The Creative Glass Center of America at WheatonArts and the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass bring you GlassWeekend '11, an International Symposium and Exhibition of Contemporary Glass. Since 1985, GlassWeekend, a biennial event, has brought together the world’s leading glass artists, collectors, galleries, and museum curators for a three-day weekend of exhibitions, lectures, hands-on glassmaking, artists, demonstrations and social events.

GlassWeekend ’11 will be held at Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, home of the Creative Glass Center of America and the Museum of American glass. WheatonArts is located 45 minutes from both Philadelphia and Atlantic City, and less than three hours from New York City and
Washington, D.C.

The proceeds of GlassWeekend benefit the Creative Glass Center of America Fellowship Program, providing working fellowships to ten individual artists from around the world each ear. Additionally, as the event’s co-presenter, the Art Alliance for Contemporary Glass dedicates portions of the proceeds to help fund Museum exhibitions that further the development and appreciation of art made from

The CGCA has awarded 330 fellowships to emerging and mid-career artists, from the US and 25 other countries. Artists are encouraged to use this opportunity to develop and refine their work, while experimenting with glassmaking processes. The collaboration and exchange of ideas among the Fellows enhances a productive climate, supporting the discovery of new vision and resources.

Demonstrations take place over the weekend on a rotating schedule in the Glass Studio. A private demonstration for GlassWeekend registrants is scheduled for Sunday morning. Past guest artists include: Dale Chihuly, Lino Tagliapietra, Bertil Vallien, Stephen Powell, Richard Marquis, Martin Blank, Einar and Jamex de la Torre, Therman Statom, Kjell Engman, Richard Jolley, Dante Marioni, and Janusz Pozniak.

Internationally respected art galleries show the most current work of 200 professional artists working in glass making this event one of the most exciting and extensive presentations of museum quality glass vessels and sculpture ever assembled in one location. The Gallery Exhibition is housed in a 10,000 square foot, fully air-conditioned Event Center.

See the 2009 Gallery Listing

Weekend registrants benefit from an extensive schedule of programming. The weekend begins with a preview reception of the gallery exhibition on Friday evening, continues with a reception in the Museum of American Glass and dinner on Saturday evening and culminates with a private demonstration on Sunday morning by the guest demonstrating artists. In between, participants have the option of attending slide presentations from the guest artists and CGCA Fellowship artists; panels and breakout sessions with contemporary glass artists, museum curators, gallery owners and collectors; and participate in a FunRaising auction that directly benefits the CGCA Fellowship Program and the AACG’s educational efforts.

A huge educational asset to GlassWeekend is the Curators Program started in 1993. Since that time, 46 Museum curators and directors have attended GlassWeekend as guests; most all have participated in the panels and breakout sessions with glowing praise from past GlassWeekenders. The curators themselves have also thoroughly enjoyed themselves, the program, demonstrations and connections to glass artists and collectors.