Fears of a glass-making gap after centre shuts
BBCCampaigners fighting to save the National Glass Centre from closure fear a skills gap will develop while a new hub is built.
The centre in Sunderland is due to close to the public in July 2026 and a new site, called Glassworks, is planned to open in Sunniside in 2028 with the aim of preserving the city's glass-making history.
Sunderland Culture, which will be running Glassworks, said there would be an alternative glass-making provision in the interim period, subject to funding being secured.
But campaign group Save the National Glass Centre warned artists might not stick around until the new venue opened.
The £7.5m Glassworks facility has secured £5m from the government's Cultural Development Fund, with efforts under way to raise the remaining £2.5m.
However, campaigners said the Sunniside venue was not designed for glass-making processes, which require the use of heat, and warned the project could run out of money.
"There's certainly going to be a gap between glass-making finishing at the National Glass Centre and starting at Glassworks," said Nigel Taylor from the campaign group.
"We don't think that the budgets have been thought out well enough for Glassworks.
"The danger is that it runs out of money and glass-making closes at the National Glass Centre and never starts anywhere else."
A spokesperson for Sunderland Culture said its fundraising target reflected the costs "for making the building fit for purpose as a glass-making space".
"Further detailed design and development work will take place in the coming months in consultation with a range of stakeholders, including the glass-making community," they added.
'Lose talent'
The University of Sunderland, which has been glass centre's custodian since 2010, announced last year that the venue would close in 2026 due to unaffordable repair costs.
A spokesperson said the university had supported Sunderland Culture with the Glassworks project, which "represents a new opportunity to create an exciting model for the future of glass-making in the city".
The city council said it was continuing to work with "city and national partners on the future of glass-making in Sunderland".
But campaigners said they were "deeply concerned" for staff.
A spokesperson for the campaign group said: "People with mortgages to pay and children in school cannot be expected to sit around and wait for Glassworks to open its doors in three years' time.
"Sunderland will lose all of their talents and expertise as they will have no choice but to move on."
There are currently no details on any interim glass-making provision, but Sunderland Culture said: "We recognise how critical it is to retain specialist glass-making expertise and experience in the city."