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. We are currently planning the eighth International Festival of Glass - please do check in for updates, sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
The theme will be PLACEMAKING
Placemaking is a design approach that puts people at the centre and develops a sense of belonging. Placemaking invites us to participate in creating our immediate environment and think about its sense of identity. This could be understood through a weekend of glassmaking or by reflecting how generations of skilled craftsmanship and industry have shaped a locality; an international artist installing a piece of public art or a local school pupil just starting on the journey of making. Placemaking explores how the spaces we create are influenced by the landscape, the climate and the diverse people around us.
The festival will engage with this theme in the widest sense through technology, science, and art and imagination,encouraging a culture of participation where anyone can join in.
We look forward to meeting you in Stourbridge in August 2019 to celebrate one of the most fascinating and diverse art forms around.
image: Biscuits by Daisy Packham
The Festival would not be possible without our wonderful volunteers and we are always looking for people to join the team... Read more
The International Festival of Glass takes place at venues across the Stourbridge Glass Quarter. Entry to most Festival venues is free, however some activities may incur a small charge. A Festival Pass is required for entry to Ruskin Glass Centre over the four days. A Festival Pass allows entry to lectures, demonstrations, the British Glass Biennale and other exhibitions on site, and some performances. Read more