Glass museum offering free glass workshops thanks to funding

The museum in Camp Hill, which is run by volunteers, showcases and celebrates the rich heritage of glassmaking in Stourbridge through its exhibitions and live demonstrations.

Now, thanks to a grant from enfinium Kelvin, the museum will run a series of free glass fusion workshops for the community.

The funding has been awarded as part of a £50,000 Community Benefit Fund from the enfinium Kelvin facility in West Bromwich.

Eleven workshops will run monthly over the course of a year and will be free of charge to increase accessibility for underprivileged groups.

The workshops will also champion sustainable, low-carbon practice by using renewable energy from the museum’s own solar panels on site. These will be used to heat recycled glass to create fused art pieces, such as decorative objects and jewellery.

Alexander Goodger, director of Stourbridge Glass Museum, with glass artist Terri Colledge (Image: Stourbridge Glass Museum / enfinium Kelvin)

The museum is the first glass studio in the UK to use entirely renewable energy and to rely entirely on recycled glass.

Alexander Goodger, director of Stourbridge Glass Museum, said: “We’re really grateful for the support from enfinium with this grant. These workshops will help us deliver engaging, fun and accessible art activities for young people who might not have these opportunities at home or at school. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate Stourbridge’s rich glass making heritage – and have a local business in the area help preserve that.”

Chris Swanick, project manager at enfinium Kelvin, said: “We’re pleased to be able to announce funding for the museum. It’s an important local charity that’s working to promote the area’s history while upskilling local people in a creative and modern way – particularly in the use of recycled glass and renewable energy. It also aligns with our commitments to supporting efforts to decarbonise and companies that promote these efforts. That’s why we’re excited to be a part of this initiative helping make these educational workshops available to all.”

enfinium’s £50,000 Community Benefit Fund has been made available to community groups and organisations in Sandwell and the surrounding area through enfinium Kelvin, which is currently under construction and scheduled for completion in 2025.

The Community Benefit Fund is open for applications from projects or organisations that will directly benefit communities neighbouring the facility’s site.

Organisations based outside of this area are also eligible to apply for grants, as long as they can prove how funding would have a beneficial impact on these communities. Applications are welcomed from registered charities, schools, places of learning, not-for-profit companies, community organisations and groups – including those supported by public funding.

All applications must demonstrate that the project or event in question will deliver environmental benefits such as the promotion of clean energy, waste reduction and / or recycling improvements, improve standards of health, safety and wellbeing or enhance the wider community such as by promoting skills and educational development, environmental improvements or activities that boost community cohesion.

Application criteria and application forms can be downloaded from the project website www.enfinium.co.uk/facilities/kelvin or for more information call 0800 422 0036 or email kelvin@enfinium.co.uk.