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Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

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Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art

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"Whenever I visit the North-East, it's to Sunderland that I look for excellent contemporary art exhibitions." Gill Hedley

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art has been bringing art from around the world to Sunderland and revealing the depth of talent in the North-East for 50 years. Working closely with artists, it stages exhibitions and events, creates publications and most recently, has begun to create a collection of contemporary art for the future. Since 2017, the gallery has been based inside National Glass Centre, where it has focused on new work made in photography, film & video, and twenty-first century media. National newspapers once described it as “the best small gallery” in the north-east, but its new home facing onto the north sea has five metre high ceilings that can present every type of artwork at its best. The gallery has a reputation for identifying new talent locally and internationally, having awarded artists with their first ever public exhibitions from Sean Scully in 1972 through to Marvin Gaye Chetwynd. It has brought artists who have never shown in the UK to these shores from Cory Arcangel to Harun Farocki.

17/10/2026

Don't miss Audrey Amiss - Kitchen Sink Realism

A major solo show of artist Audrey Amiss presenting previously unseen paintings, drawings and archival material.

📅 Runs until Sunday 17 January
10am - 6pm / Free
ℹ https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/audrey-amiss-kitchen-sink-realism/

Kitchen Sink Realism has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wellcome Collection, London

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, supported through funding from .
Sunderland, UK

📷 Photo credit: Colin Davison Photography

16/10/2026

This weekend at NGCA
Join artist Lyn Killeen and members of Southwick REACH for a workshop inspired by the art, life and archive of artist Audrey Amiss.

Saturday 17 October
11am - 12:30pm | Ages 16+ | £5
🎟 Book now: sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/arts-journalling-for-wellbeing-exploring-the-art-and-life-of-audrey-amiss/

Participants will explore Amiss’ methods through accessible creative activities that encourage curiosity, reflection, and self‑expression.

Find us at Culture House Sunderland

Kitchen Sink Realism has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wellcome Collection, London

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, supported through funding from Arts Council England.
Sunderland, UK.

15/10/2026

We would like to thank everyone who made it along to our screening of Typist, Author, Pirate, King, the acclaimed Carol Morley film about the life and art of Audrey Amiss. We hope you enjoyed the afternoon.

Our current exhibition, Audrey Amiss - Kitchen Sink Realism, features previously unseen paintings, drawings and archival material. The show runs until Sunday 17 January.

ℹ More info: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/audrey-amiss-kitchen-sink-realism/

You can find us at Culture House Sunderland

Kitchen Sink Realism has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wellcome Collection, London.

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, supported through funding from Arts Council England. Sunderland, UK.

13/10/2026

Don't miss Typist Artist Pirate King, the touching, tragicomic road trip drama from the acclaimed British filmmaker Carol Morley, that puts forgotten artist Audrey Amiss on the map.

Wednesday 14 October
3pm - 5pm | Cert 12a | Free - Booking essential
⚠️ Screening at David Puttnam Media Centre Cinema, St Peter’s Way, Sunderland
🎟 Book now: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/cineclub-typist-artist-pirate-king/

Inspired by her extensive archive of diaries, letters and art, the film weaves real events into an imagined journey as Audrey goes on a road trip with her psychiatric nurse.

Kitchen Sink Realism has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wellcome Collection, London.

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, supported through funding from Arts Council England England. Sunderland, UK

11/10/2026

Artist Audrey Amiss documented her everyday life in a striking visual diary of hundreds of sketches, paintings, scrapbooks and diaries. When she died, her family donated her archive to Wellcome Collection.

In this talk, archivist Elena Carter provides fascinating insight into the process of cataloguing and caring for her collection to understanding the artist’s life.

📅 Thursday 12 November
6pm - 7:30pm | Ages 16+ | £5
🎟 Book now: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/finding-audrey-amiss/

Kitchen Sink Realism has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wellcome Collection, London

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, supported through funding from Arts Council England.
Sunderland, UK

FInd us at Culture House Sunderland

09/10/2026

Join NGCA Curator Jon Weston for an exhibition tour of Audrey Amiss: Kitchen Sink Realism.

