this unique building special to its particular location. It is the best and most apposite 21st Century Building of the region“.
Architect Piers Gough in the 20th Century Journal

The 20th Century Society (C20) , the professional organisation which saves endangered buildings, has sought independent advice from experts in building lifespan and sustainability. They have cast doubts on the figures quoted for repair and renovation.

“condemning this landmark building that’s barely 25 years old and in the process losing one of the few purpose built glass blowing facilities in the country, is unconscionable“.
C20’s article 21.6.23

In 2000, the Design Council awarded this unique building Millenium Product Status in recognition of its creativity and environmental approach. The building also received commendations from the Craft Council, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the DTI.

The National Glass Centre is owned and maintained by the University. Sir David Bell, the vice chancellor and chief executive stated in May 2023 they could close it as early as 2025, he also stated, without any prior consultation, that the National Glass Centre will be demolished.

The building sits adjacent to the University campus where the University is planning to undertake significant capital works over the next five years. This suggests it intended all along to expand onto the NGC site.

National Glass Centre photography by Gill Helps

The University’s Intention to demolish and redevelop, releasing embodied carbon in the process, is the wrong decision given the concern over accelerating climate change. Retro fitting is by far the best solution. This academic institution should focus on STEM subjects and treat The National Glass Centre as a case study for sustainability and growth rather than managed decline and potential destruction.

The repair costs of £45m broadcast by the University are now widely believed. How the costs can be so high for what essentially should be the refurbishment of the existing building needs further clarification by the University because such an inflated figure is guaranteed to deter any potential funders.

The published costs are not for repair alone, but for an array of other enhancements including replacing the entire roof (solid & glazed) all the glass curtain walling, installing photovoltaic panels, and replacing all the mechanical and electrical systems. Even with these enhancements the reported figure appears seriously inflated, particularly when the construction cost for Culture House, a brand new building in the centre of the city, is reported as being £25m.

Retired planning inspector David Vickery wrote in a recent campaign article: “Sunderland City Hall was completed in November 2021 costing £42m (which is £3 million less) and for that £42 million Sunderland got two large glass and steel office blocks, one of five storeys high and the other of six storeys (190,000 square feet), both buildings connected by a glass atrium. How can it cost £45 million just to repair a roof?”

Early in 2023, the campaign gave the University a Freedom of Information request to enquire how the University had come to their decision to close the National Glass Centre.

In March 2023 the University published documents online, showing the consultation that they had based their decision on.

https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/help/corporate-legal/legal-finance/national-glass-centre/

The campaign followed up by meeting in person with executives from the University on 22.06.23. (The day of the public meeting at Saint Peter’s church.) During this meeting the campaign requested access to all of the NGC’s maintenance records.

Save the National Glass Centre public meeting photography by Phil Vickery

In August, the University stated via email that the FOI was not received, the campaign issued a new FOI request on the 14th of August ’23 (FOI 2323/0814).

The University said they were gifted the NGC when it was 12 years old, however the land registry document appears to show they were given it for no recorded price when it was only 8 years old, (GOV.UK Title register for: National Glass Centre, title number: TY454590).

There is no doubt that the University has struggled to maintain the NGC, a fact that was recently noted in its Future Strategy Statement.

Also the University’s Head of Estates stated in 2013 ” the centre has suffered as a business and its maintenance regime hasn’t been as robust as it could have been.” Since then, the exterior has further deteriorated under their stewardship.

” The centre has suffered as a business and its maintenance regime hasn’t been as robust as it could have been.”
Future Strategy Statement. The University’s Head of Estates stated in 2013

Sadly, the deterioration and destruction continues and in January 2023, due to some corrosion and safety concerns the University removed and rapidly disposed of the massive heat sink (brise soleil) which was a superb and crucial design feature on the front of this monumental building.

In addition, in 2013 the NGC received £2.5m for an internal refit. This grant aided alteration allowed the University to move their glass and ceramics course into the NGC, also Sunderland Council moved the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art into the building. Two property moves that achieved substantial ongoing financial gains for the University and in particular Sunderland Council.

