A new art gallery in Sunderland has officially opened its doors with an exhibition featuring work from local university students, marking a significant milestone in the city's ongoing urban redevelopment efforts. The Maker Meanwhile Gallery, located in the newly constructed Riverside Maker Building, has become the centerpiece of Sunderland's ambitious Riverside regeneration area.
The gallery's inaugural exhibition, titled "Emerging," showcases artwork from recent Fine Art graduates and postgraduate students from the University of Sunderland. The exhibition provides these emerging artists with their first opportunity to display their creative work in a professional gallery setting within the heart of the city's revitalization zone. The timing of this opening represents a crucial step in integrating arts and culture into the broader urban renewal strategy.
The Riverside Maker Building, situated on Plater Way, is an integral component of the new Maker Faber development, which reached completion in March of this year. According to James Silver, managing director of Landid, the development management company behind the Maker Faber project, the building's name pays tribute to Sunderland's rich industrial heritage as "a city of makers." This naming convention reflects the community's historical connection to manufacturing and craftsmanship.
Among the 16 artists participating in the exhibition is postgraduate student Dean Gooch, who expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity. "Taking part in the Emerging exhibition in the Maker building has been a fantastic opportunity to engage with a public audience right in the heart of Sunderland's riverside development," Gooch stated. His participation represents the broader excitement among student artists to showcase their work in this new cultural venue.
Suzy O'Hara, a Fine Art academic and lecturer in Digital Arts and Enterprise at the University of Sunderland, emphasized the cultural significance of the new gallery. She noted that the facility "enriches the development site with the city's emerging creative talent," highlighting how the arts component adds value beyond mere commercial development. This integration of educational institutions with urban planning demonstrates a comprehensive approach to city revitalization.
The Maker Meanwhile Gallery opening occurs within the context of the larger Riverside Sunderland Masterplan, an extensive urban development initiative. This comprehensive plan includes the construction of the new Keel Crossing footbridge and the establishment of improved connections between emerging residential development sites at Sheepfolds, Vaux, and Farringdon Row. The gallery serves as a cultural anchor point that complements these infrastructure improvements and residential expansions, creating a more vibrant and diverse urban environment for both residents and visitors.
