NGC call out for final ‘The Graduates’ exhibition

The National Glass Centre (NGC) in Sunderland is celebrating the achievements of its graduates over the years with a final exhibition of work before it closes at the end of July 2026.

Anyone who has graduated from the University of Sunderland’s BA(Hons), MA or PhD programmes at the NGC from 1998 onwards can apply to show work in the exhibition, which will be entitled ‘The Graduates’.

The NGS will highlight the artists who have studied at the iconic building and developed careers working with glass and ceramics. The exhibition will run from 31 January to 31 July 2026.

Selection of works will be made by a panel including Reino Liefkes (Senior Curator, Ceramics and Glass at the Victoria & Albert Museum), Helen Ritchie (Senior Curator of Modern & Contemporary Applied Arts at the Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge) and Julia Stephenson (Head of Arts at NGC).

Artists should submit one artwork (this could comprise a number of parts). In certain circumstances photographs of artwork will be included in the display, such as public art, site-specific installations and stained glass included within the structure of a building.

Work can have been created at any time between graduation and the present day.

NGC is keen to receive work from outside the UK but is unable to cover international shipping and import and export charges.

Work will not be for sale during the exhibition but a website address can be included on the object label for visitors to contact artists directly and NGC will not take commission for any sales.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 14 September 2025.

Further details and the application form are available here.

Read more about the background to the closure of the iconic building here and the new Glassworks: Sunderland venture here that aims to continue the long tradition of glassmaking in the region.

NGC is located at Liberty Way, Roker, Sunderland SR6 0GL.