The National Glass Centre had it’s revolving doors opened for the first time back in October 1998 when Prince Charles, now the King, gave it the Royal thumbs up…
Costing around £17m quid to build and strategically positioned on Sunderland’s north bank of the River Wear, the steel and glass skeleton like structure became the first in the North East to be funded by the Arts Lottery.
Withing 12 years the National Glass Centre’s ownership had changed hands with the University of Sunderland claiming it was an ‘important cultural venue’ and that they would transform it into a ‘venue of national significant importance’. The first is true, the latter is debatable…
Times Change
Fast forward 13 years and the University released plans for the NGC to either be relocated or even [and more likely], given the sledgehammer treatment. The reason given for the shift in attitude is the exorbitant ‘cost required to secure the longer-term future of the current NGC building’ which were initially anticipated to be £14m – £45m. These ‘anticipated’ repair costings were sought after by the owners who subsequently chose to opt for the higher and less achievable price, which seems an easier way to offload the burdon while offering a ‘sweetener’ in the process.
Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at the University of Sunderland said:
“The university is committed, as far as it is practically possible and viable, to maintaining within the city the exhibition and display of glass art, alongside academic work in glass and ceramics”
If the NGC were to be ‘relocated’ to the proposed new Culture House location – also unlikely with most of smaller space already allocated, that would leave a healthy chunk of very sought after land in the hands of the University which, technically, wasn’t theirs originally. In reality the NGC has become a pain in the backside for a University who seem to have their sights firmly set on their Canary Wharf activities and not on local roots.
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