(Image: Sunderland City Council)
Visitors have just days left to enjoy a popular North East museum before it closes for a £13.6million makeover.
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens will shut its doors on Saturday, August 29, for a major redevelopment project, and is inviting the public to explore their favourite exhibits one last time before work begins.
To mark the occasion, a special Alice in Wonderland-themed farewell party will be held on the final day.
An image of how the new Growing Space Gallery at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens will look following the redevelopment.
(Image: Sunderland City Council)
It will feature family-friendly activities such as Walrus badge-making, delicious homemade cakes from Sunshine Cooperative, and a community art project with local artist Kerry Cook.
Councillor Ciera Hudspith, cabinet member for culture, tourism and heritage at Sunderland City Council, said: "Our celebration event will have something for everyone as we say a temporary farewell to the museum we know and love.
"We’d like as many people as possible to help us mark this important milestone as we look forward to its exciting future and celebrate everything the museum means to us all across the city."
The Winter Gardens will also host a final viewing of the 404 Birdsong Exhibition, which explores the relationship between nature and sound.
In the community garden, Just Let Your Soul Grow CIC will host a Mad Hatter’s Garden Party, offering activities such as nature crown-making and creating a muddy mural.
Although the building will be closed, the museum will continue to engage with the public through an outreach programme featuring events, pop-up exhibitions, and workshops across the city.
Councillor Hudspith said: "This once-in-a-generation transformation is about creating a museum that is fit for the future, while protecting its heritage and collections for generations to come.
"While we know people will be sad to see the museum temporarily close, this marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for one of our best-loved attractions."
The redevelopment will include new galleries, a community learning facility, and a redesigned entrance connecting the museum to Mowbray Park.
Essential repairs and upgrades will also be carried out to ensure the long-term preservation of the historic building.
The project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, The Wolfson Foundation, and other partners.
During the closure, the museum will deliver educational programmes through Culture House Sunderland, which opens on September 12, and continue to support schools with workshops, assemblies, and loan resources.
A team of Museum Redevelopment Champions is being recruited to help shape the project and contribute ideas.
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Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to join behind-the-scenes hard hat tours during the redevelopment.
Full details of the outreach programme and other activities will be announced in the coming weeks.
The museum is expected to reopen in late 2028.