Housed on a 100-year-old farm, Arts Centre Washington houses a 120-capacity raked-seating theatre, two gallery spaces, a recording studio, artists’ studios and workshops, function rooms and bar. At the Arts Centre, we have something for everyone. Our busy programme of theatre, exhibitions, craft events and music, brings all kinds of entertainment to visitors. Alongside this, over 40 groups meet weekly to share their passions together – from dancers to model makers, artists to musicians. We are proudly committed to accessibility. Art Centre Washington has step free access to all spaces. We also provide a safe space for dementia support and mental health groups to meet
Baseline Shift is the home of designer, artist and musician Tommy Anderson. As a graphic designer I deliver innovative and exciting design, print and new media solutions for public, private and voluntary sector clients. My visual arts practice combines typography, aerosol art, photography and collage – celebrating beauty in the everyday and overlooked. As a musician I have released a number of studio recordings and remixes on international labels, performed across the UK, and has produced soundtracks for film, animation and television. I’m also an experienced arts facilitator and mentor, managing and delivering progressive participatory and educational arts programmes inspired by my practice. I provide training and consultation to arts organisations, museums, galleries and social services – exploring key issues around participatory arts practice, developing and sustaining successful arts projects, effective methods of engagement and recording impact and progression. I also develop accreditation modules for a range of art and design activities. Washington Heritage Partnership worked in close partnership with Tommy on the visual art and publication elements of the award-winning project The Ballad of the Crocodile and the Underpass.
Bowes Railway Co, first known as Springwell colliery and railway was built to carry coal from Springwell and other pits in north west Durham to the Tyne at Jarrow. The earliest section was designed by George Stephenson and opened on 17 January 1826, making it one of the world’s first modern railways. At its peak, the Railway handled over 1 million tons of coal per year and remained virtually intact until 1968. Between 1968 and 1974, most of the line was closed until only the last 3.5 miles between Monkton and Jarrow staithes were operated by the National Coal Board. However, the original 1826 section between the Black Fell bank head and Springwell bank head was acquired for preservation in 1976 by Tyne and Wear County Council. In 1977, the main Bowes Railway site and collection were added to the preservation scheme. In 2017 Bowes Railway was awarded Accredited Museum status.
Community Opportunities (formerly Sunderland North Community Business Centre) Youth and Community projects are a key partner in the Washington Heritage Partnership and coordinate activities across a range of heritage, cultural and community projects and venues.
Friends of Washington Old Hall
The Friends of Washington Old Hall is an independent registered charity whose objectives are to promote the preservation of Washington Old Hall, to improve visitor facilities and to enhance the quality of the Hall’s immediate surroundings. Its members recognise the historical and environmental importance of the Hall and seek to promote it as a centre for community activity and educational opportunity. Much of the group’s income comes from its fundraising activities. Whether or not you’re a member of the Trust, do get involved. You will be made very welcome.
North East Land, Sea and Air Museums
The North East Land Sea & Air Museum – NELSAM – sits on the former RAF Usworth and Sunderland airport site, next to the Sunderland Nissan factory, and comprises of the former Aircraft museum (NEAM), military vehicles collection, and the North East Electric Traction Trust (NEETT) is also based on the site. Amongst our varied and unique exhibit is a cold war Avro Vulcan B2 Bomber, which flew into the former airport to become the first Vulcan to go into private collection. NELSAM are proud to have been awarded multiple awards from Tripadvisor, and added to the list of Top 3 places to visit in Sunderland by ThreeBestRated, and included in the Tripper Guide for Sunderland.
The North East BIC offers the perfect environment for you to start and grow a business. Established in 1994 with the aim of encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship, we have created a unique community which fosters business success and inspires the next generation of entrepreneurs. Our unique package of workspace, business support, events and a community spirit that champions business success has been at the heart of our ethos from day one and continues to be the golden thread that weaves our services together. And it doesn’t stop there. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, we continually reinvest the money we make into launching new services and facilities to ensure the region’s businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs have the tools they need to succeed.