Opened on the 23rd of October 1998 by Prince Charles, now our King, this iconic building encompasses a vast array of crucial delights: substantial visitor experiences and facilities; brilliant collections and exhibition spaces; the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art; workspaces for the academic courses, the tenanted artists’ studios; and the specialist facilities for the creation of ceramic and glass artwork – all housed within the building. Plus, there are numerous creative and constructive magical children’s workshops, some where children see their designs being cast in molten glass.

Also this extensive and marvelous property used to occasionally be used for weddings, and could actually accommodate many special events if properly managed and promoted.

National Glass Centre photography by Jo Howell

We cannot afford to let this delightful institution go, not just for the enjoyment of locals and many visitors, or even for its national and international status promoting glass and the Arts… but for the cultural heritage of our future generations.

Amid this tangled tale let us not forget that Sunderland is the birthplace of stained glass in the UK; The National Glass Centre can have a viable future and should be allowed to continue the tradition of glass making that was first started here in 674AD.

Please come and visit this unique wonderful place and see why it must be saved.

We strongly urge the University of Sunderland to reconsider their plans, and for local and national politicians to become actively involved. And you can help by supporting the campaign:

#SaveTheNationalGlassCentre

Please help, sign and spread the Petition

https://chng.it/WH4sfjzXk4

Late night chat about Save the National Glass Centre on BBC Radio Newcastle

Steffen Peddie Late Show snippet 14/09/23

You can listen to the full show via this link:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0g8km40

National Glass Centre: A new hope

Out of the ashes of industry

By Jo Howell 06/09/23

Context is key

William Pile’s Shipyard, North Sands, Sunderland
c.1830, oil on canvas
Photo courtesy of Tyne and Wear Museum Archives

In 1988 the last shipyard closed on the River Wear. We had been ship builders since as far back as 1346, when Thomas Menvil created a shipyard at Hendon docks. Some would argue that we were boat building for far longer than that. Proved adequately by a well-preserved Neolithic canoe being pulled out of the anaerobic sediments of the river Wear, near Hylton. This canoe was hewn out of a single log and is now housed at Sunderland museum.

The river and the proximity to the sea is the common thread that runs through all of us Mackems way back into pre-history.

Blind children touching the canoe in 1888 courtesy of Tyne and Wear Museums Archive

Ship building on the Wear was inextricably linked to the boom of coal mining. Back in the 1700’s, large shipments of coal were needed regularly and speedily by the South. The Wear and the Tyne were geared up to take the coal from the North to the need. This was via the olden days super highway – the sea.

And the production of glass was tied in with these two industries in turn. Coal was needed everywhere and they needed ships to ship it. Empty ships came back ballasted with good quality sand. A by-product of sending the coal south.

We used sand mixed with soda and lime to create batch glass. Then we heated it together using the coal.

A holistic system. Not separate from normal life, but integral to it.

These industries were historically our region’s trifecta of success and power. We created a whole host of new rich people to give the aristocracy a great run for their money.

All of these industrial professions required practiced skills and knowledge. With the skills and the knowledge we can understand ourselves better and be proud of everything we achieved.

Sunderland museum miner’s strike collection from Tyne and Wear archives. Photographed and composed by Jo Howell

Furthermore, in 1984 and 1985 there was the miners strike. Massive protests against Maggie Thatchers pit closures. People were left to starve and many on picket lines were attacked by mounted police. The miners received support from across the world including a huge charity concert by Bruce Springsteen held in Newcastle!

Poverty and destitution was inevitable as all of our major industries were wound down until they were gone. This took place from 1984 to 1993 when Monkwearmouth pit finally closed and mining was completely ended in the area.

These social upheavals had wide ranging and long term knock-on effects. Next came the high youth unemployment. With high unemployment comes the other social problems of drug use, homelessness, addictions and a low quality of life.

Jobless and poor with no prospects. These times of Dickensian poverty as we marched into the new millennium have left scars upon the people that will take generations to heal.

Sunderland museum miner’s strike collection from Tyne and Wear archives.

Check out Tish Murtha’s photography to see what I mean.

The dirt is visceral. But they’re all just kids trying to enjoy life by playing in abandoned buildings and back lanes. They had nothing, and their parents had nothing because over the course of the worst decades the North East had ever seen – every industry that gave us pride, community, and wealth, were all closed with no alternatives offered in place.

Pyrex 100 film by Lonely Tower films produced as part of the Pyrex 100 celebration at Sunderland Museum.

