The Glass Art Society (GAS), a global organization of artists, designers, institutions, and businesses dedicated to glass art, announced that its 2025 conference will be held May 14-17, 2025, in Arlington and Fort Worth, Texas. The conference brings together over 1,000 glass artists, professionals, businesses, and institutions from more than 20 countries to explore new techniques and ideas while providing a critical avenue for professional development.
“We are excited to bring our global glass community to Texas in 2025,” said Brandi P. Clark, executive director of GAS. “The glass organizations in the area are doing phenomenal work within their communities and bringing access to glassmaking to underserved audiences. Our conferences are not only spaces for glass art innovation and education, but also bring attention to glassmaking communities people may not be aware of and we are thrilled to highlight the vital work being done in Texas.”
The conference theme, Collective Brilliance: Trailblazing and Illuminating Paths to Progress, focuses on the work being done in Arlington and Fort Worth. Most of the conference activities will be hosted at the University of Texas at Arlington, where the glass department is run by Justin Ginsberg. “The GAS Conference provides a unique opportunity to invite the global glass community to our backyard and we are excited to host presentations in our state-of-the-art facilities, including a metal foundry, wood shop, and print shop,” said Ginsberg.
Activities will also take place at SiNaCa Studios, in the Near Southside Arts Cultural District of Fort Worth. The team at nonprofit SiNaCa Studios fueled the movement to bring the international GAS conference to North Texas as part of the organization’s mission to provide world-class education in glass art that impacts the community locally.
Clifton Crofford, SiNaCa Studios Executive Director, states “Fort Worth is known for its reputation as a world-class arts destination. The glasswork outreach and education we’re doing at SiNaCa Studios is one dimension of that. Hosting the GAS annual conference in our hometown and bringing the international glass arts community here illustrates the relevance and importance of the local glass art scene.”
The call for presentation proposals will open on May 29, 2024 at glassart.org and will be open until July 14. Registration for the conference will open on November 11, 2024.
