New Arts Centre into Final Phase

A showpiece £6m arts and business centre is in its final phase of completion and set to transform a regenerated area of Sunderland City centre into a thriving, cultural quarter.

thePlace in Sunniside is an exciting new venture, accommodating performance space, art gallery/exhibition spaces, a café, meeting rooms and a range of spaces for businesses. A restaurateur is due to be sought for the building in the New Year.

The business and arts centre comprises the redeveloped Manor Hotel on Athenaeum Street and six adjoining Grade II listed properties on West Sunniside overlooking the award-winning Sunniside Gardens

thePlace is due to be officially opened in summer next year with a series of exciting exhibitions and events planned for the launch.

Spearheading the Sunniside regeneration is Sunniside Partnership, supported by Sunderland Council, Sunderland arc, English Partnerships and One NorthEast, together with additional funding from TyneWear Partnership.

Stuart Ainsley, project manager at Sunniside Partnership, said: “thePlace is progressing really well with the refurbishment element almost finished. We’re now into the final stages of completion.

“I think people are going to be really impressed with the new facilities. thePlace will provide high quality, modern business and artistic space in a beautiful, traditional setting. We have protected the historic existing buildings and introduced commercial and business uses into a previously neglected part of the city.”

Cllr Bob Symonds, chairman of Sunniside Partnership, said: “We are delighted by how thePlace is progressing. It will help to attract further investment into the area as more businesses and artists take advantage of the high quality buildings and offices we can now offer. It will also generate activity and visits to the area to underpin other businesses in the vicinity.”