Heritage Open Days 2019

Heritage Open Days 2019 (13-22 Sept.) offered an opportunity to organise a big community event, so we opened the shop for all 10 days. The building was open every day 10am-2pm for hot and cold drinks and cake (pay-as-you-can).

But there were many more events as well.

There was an exhibition – Rebel Women of Sunderland – commissioned and curated by local partner Sunderland Culture, as well as events around this, such as a Rebel girl workshop, and a Lecture by Dr. Sarah Hellawell.  We also hosted the reception for having a blue plaque put up, arranged by Dr. Sarah Hellawell, from Sunderland University, celebrating the first Woman MP of Sunderland (Dr. Marion Phillips)

There was an exhibition on the history of the buildings, plans for their future and the wider Heritage Action Zone, curated in collaboration with Sally Watson, a PhD candidate at Newcastle University. There was also a lecture on the history of the High Street and the HAZ by Richard Newman (Associate Director – Wardell Armstrong)

We had take home postcards of the Rebel Women of Sunderland and information about the HAZ, including a walk leaflet, were available for people to take away.

Sunderland artist Kathryn Robertson created a mural of Sunderland on one wall of the building (inside) which visitors could contribute to.

Student photographer Amelia Turner, from the University of Sunderland, filmed and photographed the event and created a short film.

This YouTube video shows some highlights of the events, have a look!