£27m culture hub sets sights beyond city

A city's £27m culture hub, due to open in the autumn, is aiming to attract people from all over north-east England.

Culture House in Keel Square, Sunderland, will be home to the city's library, an immersion gallery, podcasting studios, events venue and a sky garden.

Director Leanne Littlewood said she hoped facilities and events at the site would appeal across the region and help raise the city's profile internationally.

"We want to bring people from all over the place, so the economic impact will be massive too," she said.

The hub will be free to access, with some areas available to hire.

Ms Littlewood said: "We are going to bring curiosity and ambition and opportunity to the city, as well as hopefully footfall from all across the region."

Culture House will have a free children's space, a green screen studio and several galleries.

There are also plans to hold stargazing events on its rooftop garden.

Classes and workshops will take place, while its immersion gallery can host theatre performances and escape rooms.

Ms Littlewood said the space's versatility would allow it to be "lots of different things to lots of different people".

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