In the 90’s another looming loss to the community was playing out in slow motion. There were intense pressures on the City’s glass manufacturers from mass produced glass coming in from China. Flooding the English market with cheap glass. Pyrex was struggling to compete with rising energy prices on top of the product competition. Slowly but surely the demise of industrial glass was on its way.

In 2007, Pyrex finally completely closed its Sunderland plant and moved all operations to France.

Final publication of the in-house magazine of Pyrex, Sunderland curtesy of Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens

All hope was seemingly lost but in 1992 to 1993 tentative hopeful whispers began in the meeting rooms of Sunderland. We had just been awarded City status.

No longer the depressed town of Sunderland. It helped us to secure more help and funding from government. We were one of the first of the 90’s new city’s without a cathedral.

Sunderland University has always placed itself at the centre of our cultural innovation as both a town and a city. In 1992 with the new City status our local polytechnic became a university.

Sunderland University puts its history here as far back as 1901. The University’s modern roots lie in the Sunderland Technical College, which opened at the Galen Building in Green Terrace in 1901.
https://www.sunderland.ac.uk/about/#:~:text=The%20University%20of%20Sunderland%20is,innovative%2C%20accessible%20and%20inspirational%20university.

Pyrex 100 celebrations at Sunderland museum 2022 photography by Jo Howell

The old shipyards had been demolished.

Our very polluted river began to slowly heal from the centuries of industrial use. There was a lot of work to be done.

Work to the landscape and to the people. After all of that poverty, loss and struggle those up on high decided to throw the City a bone.

The new University, Sunderland city council, the arts council, the V and A, local glass businesses, and the Tyne and Wear development corporation began to imagine a new era.

A striking new monument to glass blowing and shipbuilding. The National Glass Centre. Opened by (then) prince Charles in 1998. With aspirational ambitions to safeguard the skills. Too show the people what we can do and to secure a legacy fit to fill the boots of all that was before.

Sunderland was not entering the new millennium with nothing but starving kids.

We were going to take a piece of polluted brownfield land and we were going to turn it into a shiny new beacon of hope.

Celebrating our long history with glass in St. Peter’s ward in Roker and honouring the titans of industry. Protecting the skills and giving new life to destroyed land. We were awarded a ship shaped building with wizards housed inside who crafted molten glass.

The National glass centre. Pure magic.

Hailed as an architectural gem by RIBA master architect Piers Gough. It was glorious. And it went a long way in changing the hearts and minds of disenfranchised mackems across the city.

No longer would we toil in mines, and shipyards. No longer would the youth be feckless and unemployed. Here was the age of the artists and artisans.

Photography by Mike Blenkinsop courtesy of TWAM archives

Before the rhetoric of ‘levelling up’ and the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ there was a genuine investment into arts and culture.

Back in 1999 a certain young 14 year old attended to watch the wizards shape molten glass into objects. I went from only hearing about mining and ship building to having my eyes opened to the immense possibilities of the arts.

National heritage secretary Virginia Bottomley yesterday visited the north east and announced that the national lottery has already made 115 awards, totalling £29.7m, to the region – and that was just the beginning.

The national lottery was an engine for regeneration and job creation, she added.

Speaking at the launch of the Media Programme of Visual Arts UK in Newcastle, Mrs Bottomley said that the national lottery was this year’s great British success story:

‘The arts, sport and heritage now have access to more money than ever before. The national lottery is an entirely new element in the funding picture which, after only one year, is already transforming our national heritage. And it is also a boost for jobs making a real contribution to local economies through job creation and regeneration.

‘Here in the north east a wide range of projects, large and small, have benefitted. High profile awards include the £6m to the National Glass Centre and the £5.7m to Newcastle’s Smiths Park. Awards have an enormous and beneficial effect on their local economies. They bring jobs to the areas and improve the quality of life of local people in the longer term. There have been dozens of small-scale projects which have also received awards.’
https://www.lgcplus.com/archive/bottomley-lottery-engine-for-regeneration-and-job-creation-07-12-1995/

In the maelstrom of millennium projects and joyous investments in to education a new generation of Mackem’s emerged. Mackems who were innovative, culturally rich and hungry for more.

