Letters of Support and images of past events.

About Pink-collar Gallery. Pink-Collar Gallery CIC is an innovative art organisation dedicated to promoting underrepresented voices and using art as a platform for equality. Founded by Sunderland-based curator Michaela Wetherell, the gallery stems from her passion for addressing female underrepresentation in the arts and exploring the importance of working-class identity.

Our mission is to challenge the barriers within the arts by creating opportunities for working-class artists, fostering creative growth, and amplifying marginalised perspectives. We provide workshops, mentoring sessions, and talks from industry professionals, supporting emerging creatives of all ages as they develop their practice in the North East.

At Pink-Collar Gallery, we believe art is for everyone. Through a robust exhibition program, we focus on themes such as the underrepresentation of women in the arts and the rich narratives of working-class identity. By hosting exhibitions and facilitating community workshops in Sunderland, we aim to break down the misconception that art is exclusive and instead inspire people to engage with and enjoy creative expression.

Initially launched online in response to the pandemic, Pink-Collar Gallery has grown into a dynamic platform. Since 2020, we have collaborated with over 155 artists, commissioned 20 new works, and tackled pressing issues like mental health, femicide, and social inequality. Our journey continues as we work to create a more inclusive and vibrant arts culture, empowering individuals and communities through creativity.

Workshops, Networking and Curating Sessions for Creatives and the Community. 

We have delivered a programme of workshops, networking events, curating sessions, and community-focused creative activities to support artists and the wider community in Sunderland.

Workshops with WWIN and artist Tallulah Lines:
We are currently running creative workshops in partnership with Wearside Women in Need and artist Tallulah Lines. These sessions provide accessible and supportive creative activity for participants, focusing on confidence-building, expression, and hands-on artistic skills.

Curator Development Sessions:
We delivered curator training sessions for artists, helping them become more confident in discussing, presenting, and curating their own work. These sessions introduced practical curatorial skills and gave artists dedicated space to develop ideas for exhibiting their practice.

Networking Events – Speed Arting:
We organised “Speed Arting,” a series of creative networking events held in different venues across Sunderland. These events brought together artists, creatives, and community members, encouraging collaboration, conversation, and the development of a strong, connected creative community. By moving the events around the city, we increased reach, visibility, and accessibility.

Go and See Days:
We delivered “Go and See Days,” where groups of artists and community members visited exhibitions, creative spaces, and cultural events across the region. These trips offered inspiration, increased access to cultural experiences, and helped participants build confidence in engaging with wider arts opportunities.

Art Goss – Art History Talks:
We also ran “Art Goss,” a fun, informal art history session designed to make learning about art history enjoyable and accessible. These talks provided a relaxed space for people to explore artists, movements, and ideas, helping build knowledge and confidence in understanding art.

Together, these activities have helped build confidence, skills, and community connections among local creatives, contributing to a more visible, engaged, and supportive creative network in Sunderland.

 

Exhibitions and Markets with Associated Artists. 

We worked with Otto Café to deliver FOCUS, an exhibition series highlighting and celebrating working-class women artists. This programme supported local artists by providing exhibition opportunities, representation, and visibility within a welcoming community space.

We have also taken part in creative markets across the city, giving participating artists practical ways to showcase and sell their work. These markets have helped artists generate income, reach new audiences, and build confidence in presenting their practice publicly.

As part of our ongoing work to create opportunities for Sunderland-based creatives, we delivered the Local Art, Local People exhibition. This project combined the sale of artwork to the public with commissioned pieces, including a pop-up mural created by participating artists. The exhibition responded directly to the lack of accessible creative space and opportunities for artists in Sunderland, offering visibility, support, and a platform for local talent.

After two successful years of running exhibitions, workshops, and markets, we are now in a position to take the next step and establish our own dedicated gallery space. This will enable us to expand opportunities, support more artists, and strengthen Sunderland’s creative community even further.

 

Exhibition programme at Hills Art Centre 

Pink-collar Gallery was proud to present Collective Pulse: Art in Action — an arts coucil funded powerful exhibition series that explored activism, underrepresentation, and social equality across four key themes: Environment, Community, Neurodivergence, and LGBTQIA+.

Hosted at Hills Art Centre, Sunderland, the series brought together 16 inspiring artists whose practices were grounded in personal and collective storytelling.

Through diverse media and lived experience, their work challenged, celebrated, and reimagined how art could be used as a tool for real social change.

As part of the programme, we also commissioned several artists who had never been commissioned before, giving them their first paid opportunity and providing mentoring from experienced, working artists. This support helped build skills, confidence, and long-term professional development for emerging creatives in Sunderland.

Letters of Support 

These letters are from cultural spring, The BID The Culture House and Sunderland Culture for a whole series of exhibitions and programming at Jacky Whites Market.