Glass Centre Facing Fresh Crisis

The National Glass Centre is facing another crisis, with the loss of its fifth CE in six years. The Sunderland-based arts complex has accepted the resignation of Vicky Nicholls, who had been in the post less than 12 months, due to ill health. It is another blow for the £17M centre, which has struggled to hit visitor targets since opening in 1998. Arts Council bosses have pledged to continue subsidising the centre with taxpayers' cash. When the centre opened in 1998, it was hailed as a celebration of Sunderland's heritage in the glass making industry, but a parliamentary audit report in 2003 said the centre, which was recently awarded additional funds of £700,000 - was over-funded.