In pictures: Sunderland's glass centre to reopen after refurb
- Published
The National Glass Centre in Sunderland, which was taken over by the University of Sunderland in 2010, is to reopen on Saturday following a six-month refurbishment.
The £17m centre, opened by Prince Charles in 1998, struggled to sustain visitor numbers in its first few years and was plagued with administrative difficulties, including the resignation of multiple consecutive chief executives.
A spokesperson said it estimates it will attract 220,000 through its doors in the first year and 200,000 for following years.
The temporary gallery will host three exhibitions a year, including its first exhibition by Erwin Eisch which looks at the growth of the international studio glass movement.
Stories of Glass in Sunderland, a new permanent exhibition, traces the history of glassmaking in the city from the 7th Century and includes local people's stories.
Director of the National Glass Centre, James Bustard, said: "Our vision is to be a centre of national excellence supporting research, teaching and exhibition of contemporary glass."
The centre has attracted hundreds of thousands of pounds of funding from Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund among others. Apart from the refurb, some of the funding was spent on electric furnaces, acquired from Italy, for its glass studio which are also intended to reduce the centre's carbon footprint.
The centre, known for its ceiling made of six-inch thick glass, is based on the North side of the River Wear next to the University of Sunderland.
- Published27 June 2013
- Published6 June 2012