The tour will provide a fresh insight into Amiss’ life, her art practice and the development of Kitchen Sink Realism, the first exhibition in her hometown of Sunderland.

Our previous curator tour sold out in double quick time. To avoid disappointment, secure your free tickets before they're gone.

📅Friday 27 November
12pm - 12:30pm / Ages 16+ / Free - Booking essential
🎟 Book: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/audrey-amiss-kitchen-sink-realism-curator-exhibition-tour/

Kitchen Sink Realism has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wellcome Collection, London

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, supported through funding from Arts Council England,
Sunderland, UK.

Find us at Culture House Sunderland

📷 Image credit: Audrey Amiss, Untitled. Courtesy of Wellcome Collection, London

08/10/2026

Get closer to the exhibition.

Join one of our friendly and informative Gallery Learning Facilitators for a lunchtime tour of Audrey Amiss: Kitchen Sink Realism.

📅 Fridays until 15 January 2027
12pm - 12:30pm | Ages 16+ | Free - Booking essential

🎟 Book now: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/audrey-amiss-kitchen-sink-realism-lunchtime-exhibition-tours/

Kitchen Sink Realism has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wellcome Collection , London

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture , supported through funding from Arts Council England.
Sunderland, UK l

Find us at Culture House Sunderland

Image credit: Audrey Amiss, Beach Scene. Courtesy of Wellcome Collection, London

02/10/2026

Join artist Lyn Killeen and members of Southwick REACH for workshops inspired by the art, life and archive of Sunderland artist Audrey Amiss.

Her scrapbooks, sketchbooks and everyday observations offer a powerful lens on creativity, identity, and lived experience. Participants will explore Amiss’ methods through accessible creative activities that encourage curiosity, reflection, and self‑expression.

Saturdays 17 October & 14 November
11am - 12:30pm | Ages 16+ | £5
🎟 Book now: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/arts-journalling-for-wellbeing-exploring-the-art-and-life-of-audrey-amiss/

Kitchen Sink Realism has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wellcome Collection, London

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, supported through funding from Arts Council England.
Sunderland, UK.

Find us at Culture House Sunderland

30/09/2026

Artist Audrey Amiss documented her everyday life in a striking visual diary of hundreds of sketches, paintings, scrapbooks and diaries. When she died, her family donated her archive to Wellcome Collection.

In this talk, archivist Elena Carter provides fascinating insight into the process of cataloguing and caring for her collection to understanding the artist’s life.

📅 Thursday 12 November
6pm - 7:30pm | Ages 16+ | £5
🎟 Book now: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/finding-audrey-amiss/

Kitchen Sink Realism has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wellcome Collection, London

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, supported through funding from Council England.
Sunderland, UK Culture House Sunderland

27/09/2026

From acclaimed British filmmaker Carol Morley, Typist Artist Pirate King puts forgotten artist Audrey Amiss on the map.

Inspired by her extensive archive of diaries, letters and art, the film weaves real events into an imagined journey as Audrey goes on a road trip with her psychiatric nurse.

Wednesday 14 October
3pm - 5pm | Cert 12a | Free - Booking essential
⚠️ Screening at David Puttnam Media Centre Cinema, St Peter’s Way, Sunderland

🎟 Book now: https://www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/whats-on/cineclub-typist-artist-pirate-king/

Kitchen Sink Realism has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Wellcome Collection, London

Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is owned and supported by the University of Sunderland. The gallery programme is delivered in partnership with Sunderland Culture, supported through funding from Arts Council England. Sunderland, UK

Address

Culture House Sunderland
Sunderland
SR13ES

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 6pm
Saturday	10am - 6pm
Sunday	10am - 6pm

Telephone

+441915155555

Website

http://www.northerngalleryforcontemporaryart.org.uk/

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