The Open Studio

The Open Studio kicks off at Culture House Sunderland on Friday 6 November, and it's not just a one-off — it runs every Friday morning from then until 29 January 2027, from 10:30am to 12:30pm. It's a relaxed art session for adults, held in The Engagement Studio, and it's designed to be as welcoming as it is open. The whole thing is for over-18s only, so it's a space for adults to spend a morning with a brush or a pencil in hand.

What's good about the way it's set up is that it doesn't matter where you're starting from. It's aimed at people trying art for the first time just as much as those who already have a practice and want to develop their skills. You pick up new techniques at your own pace, and there's plenty of guidance and encouragement along the way, so you're never left staring at a blank page without a clue. And you don't need to worry about sorting your own kit — art materials are provided, so you can just turn up and get stuck in.

Culture House Sunderland is one of the city's most cherished cultural venues, and it sits alongside a few other big names in the local scene: Arts Centre Washington, the National Glass Centre, the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens. Having it run as a weekly session rather than a single workshop means you can come back as often as you like over the winter months, rather than having to fit everything into one go.

It's £6 a session, and since it runs every Friday from 6 November to 29 January, you can drop in whenever suits you. The sessions run from 10:30am to 12:30pm in The Engagement Studio at Culture House Sunderland.