GAS appoints new board members

Twelve new board members have been elected to the Glass Art Society (GAS), including two names well known in the UK contemporary glass scene – Janine Christley and James Devereux.

Janine Christley worked for Ruskin Mill Trust for over 30 years and is also the Founder and Director of the International Festival of Glass – the major event for contemporary glass in the UK. In October 2024 this event will be taken over by GAS and Christley is joining the board to ensure a smooth and successful handover and a continued positive relationship with British glass artists and organisations.

James Devereux has been working in glass since the age of 15, when he discovered a natural talent for the craft. Specialising in hot glass, his skills cover solid forms as well as blown pieces. In 2008, he opened his first studio in Wiltshire, becoming the glass technician at the Royal College of Art in London a year later. In 2013 he established Devereux and Huskie Glassworks, with fellow glass artist Katherine Huskie.

Other new GAS board members, starting their roles on 1 October 2024, are Zach Abella, Phillip Murray Bandura, Lothar Böttcher, Michelle Bufano, Kate Dowd, Annabelle Javier, Dr Kayla Natividad, Natali Rodrigues, Julia Rogers and Danielle Ruttenberg.

Speaking about the appointments, GAS Executive Director Brandi P Clark stated, “We are in the midst of a transformative period at GAS as we expand internationally, and we are thrilled to be adding 12 new members to our Board of Directors. These talented individuals have a broad range of skills as seasoned professionals, administrators and artists whose expertise ranges from sustainability to fundraising and everything in between. We are confident these new board members will work with our current board and staff to make GAS the best organisation it can be.”