Sunderland’s ‘iconic’ glass centre to close after glass starts cracking

Rust, leaks and broken glazing – and high repair costs – have been blamed for plan to shut ‘world-class’ venue

When the National Glass Centre in Sunderland was opened by Prince Charles in October 1998, it was hoped that the £17m glass and steel building would help revitalise the city’s waterfront and serve as an enduring monument to its industrial heritage.

It received £6.9m of national lottery funding and houses installation spaces and resident glass-makers. It was cited as a “world-class cultural asset” in Sunderland’s 2021 UK City of Culture bid, and was the venue of a government cabinet meeting on the first day of Brexit. The centre also houses the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art.