Ruskin Mill Land Trust

Neurodiversity - a living conference press release

The famous Hay Festival and Ruskin Mill Trust have joined forces to launch Neurodiversity: a Living Conference, a new two-day event exploring and celebrating neurodiversity, taking place Friday 27 & Saturday 28 July 2018 at Ruskin Mill, Nailsworth. Aimed at parents and professionals, the two-day event will feature talks, panels, performances and workshops that offer new perspectives on autism, creativity and engagement and trying the therapeutic and productive aspects of craftwork. Read more

Spirit of Invention

Heritage displays are going up in preparation for the Jewellery Quarter Festival in our new Hive Heritage Hub, BirminghamRead more

Christmas Craft Fair - Stallholder recruitment

We are currently recruiting stallholders for our Christmas Craft Fair which will be taking place at the Ruskin Glass Centre on Saturday 24th and Sunday the 25th November 2018Read more

Neurodiversity - a living conference press release

experienceCOLOUR opens 29 August

On 29 August 2018, the extraordinary exhibition experienceCOLOUR is open at Glasshouse Arts Centre.Read more

Please Read Our Updated Privacy Notice

We have made some changes to the Ruskin Mill Land Trust Limited Privacy Policy in line with new data protection regulations.Read more

Permission to Start!

The New Standard Works has received the official permission to start on the next phases of development from the Heritage Lottery Fund.Read more

British Glass Biennale Awards Announced

Thirteen Awards were presented to artists exhibiting in the 2017 British Glass Biennale, with three artists each picking up two awards. Joseph Harrington won Best in Show with his stunning piece 'St Helens ii'.Read more

2017 Festival - A Huge Success

The 2017 Festival was considered a huge success, with fantastic demonstrations, fascinating talks, lively entertainment, superb exhibitions and brilliant blue skies!Read more

Latest

Experience Turner and Goethe

Join an experiential workshop on JMW Turner in the context of the industrial revolution and Goethe's colour theory with artist and therapeutic education practitioner Dio Mock. J. M. W. Turner 1775–1851. The Fighting Téméraire tugged to her last Berth to be broken, 1839. (Detail) Oil on canvas, © Public Domain [2018]

Science and Stereotypes. A discussion about Women in STEM and society

Stephanie Green, Founder of Dauntless Daughters, discusses Science and the stereotypes we perpetuate. Stephanie is a equalities activist and artist, founding Dauntless in 2016 to combat the gender imbalance in children's literature. Stephanie believes that if we start at the beginning we can clearly see how we embed social norms surrounding Women in STEM in our very youngest children. Do we as a society need to address how we create academic disciplines that are inherrently gender biased?

Light Steps

Light Steps by DancingStrong takes young audiences into the magical world of colour, music and interactive dance. Created for 2-5 year old’s Light Steps centres on the exploration of the changing light of day through the experiences of endearing rag doll, Alex. Alex’s journey is overseen by friends, dancers and a musician, whose movement, music and dance mirror the rag doll’s feelings and curiosity as the journey of the sun across the sky are experienced.

Grains of Infinty: Ruskin, Turner and the Floors of Paradise

Ruskin initially defined colour in painting as inferior to form but his long love affair with the work of Turner led him into a deeper understanding of the complexity of colour and its relation to our most profound experiences in both the natural world and human creativity. With particular emphasis on the handling of paint, Howard Hull, Director of Brantwood, explores the transformation of pigments into messengers of the soul.

Plan your visit

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.

Hive Cafe and Bakery

The Hive Cafe and Bakery is now open! Providing a warm welcome in the heart of Birmingham's famous Jewellery Quarter, with delicious pastries, cake, bread and meals. Come and visit us. Try our coffee!

British Glass Biennale 2017

The flagship British Glass Biennale 2017 exhibition featuring work by 63 artists. Winner of Best on Show - Joseph Harrington with St Helens ii.

Why we exist

Our story

The seeds of Ruskin Mill Land Trust were sown in 1967 when Robin and Barbara Gordon transplanted their young sons Aonghus and Alisdair from the hothouse of the Ruskin Centre for Art Appreciation in Venice to the cold frame of a dilapidated former textile mill in Gloucestershire.

Freeman Biodynamic Garden at High Riggs

Located in Stannington bordering the Peak District the Freeman Biodynamic Garden provides fruit and vegetables for Freeman College, Brantwood Specialist School and the Fusion Café. Thanks to much hard work over the last three years High Riggs has been changed from a disused tree nursery to a new highly productive market garden.

Merlin Theatre

Transforming the Merlin Theatre has enriched the cultural life of Sheffield and provided cultural venue for Freeman College and Brantwood Specialist School..

Vale Head Farm

Vale Head Farm was an equestrian centre when we purchased it, and over the years hard work has seen it bloom into a beautiful biodynamic farm.

Aonghus Gordon MEd BA PGCE: Chair of Trustees

Aonghus has a distinguished track record of development and leadership of several ground-breaking charities that provide high quality environments and opportunities for people with a range of disabilities.

Aonghus Gordon: Executive Chair: MEd BA PGCE

Aonghus Gordon spent his formative years in Venice. He attended Rudolf Steiner schools and completed a BA in Ceramics and Art History followed by teacher training, gaining a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Breton Hall, Leeds in 1981. Aonghus completed his MEd from Rudolf Steiner University College in Oslo.