Feasibility Study - The Debate Continues

Earlier this year a feasibility study was set up to investigate the possibility of moving the Broadfield House glass collection to the Red House Glass Cone.

Whilst this move was rejected by Dudley Council (see below) the feasibility study is still an ongoing interest, which is now looking at alternative measures to promote the glass heritage of the West Midlands.

On the 9th of December 2009 Dudley Council will be holding a cabinet meeting to consider the stage one recommendations for the glass feasibility study and discuss whether to press ahead with plans to create a single glass heritage attraction.

For more information, please visit our our Broadfield House campaign page.

Broadfield House Saved!

After months of persistent campaigning Dudley Council has been forced to scrap plans to close Broadfield House Glass Museum and relocate its collections and archives.

In an email to Roger Dodsworth on the 20th October 2009 Duncan Lowndes (Assistant Director - Leisure and Cultural Services at Dudley MBC) confirmed Dudley Council's decision about the future of Broadfield House Glass Museum:

"The position is straightforward.

In both the joint Area Committee meeting and at Council the leadership clearly stated that Broadfield House would not be closing until the aspiration of an improved museum/visitor attraction had been realised and that there is no likelihood that this is going to be achieved in the short term. From that we can all conclude that the threat of closure to Broadfield House at the end of March 2010 has been lifted and that the site will continue operate until that vision of an improved facility has been achieved. So in short Broadfield House will continue to operate and the staff will continue to be employed there for the forseeable future.

At Cabinet in December a report will be presented on the Feasibility Studies findings thus far together with a plan for Stage 2 of the exercise which when completed is likely to identify the timescales and milestones that would be involved in the development of an enhanced facility. Clearly that is a key piece of work and we will be in a much better position to map out the future of the service once it has been completed.''

Please follow the below Links to read the full story behind the Council's decision.

www.birminghammail.net/campaigners-win-broadfield-fight
www.birminghammail.net/campaign-hails-museum-victory
www.bbc.co.uk/broadfield_house_feature.shtml

You can read more about the Glass Association's involvement with the Broadfield House crisis by visiting our Broadfield House campaign page.

Issue 88 of The Cone: Broadfield House Special

The latest issue of The Cone was published in September and almost half of the articles are dedicated to Broadfield House Glass Museum. These articles have been compiled into a PDF, which can be read here.

Glass Association 2009 AGM Report

For those of you who could not attend the Glass Association's Annual General Meeting, we have published an AGM report by Brian Clarke (Glass Association Chairman).

Click here to read the 2009 AGM report >>

The Glass Cone: Issue 87 (Summer 2009)

The latest issue of the Glass Association's publication 'The Glass Cone' is now available.

This is a bumper special issue, featuring 24 pages packed with half-a-dozen articles covering glass from antiquity to the present day.

Click Here For Contents Highlights >>

The latest glass related events and exhibitions:

Hidden Agendas: Susan Purser Hope

Václav Cigler: Light and Water as a Principle

Tiffany Glass: A Passion For Colour

21st Century British Glass: Broadfield House Collection Exhibition

More Events & Exhibitions >>

Events

The events page provides information about important glass related events, fairs, auctions and exhibitions.

You can also read about trips and events that have been organised for Glass Association members.

Visit Events Page >>

Glass Gallery

Visit the Glass Gallery to view various types of glass-ware and learn about different manufacturers.

Visit Glass Gallery >>

The latest specialist glass fairs and auctions:

The Cambridge
Glass Fair >>

SE21 – The Glass and Ceramics Fair >>

National Glass
Collectors Fair >>

More Fairs Info >>

Uranium Glass
An introductory article about the various uses of uranium in glassmaking. Read >>

The Cameo Glass of Thomas & George Woodall.
An introductory article about Thomas & George Woodall and their pioneering methods of producing Cameo Glass.
Read >>