Transformational - Watch as Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens set to undergo £13m redevelopment

The money is part of over £13m of investment to redevelop the museum over the next four years.

The plans will see exciting changes, including the relocation of the main entrance into the award-winning Mowbray Park, new exhibition galleries and displays, brand new touch-down and social spaces, as well as improvements to the Winter Gardens, external landscape and public areas.

There will also be the creation of a new community learning facility ‘The Growing Space’ that will complement the community garden adjacent to the Winter Gardens.

Speaking about her excitement ahead of the investment the museum’s service manager and manager of museum heritage, Trina Murphy said: “I’m really excited about the developments.

“Sunderland is going through a transformational journey and I think the museum is at the heart of that.

“It’s important the museum plays its part in celebrating what Sunderland has to offer. There have been lots of changes in the city over the last 10 years and we are now going to be part of that journey.”

The museum is also going to be using the funding to develop its exhibition space to better tell the story of the city’s history and heritage.

Trina added: “We are going to be developing two new gallery spaces, one called a Window on Wearside and the other called Sunderland’s Story.

“We want to get more of our collection out into our community spaces

“Some of our customer facilities are quite tired at the moment and so we are going to be providing new touch down communal spaces in the Winter Gardens for people to relax and there’s also going to be new toilet facilities and changing places facilities.”

Also at the announcement was the City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism, Councillor Beth Jones who said: “Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens has been a firm favourite with generations of families across our city, as well as attracting visitors from further afield.

“So, we're absolutely thrilled to have been awarded this funding to invest in the redevelopment of the museum - thanks to National Lottery players.

"For years the museum has played a vital role in bringing great culture to Sunderland. We welcomed world-renowned artist Grayson Perry to showcase his tapestries back in 2013 and to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo DaVinci in 2019, we displayed some of his life’s works.

“Both of these drew in large audiences and this new funding will help completely transform the museum’s ground floor and safeguard the building and museum collection for future generations."

Home to the city’s library, the museum and gardens have history of collections dating back to 1846, but last saw any major investment in 2001.

One person involved at that time in creating the new Winter Gardens was Ivor Crowther, who is now Head of Investment, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ivor said: “We’re delighted to be awarding £5m to Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players.

“The museum’s redevelopment and the exciting accompanying programme of activities will allow visitors from far and wide to discover the fascinating collection it is home to and explore the rich heritage of the city.

"We know that heritage can play a huge role in bringing people together and creating a sense of pride in local communities, and in turn boosting the local economy, and the regeneration of this much-loved museum is sure to be a perfect example of that."

Nick Malyan, Chief Executive of Sunderland Culture, the organisation which delivers the creative programme in the museum said: "The museum is so important to the city as well as being a nationally significant civic museum. This support will renew the offer at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens and ensure the venue continues to be at the heart of the city’s life.

“We look forward to working with Sunderland City Council colleagues to welcome new generations of Sunderland residents and visitors to the city, to make new memories and celebrate our wonderful city."

Cllr Jones confirmed that work will start in January 2026 with the museum temporarily closing in October of the same year for around 14 months, with all the works completed by 2029.

A packed activity programme is planned in the museum in the lead up to the closure period and throughout the redevelopment.

During the period in which the museum is closed to visitors, activities, exhibitions and displays will take place in other cultural and community venues across the city.

Cllr Jones added: “I’m really excited about the programme we're planning to roll out to take museum activities out to venues across the city, which will allow museum activity to continue even when the building itself is closed for major improvements.

"Plans include everything from a pop up 'museum on the road' sessions, people's memories of Sunderland being collected through a new oral histories project, to work experience and apprenticeship placements, more opportunities for budding young museum curators and work with young people from schools across the city.”

Sunderland City Council leader Councillor Michael Mordey added: “This new funding is so vital to ensuring that our much-loved museum remains at the very heart of family and community life at the same time as allowing us to improve our collections and make them much more accessible to residents and visitors alike.

"This is such an exciting time for the city, with the development of Culture House and our successful bid for this major funding to support these museum improvements.”