Enjoy a free Arts & Culture Trail in Sunderland between Saturday, 6 July, and Sunday, 21 July.
Experience over 60 artists across 40-plus venues in one vibrant multi-artist, multi-discipline, multi-venue art exhibition across the city.
The trail is not just an event; it’s an invitation to see the city of Sunderland in a new light and connect with its vibrant artistic community. It's designed to be easily walkable, making it a perfect way to enjoy the city’s outdoor spaces, fresh air, and independent businesses and venues.
The trail runs from 6 July to 21 July, but there are an array of specific events throughout this period, which you can find details of below!
Illustration Adventurers
The Bridges Shopping Centre
Family Friendly Activities
6 & 20 July, 11 AM to 3 PM
Free
This creative session, hosted at the Bridges Shopping Centre, is suitable for those aged 4+
The Adventures of Barry the Magician by Peter Hayes
Sunshine Cooperative
Book Launch & Activities
6 July, 11 AM to 12 PM
Free
Peter Hayes has written books on topics ranging from politics to dieting. The Adventures of Barry the Magician is his third children’s book. Come along to the live reading and book launch at Sunshine Cooperative. All are welcome to this storytelling session, but the book is for those aged 5-9. There will be a chance to draw, and there might even be some magic!
Gaming Social
The Gallery
Games & Socialising
10 & 17 July, 6 PM to 10 PM
Free/Donations
Bring a board game, or use one of theirs, and join some friends to play over a coffee in a welcoming environment. Tea and Coffee are free of charge.
Art Drop-Ins
Diego's Joint
Art Activities & Socialising
10 & 17 July, 10 AM to 1 PM
Free
Anyone interested can call in for the whole session or for half an hour, whatever suits them. An art tutor will be on hand to introduce you to a variety of art materials, or you can bring your own project to work on.
Scott Jopling - The Sunderland Connection
The Fire Station
Piano Recital
10 July, 2 PM & 4 PM
Free
Scott Joplin was the melodic genius who gave us irrepressible ragtime tunes like The Entertainer and The Maple Leaf Rag. Joplin lived all his life in the USA and composed most of his classic rags in St Louis, Missouri. But oddly enough, the defining musical event in Joplin’s life, which inspired him throughout his career, occurred not in America but here, in Sunderland, in 1898.
As a young man, Peter Hayes spent a year in St. Louis, where, in a newspaper archive, he first came across Sunderland’s connection to Scott Joplin. Peter will be playing a selection of Joplin’s piano works, including Rose Leaf Rag, Elite Syncopations, Solace, and other favourites. In between the music, Peter will be happy to chat about the life of the great ragtime composer.
King Ink
Pop Recs
Spoken Word Performance
11 July, 6 PM to 9:30 PM
Free/Donations
Come from 6 PM to chat, drink coffee, enjoy the bar, write and sign up to perform the open mic. Read, perform, or just listen. New folks are always welcome. There will be a book launch and headline set from Pauline May.
Come Darn With Me
Studio Infinite
Sewing & Darning Group
11, 12, 13 July, 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Free/Donations
Pop in to do a bit of sewing, mending, darning, and repairing. Bring along something you’ve been meaning to mend, repair, or make—and see if we can make it happen together. Teas, coffee, and cake will be available.
Heritage Walk
Seventeen Nineteen
Heritage Walk
11 July, 10 AM
Free/Donations
Come at 10 AM to walk around & learn about Old Sunderland.
Filling In The Gaps
Abject Gallery
Dave Tweedy Exhibition
12 July, 6 PM - 8 PM
FREE
David Tweedy graduated from Newcastle University with a First Class Honours degree in Fine Art in 2013. He is a painter and has exhibited in the North East of England, London, and Vienna. His works look at gatherings of people united in expressing a shared belief system and examine their organisation and movement within and through a particular environment.
Music for a Summer's Evening
Sunderland Minster
Octet Performance
12 July, 7:30 PM
£6
Musica Johannis is an octet of singers who will perform a programme of songs as part of the Arts & Culture Trail. It is a fantastic opportunity to have a drink, relax, and hear beautiful singing in a wonderful setting on a summer's evening.
Tickets are £6 each and are best obtained in advance by contacting the Minster by email [email protected]
Family Art Jam
Sunniside Gardens
Family Friendly Activities
13 July, 11 AM to 3 PM
Free/Donations
Look out for details coming soon!
Paint & Play
The Gallery
Games & Painting
13 July, 10 AM to 4 PM
Free/Donations
Paint your own tabletop gaming figure, watch tabletop gaming demonstrations, and talk to experienced players about how to get started! Attendees will be entered into a prize draw to win a starter kit.
MTSUK
The Fire Station
Dance Performances
14 July, 2 PM & 4 PM
Free
Look out for details coming soon!
Articulating Art
The Art Room Sunderland
Hand Drawing Workshop
17 July, 5 PM to 6:30 PM
£5
Kerry from The Art Room is hosting a workshop on sketching hands. This workshop links in with the work she will display downstairs in the Fat Unicorn as part of the trail. The cost of £5 covers the cost of materials and a cuppa. Please bring a photo to work from.
Talking on the Trail
Port Independent
Spoken Word & Performance Poetry
17 July, 6 PM to 9:30 PM
Free
Look out for details coming soon!
The Sunderland Arts & Culture Trail is the brainchild of Artist Dale Hardy, who has worked with Artist Su Devine to curate the 2023 and 2024 exhibitions.