Artefacts of the Future – Celebrating Excellence in Contemporary Glassmaking

9 April 2026

Stourbridge Glass Museum has launched the Artefacts of the Future Awards, a new international competition celebrating excellence in contemporary glassmaking.

Four winning artists will each receive:

• £1,000 acquisition prize (inclusive of materials, production, and delivery).
• A commemorative trophy.
• An official certificate recognising their work as an Artefact of the Future Award winner.
• Each winning piece will be acquired for the museum’s permanent collection and displayed with dedicated interpretation celebrating the artist and their practice.
• Non winning artists will be featured on the museum’s social media sites.

The competition is open to glass artists worldwide, working in any technique, from blown and kiln-formed glass to cast, sculptural, and mixed media- provided glass remains a central component of the finished work.

• The winners will be announced during A Celebration of Glass, the Stourbridge Glass Festival, hosted on the weekend of 21st August 2026, with the awards presentation taking place as part of the festival celebrations.
• The winning works will go on permanent display from 1st October 2026.
• Entries will be judged by a distinguished panel comprising museum curators, renowned glass artists, and members of the museum’s collections team.
• There is a £10 fee for up to 3 entries.