Hands-On Animal Glass Workshops Bring a Magical Experience for Children at Sunderland’s National Glass Centre
Written by Aura Stephenson on 7th March 2025
Glass making events taking place in Sunderland have been providing a ‘unique’ experience for children.
The National Glass Centre (NGC) in Sunderland has been hosting “Animal Sandcasting” events over the last few months. Children aged five and over are taught how to use sandcasting techniques with hot glass to make animals such as a hedgehog or a fish.
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Children are encouraged to “think about colour, shape and pattern,” in this workshop where they have full creative control of their art. Lucy Lax, Learning and Engagement Manager at the NGC, said that these sessions “encourage children to be creative” and “let their imaginations run wild.”
The workshops are “not something you can do at home” which gives a unique and engaging experience for young people.
The sessions give the children a “personal connection” to artists and feedback from parents shows that this has helped children “aspire to be like them” by seeing different people doing what they love and talking about the creativity industry.
Nearly all of the events for April 2025 are sold out, with limited availability for the remaining dates due to their popularity. Lucy says that one of the reasons it is popular is because this much loved local attraction makes sure the events are “really accessible” by “designing all activities so they are fully accessible no matter your skills and sensory need.”
A sensory map is available on the National Glass Centre website so children can “understand what different spaces are like” in terms of what the children may see or smell.
Similar events will take place during Easter half term and continuing in the summer holidays. As well as the pre bookable workshops like Animal Sandcasting, there will be free sessions for all ages such as interactive activity sheets to fill out.
For more information on events that take place at the National Glass Centre, head over to their website.
