The future site of Berlin Glas, a nonprofit art center projected to open in August 2011.
American-born Nadania Idriss, owner of the New Glass Art & Photography gallery she opened in Berlin in 2007, is spearheading the creation of a new nonprofit art center devoted to glass in this major art capital of Europe. Established as a nonprofit in 2009, Berlin Glas is scheduled to open in August 2011 in an industrial space that is still being renovated to accommodate a glass facility. The inspiration for the founding of Berlin Glas was the lack of opportunities to work in glass in Germany, where the only option for many artists is to connect with the few glass programs at universities or to rent space in glass factories. The goal of the new facility is to offer “a dynamic and modernized studio to a wide range of artists, students, and eventually the general public at an affordable price.”
The location of Berlin Glas was strategically chosen to offer both industrial space and proximity to the city's Mitte arts district.
As Berlin continues to grow in prominence as a center for contemporary art, Idriss also wanted to make sure there was a glass studio that “will provide an exchange between artists working with glass and the abundance of talents that are already in practice in the city.” To that end, the new facility is being set up in Mitte, which is an important arts district of Berlin.
The international roster of project organizers of Berlin Glas include Nadania Idriss, founder and director; Ryan Marsh Fairweather, gaffer and special projects Canada; Philip Bandura, gaffer and special projects Canada; Tim Bellivau, gaffer and special projects Canada; Hans-Martin Lorch, secretary; Miriam Kühn, fundraising and grantwriting; Youseff Khoury, architect, Scott Chaseling, artistic director; Jeff Ballard, gaffer and special projects USA; and Jay Macdonell, gaffer.
For more information, see the Berlin Glas Website.