As I trawl through the TWAM archive photographs I took in June I will add more to this written series. If you think I am missing out any important points, let me know!

Until next time, get yourself down to the National Glass Centre. Have a brew. Take in some amazing art. Enjoy watching wizards in the hot glass demonstrations. Take a class.

Whatever you do, cherish it now ❤️

#savethenationalglasscentre #savethengc #NationalGlassCentre #Sunderland

A centre of learning since the times of Bede

Save the National Glass Centre campaign opinion article 14/08/23

By Melanie Shee, FRSA, a lover of glass and glass blowing, (who had a cat called Hartley)

Colin Rennie teaching in the National Glass Centre by Emily Kitching

Along the banks of the River Wear, the teaching of skills has been taking place for centuries. From the shipwrights passing on their skills to apprentices in the shipyards, to the glaziers producing the first stained glass in the UK for Bishopwearmouth Monastery.

Through the ages to the present day, Sunderland has always been a centre of learning. A place where University professors teach an array of subjects to eager students; and of course, the skilled expert glass makers and glass blowers located at The National Glass Centre who are passing on these highly specialist skills locally, nationally and internationally.

In fact in 2008, whilst working at an art college in the region, a Tees Valley glass company contacted me regarding the need to up-skill some of their workforce and in turn increase productivity.

Glass blowing at the National Glass Centre by Emily Kitching

I turned to the skilled expert staff at the National Glass Centre to undertake bespoke training for staff working at the art college. And, they then went to to train the workforce at the glass company. This project was heralded as an example of best practice between colleges and employers by the CBI in their publication Reaching further – Workforce development through employer-FE college partnership, January 2009.

In the UK, stained glass window making is now on the most recent list of craft skills at risk by Heritage Crafts, and it is included on the Red List of Endangered Crafts.

https://heritagecrafts.org.uk/redlist2023/.

Shining a light on craft skills on the verge of extinction in the UK.

Glass making is a highly specialised skill. This is why it’s so important to inspire people, and to throw a light on the depletion of these skills.

Student learning to blow Glass at the National Glass Centre by Emily Kitching

In 2018, Jade Tapeson was selected to showcase these her glass work in a national careers programme focusing on the creative industries.

Jade was awarded Second Prize in the CGS New Graduate Review 2016, and featured in the British Glass Biennale 2017 where she was awarded the Glass Sellers’ Student Prize. As a freelance glass artist based at the National Glass Centre, both Jade and the National Glass Centre were featured on the Department for Education England Creative Careers Programme https://discovercreative.careers/video-programme/crafts-fashion-textiles/national-glass-centre/.

In addition, the the National Glass Centre hosted a group of art and design students from the local college. This was to highlight glass making during a week-long National Creative Careers Programme.

So, wouldn’t you therefore think that the University of Sunderland, itself a teaching institution, whose very business is the business of learning and passing on skills would want to preserve the centre?

They are the owners of the National Glass Centre, the only one in UK with specialist kit and highly expert skilled staff. Wouldn’t you think that Sunderland University would be eager to support the development, and safeguard glass making in UK?

Surely, it is better to ensure that it’s removed from the red list of endangered craft? And, thus contributing to securing our heritage?

Student learning pottery at the National Glass Centre by Emily Kitching

Wouldn’t you also think that the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group of Art, Craft and Craft Education, https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/APPG/art-craft-and-design-in-education local MP Sharon Hodgson along with her fellow Sunderland MP Julie Elliott, co chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Northern Culture. https://northernculture.org.uk/ncappg-inquiry/ would be doing all they can to ensure the National Glass Centre remains open?

Open to the continuation of teaching those at risk, highly specialist skills? In a rather wonderful iconic 29th century building rather than just accepting it’s demise, to become history alongside the shipyards on which the National Glass Centre currently stands.

Melanie Shee, FRSA, a lover of glass and glass blowing (who had a cat called Hartley)

What do you think?

We accept submissions of writing, photography, art and video about the National Glass Centre.

Savethengc@gmail.com

A full house for save the National Glass Centre’s campaign public meeting

By Jo Howell 25th June 2023

Glide around St Peters church, the birthplace of stained glass once the Romans left. Video by Phil Vickery

On a balmy summer night on 22nd June 2023, Sunderland citizens came from all across the city to St Peter’s church. This was the first public meeting of the save the National glass centre campaign. We had 30 people book through our eventbrite, but closer to 100 actually attended.