Sunderland Culture brings together some of Sunderland’s most cherished cultural assets and activities to realise the ambition of a city brimming with creative potential. They deliver the programme in National Glass Centre, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens and Arts Centre Washington, as well as with communities across the city. They are a registered charity and an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. Their mission is to improve life for everyone in Sunderland through culture. Among many collaborations, Washington Heritage Partnership worked closely with Sunderland Culture on the award-winning project The Ballad of the Crocodile and the Underpass.
Sunderland Heritage Partnership
The Sunderland Heritage Partnership exists to champion best practice and connect practitioners in heritage across Sunderland, Washington and the Coalfields. We seek to support all involved in heritage, from the natural to the built environment, ranging from volunteer-led organisations to independent local museums, libraries, heritage sites, trusts or groups.
The University is ranked in the top 30 UK universities in the Guardian University Guide 2026 for the very first time. This comes after achieving a top 40 position last year and a top 50 position the previous year. Washington Heritage Partnership have been lucky enough to work closely with their Media school to develop community podcasting, especially for the award-winning project The Ballad of the Crocodile and the Underpass.
Usworth Quilters meet on Thursdays at Holy Trinity Church, Usworth. They create superb quilts for charities and hold open days to showcase their work. For Washington 60 (the 2024 celebrations of sixty years since Washington was designated a new town), they created a wonderful statement quilt incorporating images of Washington past and present.
Washington History Society is an informal group of people who work together to keep the history of Washington alive. We collect and preserve photographs, documents and memorabilia, while taking an active part in raising awareness of the town’s heritage through talks and exhibitions. The Society’s aims are to communicate information about Washington’s past, to preserve items of historical import- such as photographs to form an archive for present & future generations.
Washington Old Hall, National Trust
At the heart of historic Washington village this picturesque stone manor house and its gardens provide a tranquil oasis, reflecting gentry life following the turbulence of the English Civil War.
The building incorporates parts of the original medieval home of George Washington’s direct ancestors, and it is from here that the family took their surname of ‘Washington’.
In Washington u3a we hold a monthly speaker meeting on the second Tuesday in every month at St. Andrew’s church hall, Washington. The doors open at 9.45 am and the meeting begins at 10.15am. The intervening time gives members a chance to socialise, have refreshments and sign up for activities. We always enjoy a varied list of speakers and usually come away from the meeting both enlightened and entertained.
We Make Culture are a charity, based in Sunderland, and they deliver high quality music-making programmes across the city. Their mission is to bring people together through music-making, supporting the development of creative confidence and increasing people’s capacity to fulfil their potential and be heard. Washington Heritage Partnership worked in close partnership with We Make Culture on the musical and performance elements of the award-winning project The Ballad of the Crocodile and the Underpass.
“We work together in small groups, building friendships and sharing the excitement”. Through their songs, soundscapes and radio interviews, We Make Sound tell local stories, explore new ideas and express themselves creatively, these projects are then broadcast and exhibited across the region. We Make Sound has featured on BBC Radio Tees, Sonic Arts Week (Middlesbrough), Wintertide Festival and Hartlepool Carnival. The project leaders are highly experienced professional musicians. We Make Sound meets at The Studio in Hartlepool. Washington Heritage Partnership worked in close partnership with We Make Sound’s lead artist Grace Stubbings on the podcast and audio elements of the award-winning project The Ballad of the Crocodile and the Underpass.
Wessington u3a is part of the National u3a network and has been active since 2009. We offer a wide range of activities and interest groups that are run by our members for our members, but everyone is encouraged to take an active part in all activities and events. We can all learn while having fun and enjoy/sharing our interests and experiences together – learn, laugh, live… Our regular monthly meeting takes place at North Biddick Social Club on Bonemill Lane, Washington generally on the third Monday of the month at 1pm with doors opening at 12.30pm. The meetings include talks, discussions and activities on wide range of topics. This is also an opportunity to catch up with news about what’s happening in Wessington u3a and also to chat with other members…