Build Harbour: A New Creative Home for Sunderland

Aim

Help us build Harbour Studios: a new space for coffee, making, classes, talks, exhibitions and bringing creative communities together.

Our Story

Harbour has been growing since 2024, when we started life as Harbour Printworks, a small DIY print studio in Sunderland, founded by local business owner Gerard Purvis, arts producer Michaela Wetherell and artist Nora Nađvegi.

From the beginning, the idea was never just about equipment or having somewhere to print. We wanted to create a space where artists and communities could come together, learn new skills, experiment and make things.

From our little studio at Port Independent, we worked with local artists and community groups on printing, T-shirt making, zines and creative workshops.

We saw first-hand how important affordable creative spaces are, not only for artists developing their practice, but for people who simply want somewhere welcoming to try something new, meet others and be creative.

From Harbour Printworks to Harbour Studios

In early 2026, conversations with glass and ceramics artists in Sunderland changed the direction of Harbour.

Artists were frustrated and worried about losing access to specialist facilities, skills and creative networks in the city due to the closure of The National Glass Centre. We were approached by two glass and ceramic artists Annie James and Tom Jordan about whether we could come together and build something bigger.

That conversation became Harbour Studios.

Rather than remaining a small print studio, we began developing a much larger vision: a new creative home bringing together print, glass, ceramics, making, exhibitions, retail, workshops, community activity and coffee under one roof.

We want to build on the community values that Harbour started with while creating more opportunities for artists and makers to continue developing their practice in Sunderland.

Our New Home

We are incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to develop Harbour Studios at Biscop House in Sunniside, in the heart of Sunderland.

We are receiving fantastic support in developing the building and bringing in specialist creative equipment, which gives us an amazing foundation to build from.

But Harbour is still very DIY.

None of us are currently on a salary, and there are lots of everyday things that major funding simply does not cover.

We need the boring-but-essential stuff too: chairs, tables, cups, spoons, mugs, fridges, storage, kitchen equipment, shelving, cleaning equipment, workshop furniture and all the little things that turn an empty building into a place people can actually use.

That is where we need your help.

Why We Are Crowdfunding

We have the building. We have the artists. We have the ideas. We have specialist equipment beginning to come together.

Now we need help turning all of that into a functioning, welcoming Harbour.

The money raised through this Crowdfunder will help us pay for the practical things that make the space work day to day, including:

+Chairs, tables and furniture

+Cups, mugs, cutlery and kitchen equipment

+Fridges and coffee shop equipment

+Storage and shelving

+Workshop furniture and practical equipment

+Exhibition and display materials

+Community-space equipment

+Cleaning and maintenance supplies

+Signage and finishing touches

+Materials for workshops and activities

These things might not sound glamorous, but without them we simply cannot open the doors in the way we want to.

A Space Built With the Community

Harbour has always been about community.

We are building Harbour for the community, so it feels right that we are asking the community to help us build it.

We want this to become a space that belongs to Sunderland: somewhere artists can make work, communities can meet, people can learn new skills, young people can try something creative, and anyone can come in for a coffee and feel welcome.

Every donation, no matter how small, helps us buy one more thing that gets Harbour closer to opening.

A few pounds might buy a stack of mugs. A larger donation might help us buy chairs, shelving or equipment for a workshop.

It all adds up.

Help Us Build Harbour

Harbour started with a tiny DIY print studio, a few bits of equipment and a belief that Sunderland needed more spaces where creative people could come together.

We are still carrying that same DIY spirit into our new home.

The difference now is that the idea has grown.

With your help, Harbour Studios can become a permanent creative home where people can make, learn, share, connect and belong.

We are for the community.

Now we are asking the community to help us make Harbour happen.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 29th December 2026 at 2:05pm