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.