The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is an international centre for musical concerts and education on the Gateshead bank of Quayside on the River Tyne.
It is part of the Quayside development along with the Millennium Bridge - the world's first tilting bridge - and the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art.
The impressive Glasshouse is home to the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the UK's sole full-time chamber orchestra and Folkworks which promotes the folk music of the North East.
History
The center opened to the public in 2004 and was first known as Sage Gateshead. The name changed in 2023 to The Glasshouse International Centre for Music.
The building cost £70 million in planning and construction raised primarily through National Lottery funds. It was designed by Foster and Partners following a competition.
Performances
The Glasshouse has two main performance spaces: a main auditorium with 1,640 seats (Sage One), a second hall with 330 seats (Sage Two). There is also a smaller 200-seat space for rehearsals and performances called the Northern Rock Foundation Hall.
Musical performances span popular, jazz, world, classical, dance, brass bands, experimental, folk, traditional and more. The center also offers not only the chance to hear leading performers such as the Northern Sinfonia Orchestra, but also runs a popular "Join In and Make Music" programme where visitors can learn to play a variety of instruments.
The venue also runs accessible learning programmes for people of all ages and works closely with local schools and academies through initiatives such as "Sing Up", as well as offering organised school visits.
Conference Venue
The building also serves as a conference venue. It hosted the Labour Party Spring Conference in February 2005 and the Liberal Democrats Spring Conference in March 2012. On 18 August 2009, Aditionally it staged the 2010 and 2011 annual conferences of the National Union of Students.
Access & Hours
St Mary's Square
Gateshead Quays
Gateshead, NE8 2JR
Tel: 0191 443 4661 (Box Office)
www: theglasshouseicm.org
Entrances into the building are step-free with wheelchair accessible doors. The center includes a bar, a cafe and a shop.
The nearest railway station is Newcastle Central about 20 minutes on foot. Gateshead metro station is just a 10-minute walk away.
Hours: Typically opening times are 9.30 am on weekdays and 8.45 am on weekends, with closing times around 6.30 pm, though the building remains open until 11 pm on show nights.
Nearby
BALTIC is a major international centre for contemporary art to rival London's Tate Modern. Unlike the Tate, there are no permanent exhibitions, but the constantly rotating shows feature the work and installations of some of contemporary art's biggest names. BALTIC is housed in a former flour mill from where it gets its name.
Gateshead Millennium Bridge stands close to Tyne Bridge. Both bridges are illuminated at night.
Hotels
If you wish to stay in and around this increasingly trendy area of Newcastle and Gateshead there are several recommended options. These include the four star Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, the three star Ramada Encore by Wyndham Newcastle-Gateshead and Jurys Inn Newcastle Quayside.
Hotels in the North East of England
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