Every two years, there is a big event in the contemporary glass community – the International Festival of Glass (26-29 August 2022). This is held in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, which is the historic home of glassblowing in the UK. Several venues in Stourbridge and Wolverhampton open their doors to visitors from the UK and farther afield, offering masterclasses, workshops, exhibitions and events across the long weekend.

In addition, the exhibitions continue until 1 October 2022, so there is plenty to see in the coming months if you are a fan of contemporary glass. Find out more about the International Festival of Glass here.

Among the various exhibitions, the prestigious British Glass Biennale showcases the best of glass art from makers across the country. This year also sees the launch of the first International Bead Biennale. Plus there is a special focus on ‘Expanding Horizons’, featuring glass artists from Korea, Japan and China.

In addition, there is a regular exhibition of small works of glass art made by members of the Contemporary Glass Society (CGS). Over 100 submissions measuring just 11 x 15cm have been made on the theme of ‘Holiday Heaven’. The CGS Chair suggested that the glass art should be inspired by the countries of the Commonwealth, as the latest Commonwealth Games took place in Birmingham this summer.

I didn’t have time to submit a piece for the British Glass Biennale this year, but I made a postcard-sized piece for the Holiday Heaven show. It features the rolling hills and meandering streams of England, and is called ‘England’s Green and Pleasant Land’. It was made using the copper foil technique and I added a shiny bird in the sky and a swimming swan in the river to give extra texture and a 3D effect. Three millefiori glass beads feature as the flowers on the river bank and next to the little cottage is a picket fence. The fence is very small and was the trickiest piece to make.

All of the entries are for sale to raise money for the CGS, which is a charity supporting glass artists.

‘Holiday Heaven’ is on from 26 August to 23 September 2022 at the Ruskin Glass Centre, The Glasshouse, Wollaston Road, Amblecote, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY8 4HF. You can visit Monday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm.

UPDATE: I heard subseqently that this postcard piece was sold to master glass caster David Reekie during the International Festival of Glass. He loves it, I am told :).