During the week I had visited Sunderland central MP Julie Elliott. I had invited JE to the meeting, but unfortunately she was busy. After an hour of conversation it was clear JE could support the fight to save the essence of glass making, but was adamant that the building of the National Glass Centre had not been beneficial for Sunderland, and that we should support the University line. I requested a statement for the blog. This is still pending.

On the day of our meeting the 20th Century Society, for the protection of at risk 20th century buildings, wrote a fantastic article in support of our grassroots campaign. More support and much needed publicity. You can read their article here:

20th Century Society back save the National Glass Centre Campaign

C20 society article screenshot by Jo Howell

I also met with senior management from the University to further question statements made in the report. The estates manager confirmed that recent work to remove the metal from the riverside of the glass centre had resolved structural integrity problems.

Furthermore, the services like the heat exchange, furnaces, and utilities systems are all nearing end of life. I have requested further information about the ‘end of life’ equipment. As I believe this will be a key factor in exactly what is saved.

We had a lot of passion in that church during our public meeting. Emotions were running high. The awesome setting struck a cord with all of us. How tragic it would be to end 1350 years of glass making tradition in the North East? There were tears, there was laughter, there was unity, there was outrage, and there were outpourings of love from every speaker.

Jo Howell:
Photo by Phil Vickery, glass blower

I opened the evening with a brief introduction to who I am, what we’ve managed to achieve in the campaign so far, and a statement provided by Sunderland University.

See below:

“The University has always been clear that the search for a new home, or homes, is an opportunity for the National Glass Centre’s work to reach new audiences in a financially secure and sustainable manner, rather than just seeking to recreate the status quo. Such future-facing work had already begun with staff even before the building issues made clear that a move was necessary.

“We remain in active and positive discussions with key partners, including Sunderland City Council, about future site options.

“On the future of the current NGC building and site, no decisions have yet been made.

“National Glass Centre and the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art will remain open in the current building for the next 2-3 years, continuing to welcome visitors to a year-round programme of exhibitions and opportunities to take part in creative experiences.”
Katherine McLeod, Sunderland University, 22/06/23

My quick introduction was followed up by Joanna Willets from Unison’s Sunderland University branch, who is in full support of the campaign on behalf of the staff; and she outlined why the unions are United with us.

Unison have put £500 into the campaign to support advertising, printouts, and other campaign costs. Joanna invited people to unionise, and explained how morale across staff in the national glass centre was fairly low due to the immense uncertainty around the future.

Chris Howson took the microphone for a moment to express how much his own family appreciated the National Glass Centre. And, he told the crowd of a successful campaign in Bradford, where a building had been marked for destruction but a community show of love turned the tide.

We will be including some of these ideas in our future events. Unity and love will be our primary weapons.

It is accepted and understood that Sunderland University cannot be expected to financially carry a building that is no longer part of their academic vision. What was very clear from the meeting was that there was a strong desire for amicable solutions that ultimately would benefit the City and the University by transferring custodianship. It is clear that the building and its contents are viewed by Sunderland University as a financial millstone.

This dim view of the National Glass Centre is not shared by the people attending the public meeting. The main takeaway being that the National Glass Centre is fundamentally, globally and locally, an important cultural leader.

The National Glass Centre was created as a beacon of hope for the people of the river Wear when shipbuilding was finally killed off. And, it was very successful in providing people from all levels of the city’s population a route out of poverty and depression.

Save the National Glass Centre collage by Jo Howell

A lot of members of the audience wanted to share their own impassioned experiences of why the National Glass Centre was so important to them. There were previous employees, current staff, friends of the glass centre, students, family of students, cultural workers, politicians, councillors, glass blowers, artists, construction professionals, legal professionals, heritage professionals, campaign professionals, and even an ex mayor!

And, so many more fantastically useful people, all willing to help in any way they can!

What did people say at save the National Glass Centre public meeting?

The below list is as much as I can recall from the meeting. The meeting overran by nearly an hour, and there were many people who wanted to speak. Each and every viewpoint was clearly heartfelt, and many came with their own suggestions of how we could save the building and the skill set housed inside.

