National Glass Centre

Building work is under way on the lower ground floor level of our building. The hot glass studio has closed and daily live glassblowing with commentary resumes in September.

The rest of the National Glass Centre is open for business as usual, however there is some disruption with noise from certain building work that is taking place. We apologise for any inconvenience or disruption caused by the refurbishment. We are working with our contractors to minimise the disruption wherever possible.

The purpose of the capital development is to provide a better experience for our visitors, so we hope that you will bear with us and look forward to the end results as much as us.

This first phase of  changes and improvements to the building begins with our hot glass studio. This phase makes room for the University’s Art & Design Foundation programme.  The teaching and hot-shop studios are being combined to enhance visitor’s experience of the live production of glass and improve our teaching facilities.  Our retail shop will be remodelled and include a new studio/demonstration area for lampworking delivered by our long-standing tenants, Wearside Glass Sculptures.

We are open for business as a venue throughout the building work. A large hoarding will be constructed between the shop and studio in the next few weeks, which is designed to keep disruption to a minimum. This should be removed by mid June. The shop will be closed for a short time at this point, and is expected to re-open at the end of June.

Throwingstones Cafe will be open as usual, glass making courses are still taking place and we have plenty of exhibitions, events and holiday activities to get you in the spirit for our Olympic celebrations this year.

Further details on our events will be on our website soon, and for more information about the changes to our building, visit our Building page, or join our e-newsletter, or look out for the information displays coming soon around the building.