Future Arts Centres is pleased to welcome Culture House Sunderland as the 200th member of our national network – a milestone that speaks to the strength and diversity of arts centres across the UK.

Culture House Sunderland, which opened to the public on Saturday 12 September 2026, is a major new cultural venue and city library at Keel Square. Conceived as a “living room in the heart of the city”, it offers a welcoming civic space shaped around how people in Sunderland come together, spend time, learn, create and connect.

Bringing together immersive digital environments, library services, exhibition spaces, areas for participation and adaptable rooms for events and performances, Culture House reflects a broad, multi-artform approach to cultural life. Its opening exhibition, Our Home in Space, created in collaboration with the Barbican, invites visitors to explore our place in the universe through a striking immersive experience.

What sits at the heart of Culture House, however, is its relationship with its community. From dedicated spaces for children and young people, to areas designed for meeting, relaxing and experiencing culture in everyday ways, the venue has been shaped by a clear sense of civic purpose. It offers opportunities for creativity, learning and social connection, and provides a focal point for residents and visitors in the centre of the city.

Leanne Littlewood, Director of Culture House Sunderland, said: “Culture House has been shaped by the people of Sunderland – their ideas, their curiosity and their hopes for what this space can be. Becoming the 200th member of Future Arts Centres connects us with organisations who share our commitment to culture that welcomes people in, and it’s encouraging to be part of a network that champions that approach nationally.”

This people-centred, place-rooted approach is shared across arts centres in the Future Arts Centres network. While every arts centre is different, our members combine artistic ambition with a broad cultural and civic role, bringing together multiple artforms and activities under one roof and responding to the needs and interests of their communities.

Reaching 200 members is an important moment for Future Arts Centres, and we are delighted that Culture House Sunderland marks this milestone.

Annabel Turpin and Gavin Barlow, Co-Directors of Future Arts Centres, said: “Welcoming our 200th member reflects the growing recognition of arts centres as vital civic spaces. Culture House Sunderland brings a thoughtful, people-focused approach to cultural life, and we’re pleased to see it join a network of organisations who place communities and creativity at the heart of what they do.”

As a new venue at the beginning of its journey, Culture House Sunderland joins a network of organisations committed to supporting creativity, connection and cultural life in the places they serve. We look forward to working alongside Culture House Sunderland as it grows, and to celebrating the role it will play in the life of the city.