Residents in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, can now join library workshops and classes from their own living rooms thanks to a new online service. The Culture House Sunderland digital programme launched in February 2026 to provide remote learning for those who cannot visit a library in person.
The service offers 24/7 access to a range of activities including coding lessons, digital art workshops and local history sessions. Classes are designed to be interactive, allowing people to learn new skills using a computer or phone from anywhere in the city.
Sunderland City Council says the initiative aims to improve accessibility for carers, elderly residents and people with limited mobility. By moving services online the council hopes to make library activities available to everyone regardless of their personal circumstances.
Cllr Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism, said the project will help develop a year-round programme of creative projects to ensure Culture House is a place where everyone feels welcome. While the physical Culture House building at Keel Square is set to open in Spring 2026, the digital rollout provides an early way for the community to get involved.
The online classes are produced with a cohort of programme partners commissioned by Culture House Sunderland; the project’s public materials cite 12 programme partners delivering a mix of live and pre-recorded content. This approach follows the national Digital Spaces pilot, in which Sunderland Libraries was one of nine library services across England selected to test how technology can extend library services into people’s homes.
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