Town set to shimmer (From Stourbridge News)

Town set to shimmer

3:23pm Tuesday 27th July 2010

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STOURBRIDGE will be shimmering this summer when the prestigious International Festival of Glass makes a return to the town.

The four-day celebration of glassmaking - taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend (27 to 30) - will see venues in the borough’s historic Glass Quarter bustling with exhibitions, craft activities, masterclasses, workshops and displays.

Sparkling creations crafted by top glassmakers can be seen in the British Glass Biennale - which runs throughout the festival up until September 11.

While Dudley Council’s museums will be hosting plenty of fun-filled events throughout the weekend festival.

Broadfield House Glass Museum, Compton Drive, Kingswinford, will be inviting visitors to step back in time to the 1940s and 50s for a Vintage Fun Day on Saturday August 28 - featuring music, dancing, story telling, games and home-made ice-cream.

Wordsley’s Red House Glass Cone, is hosting a fun filled ‘African themed’ family day out on Bank Holiday Monday August 30 from 10am to 5pm.

It will include a free activity trail, children’s craft workshops and youngsters can help create a giant African inspired mosaic in the courtyard.

American glass artist Marshall Hyde will also be creating glass animals in the hot glass studio.

Anyone keen to try out glassmaking can join in the ‘have a go’ glass engraving sessions, suitable for adults and children over eight, taking place at the cone on Saturday August 28 and Sunday August 29 from 10am to 4pm, at a cost of £1.75 per person.

Both attractions will also be running a free trail between the two sites, inviting youngsters to solve clues at both sites.

Amblecote’s Ruskin Glass Centre will be inviting kids under 16 to learn African drumming skills.

One hour workshops will run on Saturday August 28 at 2pm and 3pm - and there will be a short performance in the courtyard at 4pm.

On Saturday, Sunday and Monday there will also be drop-in sessions for children to create their own cut glass design.

Sessions will be held from 10am to 2pm on Saturday; 10am to 1pm on Sunday; and 10am to noon and 1pm to 2pm on Monday. Each design costs £2.

Visitors to the Ruskin Glass Centre will also be invited to look out for storyteller Guy Dugmore and to enter the ‘name the pony competition’, as part of the Brierley Hill pony sculpture trail.

Admission to the Ruskin Glass Centre is £9.50 for a four-day adult pass, £5 for an adult day pass and £1 for a child day pass.

Admission to the Red House Glass Cone and Broadfield House is free, although there may be a charge for certain activities.

Stourbridge’s Bonded Warehouse, Holy Trinity Church at Amblecote, the Dial Glassworks, Audnam, and The Lace Guild, Audnam, will also be hosting events.

All of the venues are within easy reach of each other. A shuttlebus service will operate between sites and free parking will be available.

For more information visit www.ifg.org.uk, email info@ifg.org.uk or call 01384 399410.

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