Glass Art Society to run International Festival of Glass from 2026

Following a call from the organisers of the International Festival of Glass (IFoG) and the British Glass Biennale for someone new to run these two-yearly events from 2026, the Glass Art Society (GAS) has been chosen to take on the role.

In May 2023, Ruskin Mill Land Trust, which has managed the IFoG for the past 20 years, announced that 2024 would be the last year it would oversee the event, which sits at the heart of the UK’s contemporary glass calendar.

IFoG Director Janine Christley said, “The GAS conferences have always been an inspiration to the Festival team. We are constantly impressed by the air of colleagueship and excitement, as well as the skill and professionalism in hosting such complex events. I am personally excited by the way GAS is expanding outside of the US to become a global network for the glass community and am thrilled that the Festival will benefit from these connections. The alternative Festival structure will also give GAS an opportunity to explore interacting with the general public and how to develop new audiences. There are going to be exciting times ahead.”

GAS will work with the Ruskin Mill Land Trust team on the 2024 festival, before officially taking the reins for 2026.

While the GAS conference focuses on bringing glass artists together and creating educational and networking opportunities to help further their careers and practices, the Festival is designed to showcase the artists, techniques and history of the dynamic glass community to the public.

Over the past few years, GAS has moved to make itself more global, through initiatives such as adding more board members outside North America, hosting conferences in Europe, and partnering with other glass organisations to highlight the work already being done to promote the glass community globally.

GAS Executive Director Brandi P Clark stated, “We plan to honour the history of the Festival while adding a GAS spin to it, and you can expect to see many new partnerships and opportunities emerge as we get closer to 2026!”

The GAS team and Ruskin Mill Land Trust are already working together on the 2024 Festival, which takes place from 23-26 August 2024.

The Contemporary Glass Society has always had a close affiliation with the IFoG and British Glass Biennale and looks forward to continuing this relationship in 2024 and beyond.

Find out more about the International Festival of Glass at www.ifg.org.uk and about the British Glass Biennale at www.glassbiennale.org.