National Glass Centre
The University of Sunderland works with local networks to help promote equality, diversity, and inclusion.
At the University of Sunderland, we work closely with local businesses to help promote equality, diversity, inclusion, and social responsibility. This includes Sunderland City Council, Sunderland Culture, National Glass Centre and many more.
Throughout the year events, activities and exhibitions have been held alongside these stakeholders to help spread awareness and get people thinking about how they can celebrate their differences.
Colonial Ghost
At 5.30pm on Thursday 28 October an ‘in conversation’ event took place discussing Pascale Marthine Tayou’s installation Colonial Ghost. The conversation was led by the Reverend Canon Stuart Bain, Provost of Sunderland Minster and Professor Donna Chambers of the University of Sunderland.
Pascale Marthine Tayou is an artist who was born in Nknongsamba, Cameroon in 1966. He now lives and works in Ghent, Belgium and Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Through Colonial Ghost, Pascale aims to invite the viewer to consider connections between colonization and the growth of Christianity in African countries.
Pascale Marthine Tayou’s work is diverse both in terms of subject matter and media as are his references to geography, cultural origins and the human and natural world. His practice is always closely linked to the idea of travel and of coming into contact with that which is new and different. The objects, sculptures, installations, drawings and videos produced by Tayou have a recurrent feature in common: they dwell upon an individual moving through the world and exploring the issue of the global village. And it is in this context that Tayou negotiates his African origins and related expectations.
Family Workshops
The commission Colonial Ghost by Pascale Marthine Tayou was part of a major project called Glass Exchange led by National Glass Centre. The project included commissions by four highly established artists who are not currently known for working in glass. Glass Exchange provided an opportunity for the four artists to consider the potential of glass within their practice and to work collaboratively with a wide range of highly skilled artists, based in Sunderland, who specialise in working with glass.
Colonial Ghost was the first of the commissions to be publicly displayed at Sunderland Minster until 28 January 2022 before being redisplayed at National Glass Centre, on a larger scale, from 26 March until 11 September.
The other commissions were by Katie Paterson and Monster Chetwynd, both also shown in Durham Cathedral, and by Ryan Gander whose work was displayed in Sunderland city centre.
You are not alone
You are not alone are a support group consisting of many partners across our city who have designed a webpage to get people talking about the Menopause. Menopause will affect 100% of women within their lives. 30% of all women will be going through the menopause at the same time. The Group want to empower women to understand that they are in the menopause, be able to self-care and know when to ask for advice and help.
In October 2021 to celebrate World Menopause Day the group held an awareness event at National Glass Centre to get the people of Sunderland talking about the menopause. As part of the event, attendees were given the opportunity to create their own Glass Fused Heart Coaster.
Sunderland Culture
One of the missions of Sunderland Culture is to improve life for everyone in Sunderland through culture, including their confidence, aspiration, health and wellbeing. There is also an aim to grow existing and build new audiences, specifically for Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse communities, people with disabilities, autism or additional needs, and older people.
The pandemic brought into focus the role that arts and participation can play in tackling isolation and anxiety. This year there was a focus on emerging research activity around social prescribing.
This research brough together social and medical approaches to wellness involving Sunderland Culture and colleagues from the University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Wellbeing.
Transition IV
University of Sunderland PhD student and emerging glass artist Anthony Amoako-Attah brought an exciting new glass artwork, Transition IV, to the city. The Ghanian born artist had his work commissioned by Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens as part of their Arts Council Collection National Partners Programme. The work continues his exploration of his dual identity being born in Ghana and living in Sunderland
Jonathan Weston, Exhibition Officer Contemporary Visual Arts at Sunderland Culture, said: “Anthony is an emerging and important glass artist and we’re thrilled to be hosting his Transition series both online and at the museum. His work is beautiful and I’m sure local audiences will appreciate his thoughtful references to glass making, coal mining and shipbuilding that he weaves through his work – and which he learned about and researched at the museum."
Paint the Town in Sound
Our ongoing collaboration between the University of Sunderland School of Art and Design, Sunderland Culture and Arts Council Collection continued through a series of takeovers responding to the ‘Paint the Town in Sound’ and ‘Where We Are Now’ exhibitions. Over 50 students presented work alongside Arts Council Collection artworks both in the gallery and online, which led to further opportunities for students including exhibits in Baltic 39 and Breeze Creatives.
Contact us
We welcome feedback on Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Social Responsibility.
Please contact our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, justine.gillespie@sunderland.ac.uk or,
the Student Union LGBTQ+ Officer at yoursu@sunderland.ac.uk.