International Festival of Glass 2017, Stourbridge, UK.
Welcome to the 7th International Festival of Glass. Since its inception in 2004 the Festival’s aim has been to celebrate and showcase the skill and innovation of the glass industry and makers, both historic and contemporary, local and international. This year we sought examples of how glass has been a positive influence in our lives and came across some fantastic projects we wanted to share with you.
The inspirational Hot Shop Heroes programme in Tacoma, US has been supporting some of America’s wounded soldiers by teaching them to blow glass. Project Leader Patricia Davidson is joining us to share her experience and to help launch a new programme for UK veterans at the Ruskin Glass Centre. We welcome the last glass eyemaker in the UK and show how glassmaking can have a profound effect on young people with autism at Glasshouse College.
Scientists from the University of Sheffield explain why they put nuclear waste in glass to keep it safe; we try to set a new world record for the longest stretch of fused glass bunting; the Askett Glass Studio team share their positive experience of working collaboratively and you can help make a new mosaic out of glass factory waste unearthed nearby. Storytellers from the famous Crick Crack Club explore the transformative and magical power of glass and Red House Glass Cone is the inspiration for a unique audio-visual installation by artist Andy Garbi.
We also warmly welcome the newest attraction in the Stourbridge Glass Quarter, the White House Cone museum of glass, which will become home famous collections cared for by Dudley Council and previously exhibited at Broadfield House Glass Museum thanks to the dedicated work of the British Glass Foundation.
We look forward to meeting you in Stourbridge this August bank holiday to celebrate one of the most fascinating and diverse art forms around. With open studios, demonstrations, presentations, performances, street theatre, storytelling, narrowboat rides and glass taster sessions, there with plenty of opportunities for you to get involved and have fun.
