Jill McKnight’s ‘Past and Future Pact’ exhibition explores the identity of Sunderland, 30 years on from mass closures across many heavy industries.

At its peak, many local industries supported one another – the mines and shipyards were supplied by satellite industries, such as ropemaking, glassworks, paintworks and metalworks – relying on each other for survival. Women played an instrumental role in Sunderland’s industrial economy, with numerous factories employing a high level of women. Jill McKnight has brought together research from many different sources – the archives of Sunderland Antiquarian Society, the National Women Against Pit Closure 40th Anniversary Commemoration event held at Durham Students’ Union, displays within Sunderland’s museums, online groups, relatives, friends, residents and students – with their voices bringing Sunderland’s history to life engrained within the fabric of the works.

Jill McKnight: Past and Future Pact, until 9 December, Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Collection Space, Sunderland, sunderlandculture.org.uk