Last year's Glass Art Society conference, held in Berlin, Germany, was the first to be held outside the U.S. since the 2018 Murano conference. The shift to Europe for last year's event was part of the organization's 2019 commitment to hold its annual gathering of artists at international locations more frequently, which GAS Executive Director Brandi Clark has presented as part of her vision of the artist organization. In fact, Clark told the Glass Quarterly Hot Sheet her goal is to hold the event outside of the U.S. every three to four years. For the 2024 Berlin Conference, she reports an attendance of just under 1,000. While the upcoming conference in May 2025 will take place in Texas, GAS plans to continue to focus on planning to hold events internationally, including the 2026 International Festival of Glass in the United Kingdom, which it will take over and run (See "Handover: The British Glass Biennale and International Festival of Glass in Stourbridge prepare to be taken over by the Glass Art Society, which will run the 2026 editions of both events" by Emma Park, in the Winter 2024-25 edition of Glass, #177). The venue for the 2026 GAS conference is yet to be announced.
This year's GAS conference will bring the glass tribe to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area, which also includes Arlington, Texas. WIth the theme of Trailblazing New Traditions, GAS 2025 will unfold over four days designed to build connections across the international glass community through the sharing of skills and products. While the conference officially opens on May 14, 2025, separate tickets are available for special events two days before, including a Texas day trip and collectors’ tour on May 12, as well as the famous Firestarter event on May 13, which will feature a glass demonstration and an auction for classes at prestigious glass institutions.
The Society has hosted this conference each year since 1971 across the U.S. and as far away as Australia. This year's Texas location is the result of the open application process, where glass programs worldwide can offer to host GAS. Executive director Brandi Clark says that locations, and eventually venues, are chosen based on how well they align with GAS values, including diversity, equity, and inclusion. The University of Texas in Arlington, known for its diversity and accessibility efforts to accommodate all students, was selected as the main conference venue on this basis, alongside secondary venues like Grey Area Studio and SiNaCa.
The multitude of live presentations will make up the bulk of the conference. Over 50 artists will demonstrate their glass techniques to an enthusiastic audience, with everything from flameworking to neon the subjects. The presentations will take place in several different forms with some techniques experienced directly in a demonstration, some described through a lecture, and some artists combine the two.
The GAS market will provide opportunities for vending and networking (The deadline to register for a vending booth is April 14). The social contact made at the market often turns into lasting connections with fellow artists from around the world that would otherwise have been inaccessible. Vendors are also given the option to advertise in the GAS program and feature in the attendee tote bag- provided they apply online quick enough!
Outside of the exhibitions, a number of other activities will be available to draw attendants from all over the globe. One old favorite returning this year will be the Goblet Grab, an opportunity to view beautifully crafted objects donated by attendees. Another classic: the Portfolio Review, a highly sought-after opportunity for artists to have their portfolios examined by established professionals including gallery owners and curators. In addition, several relatively new activities that debuted in 2024 will be back by popular demand, including the Jewelry Trunk Show offering glass jewelry for sale, and the Film Festival, featuring glass-centric films from short student projects to full-length movies. The midday interactive programs, scheduled each day from 12 to 2, will invite attendees to consider topics like education, career growth, and sustainability as they relate to glass.
This year, the challenges to pull together the complex event has been only intensified by the new challenge of planning and organizing next year's International Festival of Glass, which GAS has taken over from the British organizations that had managed. IWoG has been a core element of contemporary British glass culture since 2004, particularly the British Glass Biennale, a juried exhibition offering prizes and exposure to the winning artists. Its undertaking is no small task, especially while preparing for the GAS conference every year. The handover to GAS aligns with the new go-global initiative, as well as with GAS' self-identified mission to promote the development and appreciation of the glass arts worldwide. Clark notes that there are marked differences in the audiences at the GAS conference and at IFoG.
"While the GAS conference's primary goal is to serve those already working in glass, the Festival has a very different scope," Clark wrote. "It provides a great opportunity to show the general public what our community is all about, the possibilities of the material, and the opportunities within the glass industry."
Although GAS has made new changes this year, most notably the decision to end the publication of GAS News, the procedures for GAS conference applications, registrations, and memberships has remained the same. Vendoring at the market and presenting in most of the exhibitions are still restricted to members-only, but a GAS membership is not required to attend the conference and interact with these programs. A number of registration options are available for all types of attendees, including children, disabled attendees, and international guests.
IF YOU GO:
2025 Glass Art Society Conference
"Trailblazing New Traditions"
May 14 - May 17, 2025
Arlington and Fort Worth, Texas
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