The Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens redevelopment project is an opportunity to reshape one of the city’s most popular cultural and heritage assets. Sunderland City Council was awarded a development grant of £299,425 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2022 to develop its plans for the project.
Mather & Co won the public tender through Sunderland City Council and have been brought on board to develop a collection and audience focused interpretation strategy, and design submission for a delivery phase application to the Heritage Fund. If successful, this submission will lead to the delivery and realisation of a first-class project that meets Sunderland City Councils core objectives.
Sunderland has a rich history of industries, all of which are explored throughout the museums four floors. Exhibition spaces are dedicated to shipbuilding, coal mining, glass making, and pottery as well as many other aspects of the city’s past. It is clear the museum holds a special place for visitors, with a rich and diverse heritage which celebrates the city and its people.
Mather & Co aim to co-produce the vision for Sunderland Museum and Winter Garden, deliver a successful application to the Heritage Fund and create a lasting legacy for the city and its people, who can take pride in their identity and heritage through a new and engaging museum. With an excess of 100,000 objects, Sunderland’s collections are one of the strengths of the museum. The redevelopment project aims to maintain current audiences, whilst also attracting a more diverse audience through the creation of a more representative museum.
Paul Lee, Design Director at Mather & Co said: “We are delighted to be part of the project team for Sunderland Museum. We are looking forward to working with visitors and local communities to create a space that builds on the popularity of the current museum; bringing out collections that reveal new and untold stories, re-telling favourites with new perspectives, and showcasing the important part Sunderland still plays today.”
