International Festival of Glass shows the cutting edge of ancient tradition
Terry Grimley previews Stourbridge’s fourth International Festival of Glass.
Glassmaking in Stourbridge may no longer employ the numbers of people it once did, but anyone who imagines the ancient craft is extinct in this corner of the Black Country should pay a visit to the International Festival of Glass later this month.
This now well established four-day event returns to venues across the Stourbridge Glass Quarter over the Bank Holiday weekend, from August 27-30.
A packed programme of events aimed at professionals, collectors, the general public and the local community includes the now familiar mix of master-classes, hands-on workshops, lectures and exhibitions.
Visitors can catch up with the latest ideas and techniques in contemporary glass design, bid for a piece in the Fun Auction, and even try their hands at glass-blowing and engraving.
At the heart of the festival is the British Glass Biennale, a nationally important exhibition now returning for the fourth time. This unique review of the best in contemporary British glass continues at the Ruskin Glass Centre until September 11.
This year’s Biennale, selected by five distinguished judges, consists of 96 pieces by 62 artists, chosen from an open submission of 446 submitted by 202.
“This is the fourth festival, and it’s building on the success of the previous three,” says festival organiser Natasha George.
“It’s very difficult to describe because it appeals to so many different groups – professionals, amateurs, members of the public, galleries and, very importantly, the local community.
“We’ve got a fantastic range of talks, including one on the archives of Chance Brothers, who made things like lighthouse lenses in Smethwick. We have international artists leading masterclasses and tons of have-a-go sessions for children.”
Perhaps the most unusual workshop will be led by Nomodo Djaba, whose family have made glass beads in Ghana since the 15th century.
