International Festival of Glass

International Festival of Glass - Daily Schedule

Featuring exhibitions, demonstrations, presentations and performances across four days in August. Stourbridge - not just the flames are hot! This festival will entice, delight and entertain, with something for ALL the family.

Free entry into all the festival venues.

KAPOW!

Download the full festival programme here!

Latest

Past Exhibitions

Our exhibition schedule may have been disrupted for 2020, but we still managed to put on three diverse exhibitions in the Hive Gallery before we closed. Take a look at 2020 so far...
Make a Great Get Together Mandala!

We can’t physically get together this year, but we can visually show our solidarity instead! Over the weekend 19-21 June, let's bring together in spirit thousands of people across the UK to weave Great Get Together mandalas from wool and sticks and hang our creations outdoors on trees, railings, fences and benches along with the message that we believe in the POWER OF COMMUNITY.
Birmingham's POWER OF COMMUNITY yarn bomb for the Great Get Together 2020

We are delighted to have teamed up with Birmingham More In Common for this year's Great Get Together to run a city-wide collaborative craft activity, bringing together 'in spirit' people from across Birmingham in the POWER OF COMMUNITY yarn bomb! Over the weekend 19-21 June make and display a Great Get Together-themed wool mandala somewhere outside. Snap it, share it! Find out more...
Open call for makers and creative practitioners

Are you a maker, designer or artist, perhaps you are a writer with a passion for storytelling or a creative practitioner with an interest in heritage? During the lockdown, we want to continue to support the arts community. We are looking to hear from creative practitioners with potential designs and ideas inspired by our building and its history.

British Glass Biennale 2019 - selected artists

The Ruskin Mill Land Trust, in association with the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers, is delighted to announce the artists for the 2019 British Glass Biennale exhibition. Over two days an expert panel of judges chaired by Róisín de Buitléar and comprising of Dr Jane Cook, Monica Guggisberg, Angel Monzon, and Cathy Shankland, selected the very best of this year’s entries, all of which achieved a very high standard.
British Glass Biennale 2019 – LATEST NEWS

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW PRIZE FOR 2019. The Glass Arts Society have confirmed they will sponsor an ‘International Artists Award’ with a fantastic prize of $1,500.
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'.
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!

Plan your visit

The International Festival of Glass takes place at venues across the Stourbridge Glass Quarter. Entry to all Festival venues is free, however some activities and events will have a charge.
Hive Cafe and Bakery

The Hive Cafe and Bakery provides 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! Please visit us at The Hive subsite. www.thehiveJQ.org
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.
Merlin Theatre

Transforming the Merlin Theatre has enriched the cultural life of Sheffield and provided cultural venue for Freeman College and Brantwood Specialist School..
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.
British Glass Biennale 2019 - selected artists

The Ruskin Mill Land Trust, in association with the Worshipful Company of Glass Sellers, is delighted to announce the artists for the 2019 British Glass Biennale exhibition. Over two days an expert panel of judges chaired by Róisín de Buitléar and comprising of Dr Jane Cook, Monica Guggisberg, Angel Monzon, and Cathy Shankland, selected the very best of this year’s entries, all of which achieved a very high standard.
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, FRSA, Executive Chair

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 disabilities. He is passionate about the need for people to break out of dependency and marginalisation, believing that everyone has the potential to shape their own future.
2015 British Glass Biennale

2015 British Glass Biennale