Signage goes up at Sunderland's major new Culture House development ahead of opening

Due to open this Spring, 2026, works are in the final stages at the £27m multi-purpose venue, which is aimed at showcasing local talent and being a new visitor attraction for the city.

And now the signage has been installed as fit out works and landscaping forges ahead.

The exact opening day is yet to be announced, but it will feature what’s been dubbed a “spectacular” opening performance with dramatic aerial artists, cinematic projection mapping and more.

As part of the opening event, Southpaw Company, who have studios at Sheepfolds Stables, will host a show-stopping performance inspired by Sunderland’s heritage and its future.

The company, which has delivered ambitious, cutting-edge performances internationally, is creating the bespoke production HOME for the opening, which will include a cast of up to 100 community participants as well as professional dancers.

The interactive event will include live music, dance, aerial performance and cinematic projection mapping on the exterior of the building.

What Culture House will house

A key feature of the four-storey building will be The Atrium, an open plan space intended to be a “living room” where people can meet and relax.

It will stretch all the way from the ground floor to the roof of the building and will include digital screens that can be used for live performance streaming, digital art or immersive storytelling.

It will be home to the City Library, with a huge range of physical and digital books and magazines for people to enjoy, as well as state-of-the-art local history archives and genealogy resources.

Blacks Corner

A branch of Blacks Corner will open on the ground floor of Culture House, following the success of their ventures in Seaburn, Fenwick and East Boldon.

Like their other branches, it will champion local and home-grown British produce, supporting small producers. Expect cheese, wines, a patisserie and more.

The team will also cater for events taking place in the venue, including the Sky Garden overlooking the city.

Galleries

There will be a number of different galleries including the Immersion gallery a cutting edge 360-degree digital story telling space, a green screen studio, perfect for budding filmmakers, content creators and photographers.

Two podcasting studios will also be available for the public to hire alongside a series of workshops on podcasting techniques, storytelling and editing.

A large, adaptable event space will provide a home for talks, gigs, comedy shows and creative gatherings. There will also be an intimate performance area able to host anything from film screenings to gaming battles.

Three additional galleries will host a range of events and exhibitions throughout the year including the Focus gallery which will provide opportunities for local creatives to exhibit.

Play area and teen space

For the little ones, as well as plenty of children’s books, there will be The Den – an area where they can play creatively and enjoy enchanting stories.

The Teen Library space has been co-created with young people using Minecraft as an engagement tool to incorporate their ideas. The space will reflect the young people's vison and include gaming stations, VR headsets, as well as cozy reading nooks and spaces to do homework.

The Sky Garden

The top floor will include a Sky Garden, described as “a lush rooftop oasis perfect for events, workshops or simply unwinding with stunning views.”

In addition, two learning and engagement areas will host a range of classes and workshops throughout the year.

An inventor’s lab will provide a space to upcycle, repair and reinvent old treasures.