Stourbridge Glass Quarter to host International Festival of Glass

A host of exhibitions, workshops, talks and events will take place at Wordsley's Red House Glass Cone during the festival which runs from August 23 to 26.

Exhibitions at the cone in Camp Hill will see work showcased by Haybridge High School’s sixth form and Dudley Council's adults and community learning team.

Meanwhile - artists over the road at the White House Cone Museum of Glass will be displaying their works in an exhibition entitled We Made It (at the WHC).

Those exhibiting include: Darren Weed of DWGlass who will be showcasing his latest graal pieces with intricate illustrations encapsulated within the glass; Madeleine Hughes - a recent graduate from the University of Wolverhampton who joined the hot glass studio almost a year ago; Terri Malcolm who produces pieces from reclaimed and recycled material; and Allister Malcolm - resident glass artist at WHC - will be showcasing of his latest sculptural one-offs.

Simon Bruntnell will also be showcasing his work in his studio space along the canalside which will be open daily from 10.30am to 4pm.

The museum itself will be open 10am to 6pm and the Hot Glass studio will be open with demonstrations taking place from 10.30am to 5.30pm.

Wordsley’s Lace Guild will be staging a ‘pLACEmaking’ exhibition, inspired by pieces of glass, which will run at the guild’s home at the Hollies, 53 Audnam, during the festival and continuing until September 27.

Back at the Red House Glass Cone - Dudley’s geological history will be celebrated with a small exhibition focussing on the area’s rocks and fossils, which will compliment a talk by Graham Worton, Keeper of Geology, on Friday August 23.

The Black Country Bostin Fittle and Talk will look at the borough’s remarkable geology and the role it played in glassmaking, and the event will include a portion of faggots and peas, a glass of wine or pint of beer or cuppa.

Times are 5pm to 6pm for the fittle and 6pm to 7pm for the talk.

Places cost £15 per person and should be pre-booked on 01384 812750.

Also at the cone - children and adults can make a piece of fused glass in Creative Glass: My House on Friday August 23 or Creative Glass:Our Place on Saturday August 24.

The sessions last one-and-a-half hours, cost £12 per person and must be booked in advance on 01384 815571. Sessions run from 10.30am to 12pm, 1pm to 2.30pm and 3pm to 4.30pm

Two glass painting sessions for youngsters aged four and over run on the same days from 10.30am to 3.30pm. No booking is required, and sessions cost £3.50 per child.

On Saturday August 24, from 2pm to 3pm, Jayne Pilkington, the council's senior conservation officer, will give a free talk on the borough's glass industry entitled 'Archaeology Post Medieval Urban Glass Industry of Stourbridge and Dudley'.

A talk and a side order of chips will follow that evening.

From 5pm to 6pm visitors can enjoy a Mini Fish and Chip Supper (which includes a glass of wine or pint of beer or tea and coffee); then from 6pm to 7pm Dr Kate Round will talk about ‘Glassmaking – Our Place in the World’ which looks at why glassmakers settled in Stourbridge and the role of women in the glass industry.

Places for the supper and talk cost £12 per person and should be pre-booked on 01384 812750.

Bonhams auction house will host a valuation day at the cone on Sunday August 25 from 11am to 3pm.

People can take along treasured glass, ceramics, clocks, works of art, silver and pictures for valuation.

It costs £2 per item, £5 for 3 items maximum and all proceeds will go to the Red House Glass Cone. No booking is necessary.

The valuation day will take place in the upstairs gallery which has restricted access and is not suitable for wheelchair users. Bonhams will not be able to value jewellery at this event.

Malcolm Andrews will talking about his life as a glassblower in an event which will include afternoon tea, incorporating wine or beer, accompanied by the Mercian String Quartet.

The talk, including a glassblowing demonstration, will take place from 2pm to 3.30pm with afternoon tea available from 3pm to 4.30pm.

Places cost £15 per person and should be pre-booked on 01384 812750.

Glass specialist Charles Hajdamach will talk about The Life and Times of the Red House Glass Cone in an event at the cone which includes a pint, a glass of wine and some Black Country ‘Bostin Fittle’.

The fittle is served 5pm to 6pm with the talk will run from 6pm to 7pm. Places cost £15 per person and should be pre-booked on 01384 812750.

A free fun day will also run at the cone on Bank Holiday Monday August 26 from 10am to 5pm.

Children’s entertainer Ron Popple will entertain the crowds with his Punch and Judy show and balloon modelling.

Children can take part in trail and there will be craft activities for youngsters and adults to make and take home. A jazz band will play from 1pm to 3pm.

One of the highlights of the festival - the British Glass Biennale - will take place at the Ruskin Glass Centre at Amblecote and will feature contemporary work by 74 artists, plus workshops, masterclasses, live music and entertainment.