Book workshops and events at International Festival of Glass

Bookings are now open for a variety of events and workshops to be held during the International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge, West Midlands, from 23-26 August 2024.

Ruskin’s Seven Lamps: An Evening Spectacular

Previewing the Saturday night entertainment plan, Festival Director Janine Christley, said, “Walk the Plank thrilled us at the first ever festival back in 2004, so what better way to end our time at the Ruskin Glass Centre than to invite them back to create a fantastic Saturday night spectacle? Experts in outdoor celebration, for this event Walk the Plank have taken inspiration from Ruskin’s Seven Lamps to create an evening of music and fire.”

The centrepiece of the event will be a huge fire sculpture by artist Felix Rowberry, called ‘In the Balance’. Its globes of flame depict elements of today’s world as seen by children and young people.

There will be live music from the Boat Band to open the evening, with musician in residence, James Watts, collaborating with Brendan Murphy and his glass instruments on the closing music.

Book this event here.

Festival workshops

There is wide and varied programme of workshops, celebrating all that has been great about the Festival over the last 20 years, all that is being achieved in the glass world currently and looking forward to the future. There are workshops suitable for artists and families alike.

In addition to learning about glassmaking techniques, participants can try their hand at papermaking, weaving, felting and calligraphy.

Click here to browse workshops and book.

Accessible workshops and events

Thanks to Arts Council England funding, the 2024 Festival features a number of accessible events and workshops for Disabled/d/Deaf artists and visitors.

There are two free workshops with artist Julie Coakley for the blind and visually impaired. Julie will offer a workshop in three-dimensional drawing with glass and another in working in monochrome. Julie lost her sight at age 42, and so developed new methods of working to allow her to continue to work in kiln-formed glass.

On Friday and Sunday there are opportunities to explore the Festival with deaf artist Olivier Jamin. Olivier will introduce the exhibitions and activities and give translations explaining different glass terminology. He will be accompanied by a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter so hearing people can join the tour.

In addition, BSL interpreters will be available each day. Advanced booking is advised.

Festival partners’ activities

Stourbridge Glass Museum is embracing the Festival’s ‘Past, Present, Future’ theme with talks on Saturday and Sunday. Graham Fisher MBE will look at the past, discussing the decline of crystal factories and the emergence of studio glass; Terri L Colledge brings the audience to the present with a talk about the Naples blue vase project and contemporary cameo glass; finally Allister Malcolm looks to the future with sustainable electric studio glassmaking.

Riverside House will be holding a number of free workshops throughout the Festival weekend, offering the chance to try out glassmaking techniques. The popular Mango Mosaics workshops will return on Saturday and Sunday, followed by wire and fused glass workshops with Terri Malcolm on Monday. These free workshops must be booked in advance as places are limited.

The Contemporary Glass Society (CGS) and Stourbridge Glass Museum are working together to curate the ‘New Horizons’ exhibition, featuring new and recent work by over 20 talented CGS members.

Main image: Pan Gottic entertaining festival visitors at the last event in 2022.