Sunderland's National Glass Centre appeals for support as it gets set to reopen following lockdown

The National Glass Centre and Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art will be reopen to the public from 10am on Monday, September 28.

The facility closed on Wednesday, March 18, during the coronavirus lockdown but now it is gearing up to open full time – from Monday to Sunday each week.

Opening hours will be from 10am to 5pm and visitors do not need to book unless they are taking part in activities or reserving a table in the cafe.

Covid-19 safety procedures will be in place and visitors will be asked to provide their name and contact number for the NHS Test and Trace system.

Visitors must also wear a face covering unless they are in the cafe and only card payments will be accepted.

It comes as the centre urges people to show their support for its work by paying a visit and making a donation.

In a message on the National Glass Centre Facebook page, a spokesman said: “We need your support

“Alongside visiting us when we reopen, making a donation will help us continue to bring the very best glass and art from around the world here for the people of Sunderland and the North East to enjoy.”

The National Glass Centre is part of Sunderland Culture, which is a registered charity.

The fundraising appeal follows a £40,000 grant from the Art Fund’s Respond and Reimagine programme, to help the National Glass Centre improve its offering and reopen post-lockdown.

In terms of visitor safety, the grant will help pay for new social distancing and hygiene measures, including deep cleaning, plexi-glass screens, hand sanitiser stations and wayfinding signs.

It will also help improve the visitor ‘welcome’ at both the Centre’s main and riverside entrances and help pay for PPE for Centre staff.

People can donate by texting GLASS to 70085 to donate £3 or donating to its Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/SundCulture

More details on the new safety measures at the centre can be found by visiting: https://sunderlandculture.org.uk/…/nat…/a-warm-welcome-back/