National Glass Centre

The City of Sunderland’s Christmas launch includes a host of festive fun at National Glass Centre. The NGC Art & Craft Market opens on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 November, 10am – 4pm, and features some of the best designers, makers and artists from around the region. 

Stalls include Karina’s Bags; run by Karina Hesketh, who produces fabulous hand crafted leather bags incorporating vintage fastenings, buttons and scarves. English Sea Glass make jewellery from rare beach finds on the North East coast. Putting together crystals, glass and silver to make individual jewellery where no two pieces are the same. Former Pyrex glass makers, Wearside Glass Sculptures use lampworking techniques to produce intricate glass works, making everything from decorative glass flowers to airplanes. Claire A Baker creates exquisite hand embroidered and mix media textiles incorporated within bespoke and high quality garments, accessories and gifts, using natural and traditional fabrics.  Best friends Katie & Kay are Pet Lamb Patisserie, whose aim is to fill the North East with beautiful cupcakes, delicious brownies, scrumptious cookies and the wonderfully named ‘Whoopie pies’, making a whole lot of tummies very happy in the process. And recent University of Sunderland graduate, Megan Randall is a contemporary ceramic artist, who combines hand thrown porcelain with other less traditional materials and found objects, creating functional, modern ceramics. 

The Art & Craft Market is curated by NGC’s Izzy McDonald Booth, Curator of Craft & Design, and curatorial assistant, Sarah Rothwell.
“We are thrilled to run the Art & Craft Market for a second year. It’s a fantastic Christmas shopping weekend with events around the centre, like the switching on of NGC’s Giant Christmas Tree, the launch of the Throwingstones restaurant Christmas menu and our Craft and Design Christmas showcases and displays. We’re encouraging our visitors and customers to buy hand made gifts and products with events like this, which support artists and makers in the region and give customers a chance to find really unique and lovely hand made gifts.” says Izzy.

GET CRAFTY!
This is a shopping trip that the whole family will enjoy. From 1-3pm on both days, there are family drop-in Glass Painting workshops to make your own Christmas decorations. All ages, £4 per person.

For over 14s you can try your hand at glass blowing with a special taster session with NGC’s professional glass makers. Blow a Christmas Bauble sessions offer 30-60 minutes hands on glass blowing basics from the experts and your opportunity to make a beautiful bauble to take home as a special homemade gift or for your Christmas tree.

From 20 November until 13 March the Craft & Design showcase features Oiva Toikka’s famous collectable glass birds by iittala Glass, as well as jewellery created with recycled materials from designers Lucy Harvey, Kate Holdsworth, Helen Noakes and Charlotte Swaddle until 9 January.

DECEMBER DIARY
Meet the Makers: Saturday 4 December Join some of the makers from the NGC Art & Craft Market; Karina Hesketh from Karina’s Bags, Penny Parker from English Sea Glass and Stephen Beardsell from Stephen Beardsell Glass will discuss their work and give you the opportunity to buy their unique handmade gifts while enjoying delicious Christmas fare from our award-winning Throwingstones Restaurant.
Tickets for Talks & Tea: £5.  Talks & Lunch: £20.  Booking is advisable.

NGC’S Santa Sundays: Sunday lunch with a Christmas twist and a visit with Santa under the Giant Christmas tree on 5, 12 and 19 December. 2 courses £15, 3 courses £17.

Also look out for Reginald the Reindeer’s Christmas Trail (all ages)
Everyday from 4 December, 10am - 4.30pm, £2 per person.

Christmas Party Nights at NGC include a glass of festive fizz on arrival, 3 course meal, followed by coffee and mince pies, and a disco, party favours and crackers. £21.50 per person.