National Glass Centre

If you are feeling the pinch this spring and looking for free activities for you and your family, the National Glass Centre runs free creative activities and exhibitions for everyone. National Glass Centre (NGC) has no charge to visit and there are many things you can do for free once you get there. The building itself is worth exploring with its innovative, contemporary design and glass rendered roof!

Here’s what you can do, completely free of charge, this spring!

Film Making Workshop: Sunday 14 March, FREE
 

Join Film maker, Mat Fleming, for his crazy handmade film session; a chance to make your own film by drawing and painting on celluloid, before a mini screening! The session starts at 11am. You can get some inspiration for your ‘production’ and see one of Mat’s films featured in a new NGC exhibition, ‘Work Force’. This is a great chance to bring out the budding film makers in your family!

Family Printmaking Fun: Saturday 20 March and Saturday 24 April, FREE
 

NGC is showing the work of four printmakers in an exhibition, ‘Aligned’, opening this Saturday (13th March). Join all of the exhibiting artists; Jo Bourne, Deborah Snell, Michelle Wood and Jacqueline Quinn, for hands-on printmaking workshops over the next couple of months.
On Saturday 20 March, Jo and Deborah will be exploring different printmaking techniques including Dry Point Printmaking on Perspex. There are two sessions at 1pm and 3pm. (Ages 10+). On Saturday 24 April, Michelle and Jacqueline will be exploring Mono Print and Chine-collé. Sessions are at 1pm and 2.30pm. (Ages 7 +).

Throughout the day, every day of the week, you can watch and learn about the traditional craft of glass blowing, with a special commentary about this unique skill from NGC’s glass makers, at 12 noon and 3pm everyday. The Kaleidoscope Gallery is also free. It’s an interactive permanent exhibition where you can discover the science and history of glass and how it relates to our daily lives.

During March to May you can explore two new exhibitions at NGC.

‘Work Force’ 5 March – 2 May presents fascinating short films of labour in the industry of glass making from the 1970s to the present day. Featuring Glassworks (1977), documenting an industrial glass factory in Lemington on Tyneside, John Smith’s Slow Glass (1988-91) and a new film commissioned by National Glass Centre and AV Festival 10, by Mat Fleming. Fleming’s film reveals, through the imperfect manufacture of a symbol of work force – the hammer and sickle, the tensions between master craftsman and novice. It includes objects created in glass by Mat, himself, who has no prior glass making experience.

‘Aligned’ 13 March – 9 May brings together four printmakers, based at Northern Print. Each uses different approaches and printmaking techniques in their work, but they are linked by their inspiration by the natural world. Jo Bourne uses woodcuts and is inspired by wildlife that emerges from the urban environment where she lives. Deborah Snell uses etching, aquatint and mezzotint, building up tonal patterns that create atmospheric qualities. Jacqueline Quinn makes monoprints and paintings based on sacred symbols found in the landscape, and Michelle Wood uses etching, monoprints and digital techniques to rework ink drawings into abstract forms that suggest microscopic organisms.

Last but not least, don’t forget to walk on the glass roof and take in the scene across the River Wear to the City of Sunderland. The roof is constructed with vast panels of glass, each 6cm thick, which you can walk on; an experience not for the faint-hearted!

Booking is advisable for every workshop. Call NGC’s Reception team on 0191 515 5555 or email info@nationalglasscentre.com to book. Details are available at www.nationalglasscentre.com

All exhibitions at National Glass Centre are completely free of charge! Open daily: 10am – 5pm.

Press enquiries
For further information or images please contact:
Alex Evans, E: alex.evans@nationalglasscentre.com,
T: 0191 515 5555