Access to Sunderland’s £10m art collection to be improved

Access to a council’s multi-million pound art collection is set to be improved as figures reveal more than 7,600 art objects are hidden from “public view”.

Sunderland City Council said it plans to display some of its £10m artwork through “roadshows” and special events while it expands its galleries.

The objects not currently on display include decorative arts, watercolours and prints, paintings, photography and sculptures.

Councillor Beth Jones, cabinet member for communities, culture and tourism, said: “We are committed to caring for our culture and ensuring that Sunderland’s art collection continues to inspire, educate and be enjoyed by generations to come.”

According to Freedom of Information data provided by Sunderland City Council, 11% of the local authority’s art collection was recorded as being on “public display” in December with the remainder “not on physical display at the present time”.

A mixture of the local authority’s art objects are currently on display at the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens and the majority of the artwork is available for the public to view online, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Jones said: “Our art collection is something we value deeply, and while it isn’t possible to display every item at once, we do try to rotate our collection to ensure residents and visitors can enjoy different works throughout the year.”

The council’s plans include the redevelopment of the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens to create two ground floor galleries which would allow more items to be put on display.

The local authority confirmed it had no plans to sell any of its art collection.

Jones said the Winter Gardens would undergo “ambitious” redevelopment between 2026 and 2030 and while the work was under way, parts of the collection would be displayed “in the community through special events and roadshows”.