International Glass Symposium brings artists to FunGlass

From September 21 to 26, 2026, the RONA glassworks in Lednické Rovne became a meeting place for artists from several countries, as well as theorists, curators, and glass experts, during the International Glass Symposium.
The symposium is curated by Patrik Illo, chief designer at RONA, visual artist, and Head of the Glass Studio at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, and Petr Nový, Czech art historian and Chief Curator of the Museum of Glass and Jewellery in Jablonec nad Nisou.

Understanding glass as a material—its properties, possibilities, and ways of working with it—is an important part of artistic practice. On the first day of the symposium, the participating artists therefore visited FunGlass in Trenčín to learn more about our research and explore the possibilities offered by modern glass science and technology.

The visit began with a presentation by Dagmar Galusková, Head of the Department of Glass Analytics, who introduced FunGlass and presented our main activities, research areas, and expertise. The guests then toured several laboratories, where they had the opportunity to meet our researchers and discuss their work. The conversations were informal, interesting, and fruitful, opening up a space for exchanging ideas between science and art.

Before dinner, the group continued their programme at another university facility, FabLab TNUNI, where they explored workshops equipped with a range of technologies that could potentially complement and expand their work with glass.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this inspiring meeting between glass art, science, and technology possible.

Over the course of five days, the invited artists created new works directly at the RONA glassworks, working together with experienced master glassmakers. The resulting pieces reflect the dialogue between artistic ideas, traditional glassmaking skills, and the possibilities of the material itself.

A selection of the works will be presented in an exhibition at the RONA Gallery. The exhibition opening will take place on Saturday at 10:00 AM on the grounds of the Lednické Rovne manor house.

You are warmly invited to attend and discover the works created during this year’s International Glass Symposium.