Raising a glass to talent on at International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge

It’s the festival’s 15th year, and the crowd only seemed to get bigger – with the sunny weather bringing visitors out to discover more about the town’s glass-blowing heritage. The event celebrated 50 years of Studio Glass worldwide and 400 years of glass making in Stourbridge.

Enthusiasts, local families, and tourists from afar visited Stourbridge Glass Quarter to be amazed and enthralled at the workshops, demonstrations and artists sharing their love for glass during the festival.

Oliver Cheney, executive principal of Ruskin Mill Trust, which helped organise the festival, said thousands of people had walked through the doors to enjoy this year’s four-day event.

He said: “It was a real success. We were blessed with the weather as we always seem to be the weekend of the festival!

“We’ve had thousands of visitors although we’re not too sure of the final number yet. We’ve had lots of interest in the history of glass in the local area.

“It’s something the local community have become really proud of over the years, so it’s really great to be a part of it.

“A high number of our students at Glasshouse College are autistic, or have other learning difficulties, so for them to have this opportunity and be a part of the festival, and contribute to the local community, is amazing – it’s a really big thing for them. It’s something they can be proud of.”

Visitors were able to view interesting exhibitions, participate in glass related activities and listen to educative talks in the historic Red House Glass Cone in Stourbridge, which created glass tableware for the ill-fated Titanic.

The festival of glass ran from Friday to Bank Holiday Monday – yet some exhibitions will continue into the autumn. This festival, the theme was ‘placemaking’ – a design approach that puts people at the centre and develops a sense of belonging.