GAS is excited to be leading the International Festival of Glass (IFoG) into its next chapter, and we are currently seeking proposals for both masterclasses and presentations for the 2026 Festival. Taking place in North West England from 27–31 August, IFoG will bring thousands of people to St. Helens, Liverpool, and Manchester featuring a mix of masterclasses, demonstrations, lectures, exhibitions, and other activities. IFoG was launched in 2004 to create an internationally renowned, vibrant festival celebrating the drama and excitement of glassmaking with an atmosphere of inspiration, social inclusion, and lively cultural exchange.
Featuring artists from around the world, each masterclass typically takes place before the Festival in various studios, offering 6-12 students at all levels the opportunity to learn new techniques. Masterclass instructors will receive £750 plus assistance with travel, accommodations, and food costs in exchange for teaching their masterclass and providing a lecture or demonstration during the Festival.
The call for masterclass proposals is currently open through 12 October. Have questions about the call for proposals? Reach out to ifog@glassart.org.
GAS is excited to be leading the International Festival of Glass (IFoG) into its next chapter, and we are currently seeking proposals for both masterclasses and presentations for the 2026 Festival. Taking place in North West England from 27–31 August, IFoG will bring thousands of people to St. Helens, Liverpool, and Manchester featuring a mix of masterclasses, demonstrations, lectures, exhibitions, and other activities. IFoG was launched in 2004 to create an internationally renowned, vibrant festival celebrating the drama and excitement of glassmaking with an atmosphere of inspiration, social inclusion, and lively cultural exchange.
Presentations include lectures, demonstrations, and other opportunities for both glass enthusiasts and the general public to learn more about glass during the Festival. These are designed to be less technical in scope and should keep the general public audience in mind. Festival presentations typically include artist talks and less intensive glassmaking demonstrations. The call for presentation proposals is currently open through 12 October. Have questions about the call for proposals? Reach out to ifog@glassart.org.
GAS is excited to be leading the International Festival of Glass (IFoG) into its next chapter, and we are currently seeking proposals for both masterclasses and presentations for the 2026 Festival. Taking place in North West England from 27–31 August, IFoG will bring thousands of people to St. Helens, Liverpool, and Manchester featuring a mix of masterclasses, demonstrations, lectures, exhibitions, and other activities. IFoG was launched in 2004 to create an internationally renowned, vibrant festival celebrating the drama and excitement of glassmaking with an atmosphere of inspiration, social inclusion, and lively cultural exchange.
The theme of the 2026 Festival, 'Local Innovation | Global Inspiration,' encapsulates GAS’s mission and will showcase how UK-based glass artists are paving the way for a glassy future, as well as highlighting the UK glass community's integral role in the broader global conversation around glass. The Festival is internationally recognised for its two keystone exhibitions: the British Glass Biennale and the International Bead + Jewellery Biennale. The British Glass Biennale is the foremost juried exhibition of excellence in contemporary glass by artists, designers and craftspeople working in the UK and British Artists working abroad. It is the flagship exhibition within the International Festival of Glass. The British Glass Biennale is open to artists, designers, craftspeople and students working in all areas of contemporary glass practice or using glass as a key design element who are British or are living and working in the United Kingdom. The emphasis is on new work demonstrating the highest level of excellence in design, creative imagination and technical skill.
The International Bead + Jewellery Biennale is the sister exhibition to the British Glass Biennale and is open to artists, designers, craftspeople and students of all nationalities worldwide who create beads or jewellery where glass is the key design element. We welcome all glassmaking techniques! GAS is excited to add a GAS Member Exhibition to the impressive line-up of Festival exhibitions. Open to all Members and Student Members of GAS, this exhibition will provide artists with the opportunity to show their work within the context of British glass and showcase their craft on an international stage.
GAS is seeking a curator to guide the vision of all three of these exhibitions. Emerging and established curators of all nationalities are encouraged to submit their applications. Each of the three exhibitions will also have separate juries with three international glass artists, curators, and other glass experts. Compensation for the curatorial work for these exhibitions will range from £10,000–15,000.
Timeline:
1 September – Call for curator opens
12 October – Applications for curator are due
17 November – All curatorial applicants will be notified of their status
2 December – Call for submissions for the British Glass Biennale, International Bead + Jewellery Biennale, and the GAS Member Exhibition will open
1 March – Call for exhibition submissions closes
12-13 March – Jurying for all three exhibitions will take place
27 August- early fall – All three exhibitions will be on view at The World of Glass (closing date to be confirmed)
Interested curators should apply via Submittable by the 12 October deadline. Have questions about this call for exhibitions curator? Please contact ifog@glassart.org.
Please review all aspects of this application as well as the Site Applicant's Resources Guide found HERE before continuing with your final submission.
The annual Glass Art Society conference is held in a different city every year. Every effort is made to choose cities with a focus on glass, a vibrant community, and with top-notch facilities. We are interested in creative proposals that consider the GAS mission and accommodate all required conference events.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Scholarships are available for students AND non-students.
- Scholarships are a benefit of GAS membership. Awardees must be GAS Members through June 3, 2026.
- You may not be a GAS Scholarship recipient in the last 3 years offered (recipients from 2025, 2024, and 2023 are not eligible).
- Scholarship recipients agree to provide an anonymous, short, detailed description about their conference experience for use by GAS in online and print media.
One application allows you to be considered for all scholarships, if eligible.
AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS
Takako Sano International Conference Scholarships
Takako Sano International Student Scholarships are generously supported by Akiko Sano and Natalia Saya Nagata in memory of Ms. Takako Sano. Scholarships are available for students and non-students living outside the conference country. Awards are given in USD in the amount of $1000. Funds are meant to assist with conference admission, travel, and lodging costs.
Eddie & Angela Bernard Scholarship
The Eddie & Angela Bernard Scholarship is intended for emerging artists and those who require financial assistance to attend the annual GAS Conference. Each scholarship can be used to help with conference admission, travel, and lodging costs. Three awards in the amount of $500 each are given.
Becky Winship Flameworking Scholarship
This program is generously funded by David Winship and Lisa Bieber of Glasscraft, Inc. This scholarship is given to eligible students whose work and studies use flameworking techniques. Awards are given in USD in the amount of $1000. Funds are meant to assist with conference admission, travel, and lodging costs.
Saxe New Voices in Glass Scholarship
The Saxe New Voices in Glass Scholarship was established by Dorothy Saxe and her late husband, George, to reward and encourage emerging talent in our field by providing financial assistance to attend the annual conference. Each scholarship is given in USD in the amount of $750 to be used for conference admission, travel, and lodging costs.
APPLICATION MATERIALS AND PROCESS
To help you prepare, you will be asked to submit the following within the application:
- Short essays - You will be asked to provide three (3) short essays of less than 500 words about why you wish to attend the Corning GAS Conference, how a scholarship will help you financially, and a personal statement about yourself. Please DO NOT include your name in any of these essays.
- Images of Work OR other supporting images - You do not have to be an artist to receive a scholarship, but you will be asked to submit up to 5 images or videos of glass (yours or inspirational work) as a part of your application.
- If you are a student, you will be asked to provide your school name and a professor/teacher/mentor email.