Conservative candidate for North East Mayor, Guy Renner-Thompson, has pledged to save Sunderland's National Glass Centre following a meeting with local councillors, members of the Save the National Glass Centre campaign and Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Libraries.
The £17m glass and steel building was opened by Prince Charles in October 1998. It houses installation spaces, resident glass-makers and the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art. 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.
Sunderland University plans to permanently close the Centre over mounting costs to repair the building.
Guy Renner-Thompson said, "Glass making in Sunderland has a proud 1350 year history, ever since Benedict Biscop brought the first glaziers in 674 AD. The National Glass Centre has an iconic location on the banks of Wear and I want it to stay there. The Save the National Glass Centre campaign has identified a way forward for the centre and I will use my powers as Mayor to support them and keep the tradition of glass making on the banks of the Wear going."
