Contemporary Glass Society

Overview

The Contemporary Glass Society is the UK's national membership charity dedicated to glass artists, makers, collectors and enthusiasts. Based in Brackley, the organisation represents and supports the contemporary glass community across Britain, promoting the craft and artistic practice of glass-making as a vital and evolving medium. Whether you are a practising glass artist, a serious collector, an emerging maker, or simply passionate about contemporary glass, the Society provides a dedicated platform for professional development, creative exchange and community engagement within this distinctive sector.

Who Should Join?

The Contemporary Glass Society welcomes a broad spectrum of individuals and organisations connected to contemporary glass:

• Glass artists and makers — professional and emerging practitioners working in glass as their primary creative or commercial practice
• Glass collectors — individuals with a serious interest in acquiring, studying or appreciating contemporary glass work
• Students — those training in glass arts, design, craft or related disciplines
• Educators and institutions — glass programmes, art schools, museums and galleries
• Enthusiasts and supporters — anyone with a genuine interest in contemporary glass culture, craft heritage and artistic practice

The Society operates as a membership charity, making it accessible to individuals and organisations at various levels of engagement and experience. Specific membership categories and eligibility criteria are available through the Society's official website.

Why Join?

Membership of the Contemporary Glass Society connects you to the heart of the UK's contemporary glass community. For practising artists and makers, it provides professional recognition, access to a network of peers working at all levels, and platforms for showcasing work. For collectors, it offers expertise, authentication support, and access to rare knowledge about contemporary glass practice and artists. For students and emerging makers, it provides mentorship, guidance and inspiration from established practitioners. For all members, it represents a tangible commitment to supporting and advancing glass as a living, evolving art form and craft discipline.

Joining signals your place within a community that values innovation, craftsmanship and artistic integrity in glass. It connects you to others who understand the technical, creative and commercial challenges of working in this medium, and provides practical pathways to develop your practice, expand your network and increase your visibility within the sector.

Member Benefits & Opportunities

Membership typically includes access to a range of professional and creative benefits designed to support glass practitioners and enthusiasts:

• Networking and community — connection with established and emerging glass artists, makers and collectors across the UK
• Events and exhibitions — opportunities to participate in Society-organised events, exhibitions and showcase activities
• Professional development — access to specialist knowledge, workshops, demonstrations and collaborative opportunities
• Publications and information — member communications, research, technical guidance and updates on contemporary glass practice
• Industry visibility — inclusion in member directories and profiles, enhancing your professional standing and discoverability
• Advocacy and representation — benefit from the Society's wider voice and influence on behalf of glass artists and makers within the cultural and creative sectors

The specific services available to members, including event calendars, publications and networking platforms, can be explored through the Society's website.

Industry Role & Professional Standing

The Contemporary Glass Society holds a distinctive position as the UK's representative body for contemporary glass arts and crafts. As a registered charity, it operates with a commitment to advancing glass as a medium of artistic and cultural significance. The Society plays an important role in:

• Promoting contemporary glass practice and raising public awareness of the medium's creative potential
• Supporting artists and makers through professional development, exhibition opportunities and community building
• Fostering knowledge exchange between practitioners, institutions, collectors and enthusiasts
• Advocating for the interests and value of glass arts within the broader cultural and creative sectors
• Building bridges between individual practitioners and the wider institutions, galleries and organisations that support craft and contemporary art

Membership of the Society connects you to this established professional community and demonstrates your commitment to the contemporary glass movement. For glass artists and makers, it provides professional recognition and a collective identity within a sector that values both innovation and craft heritage. For collectors and supporters, it offers deeper engagement with a vibrant and evolving artistic medium and the community of practitioners who sustain it.

Further information about membership categories, benefits, events and how to join is available at cgs.org.uk.