The Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) is a publicly funded art gallery in the Priestman Building of the University of Sunderland campus, near St Peter's Church on the north bank of the Wear. It shows temporary exhibitions of contemporary art, with a programme that tends toward installation, video, and conceptual work from both regional and international artists. Entry is free.
The gallery has a good reputation on the British contemporary art circuit, punching above the weight you might expect from a gallery in this setting. The building is shared with the university's arts faculty, which gives it an educational energy that differs from the more hushed atmosphere of larger institutions. Worth checking the programme before visiting to see whether the current show appeals.