This week’s Mid-week Mention goes to a certain ‘shiny’ somewhere in Sunderland.
(No, it’s not the Stadium of Light.)
It’s the National Glass Centre.
Not only do we love their building, with its ‘industrial’ feel and nods to the shipbuilding heritage of the area, but they also have a diverse range of exhibitions in their galleries. On top of this, local artists display and sell their work (ideal for the upcoming gift-buying season!) and The Glass Yard is a delightful place to have a bite to eat or sip a cup of tea whilst watching the world go past the window. (You know us – we do love a good cup of tea!)
Perhaps most importantly, however, we love their free demonstrations, as illustrated in this picture from the weekend. In a world that so often seems to produce cheap, ‘disposable’ objects, it is quite frankly astounding to see the care, skill and craftsmanship that goes into a traditional fireworked piece of glassware.
Moreover, they have a range of classes and workshops in which you can try your hand at producing something using traditional or contemporary glass and ceramic techniques. We are seriously considering one for an Ethical Partnership Social!
So… friendly staff, a great building, local artisan crafting and a brilliant food venue… what’s not to love? Just one more reason why we love the Northeast.