The building is unique, and impressive.
Glass blowing is an endangered craft.
- Sunderland has a prestigious and long heritage of glass making. How can we ignore 1350 years of continuous skill in this City?
They do not want to lose an important part of their cultural identity.
They are extremely proud of the National glass centre.
The building has hosted internationally famous artists during programs like the Glass Exchange. It has a global draw, of which no other venue can boast.
It is wasteful to destroy such a young building.
There are still a lot of questions surrounding the maintenance of the building. Many noting that regular painting would have avoided catastrophic rust.
A commitment has been made by several attendees to further work on the save the National Glass Centre campaign.
Could Sunderland Culture, as an Arts Council NPO seek to take over custodianship?
Funds could be raised via crowdfunding, diversifying income streams, adopt a furnace, and/or levelling up fund (apparently Sunderland has only accessed 12% of it’s levelling up allocations).
There are concerns that the intent is to demolish one of our best assets.
If the building is donated back to the people via a suitable local organisation, all it embodies can be saved for future generations.
If properly invested in, the National Glass Centre could create an ambitious cross industry program to research the most efficient and sustainable way of making glass.
Demolition would have a high carbon cost. Can this be justified?
Other glass blowing courses and studios have closed. The National Glass Centre could have far more students, and potential hirers of equipment because of this.
It is worrisome that the dilution, and vast reduction of the current provision isn’t being questioned by more MPs and councillors.
There will be a huge loss of opportunity.
The city will lose highly skilled workers.
The loss of the National Glass Centre will effect our ability to level up.
Students are worried about being able to complete their studies.
Morale is currently low in the centre.
Questions surround Sunderland University’s proposed financial numbers in the online report. We are seeking more information.
How will our young access their cultural heritage with glass?
Worried about losing studio spaces, equipment, staff, specialists, and skills.

Inside St Peter’s church in Roker, by Phil Vickery

What happens next?

Time to organise our campaign and divvy out jobs!

Those who emailed, I will contact and organise a follow up so that we can form a crack team! With this team of knowledgeable people we will have the most effective campaign possible.

There’s still time to email if you want to form part of the steering group. Email:

Savethengc@gmail.com

Initially we will start with a monthly meeting on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Venue TBC.

Thank you for your support. Spread the word. Email, write to, or phone your MP. Write to the culture minister. Write to Sunderland University. Tell everyone to visit the National Glass Centre to show their support. The staff need to know we value them. Without the skilled people the National Glass Centre is just a groovy ship shaped box. But with them, the National Glass Centre is something important to be cherished.

#SaveTheNationalGlassCentre

#SaveTheNGC

Front page of the Sunderland Echo #SaveTheNGC

By Jo Howell

Save the NGC coordinator

Front page Sunderland Echo report by Katy Wheeler

My mind has been blown! The overwhelming support that we have received in the last few days has been amazing. When we met with the the photographer, and Katy, we found out that the petition was nearly at 20,000 signatures. Today we are at over 25,000.

I think it safe to say that there is a lot of support for the national glass centre to continue on in it’s current format. The loss of glass blowing would be untenable by all the signatories. We have been inundated with testimonies about how important the centre has been to people. Reasons ranging from fantastic career opportunities the NGC and NGCA have offered artists, to the importance of its role in mental health and wellbeing. The National Glass Centre is a source of great pride.

</div>

If you want to read the full article and watch the short video, please click the link below:

Sunderland Echo Katy Wheeler Article

In other news, we have set a public meeting for June 2023 at St Peter’s Church. I need to approach some key speakers, and to organise the format. So, more details will soon follow.

Keep sharing the petition, and if you haven’t written to our MP yet, neither have I! So we had better get on with writing emails, letters, and organising the public meeting.

Thank you all for your continued support ❤️

Click to sign our petition

I will also hand print cyanotype versions of the below design in a made to order format.

All proceeds will go towards campaign costs like signage and mail outs. The campaign is run by volunteers made up of concerned locals, and people whose businesses are likely to be affected. We encourage you to sign up for our mailing list, and to follow our blog for updates.

Save the National Glass Centre original made to order prints

Buy a print £20 https://etsy.me/3LkL8tV

Printmaking #SaveTheNGC