By Scott Davies, Manchester Metropolitan University
In August, Manchester Metropolitan University’s Glass and Ceramics workshops hosted a series of masterclasses as part of the International Festival of Glass (IFoG) 2026, which brought together internationally recognised glass artists from around the world to Manchester Met thanks to the hard work from their Technical Officers: Gemma Truman, Rudi Morris and Jess Hegarty.
Manchester Met were delighted to welcome these talented glass artists into their workshops to host the following masterclasses;
Ø Brenda Page – ‘Telling a Story in Glass: Kiln Casting and Image Making’
Ø Saman Kalantari – ‘Paper Thin Pâte de Verre’
Ø Agustina Ros – Flame Work: ‘Foundations For Creative Mastery’
Ø Lisa Zerkowitz & Boyd Sugiki – ‘Refining Form: Glassblowing Development’
The Masterclasses provided an exciting opportunity for the wider glass community to develop their skills and engage with contemporary glassmaking techniques. The Festival also highlighted the breadth of opportunities available through Manchester Met Technical Services, with their programmes providing valuable professional experiences for their students and graduates.
Commenting on Manchester Met playing an important role in the IFoG’s first event outside its historic home of Stourbridge in the West Midlands, Gemma said:
“When I heard that the International Festival of Glass was coming to the North West this year, I really wanted to take the opportunity to showcase the fantastic facilities we have here at Manchester Met. Our glass workshops support the whole School of Art, so hosting these masterclasses was a brilliant way to bring people together to share knowledge and create new connections across the creative community.
"It was also a great networking opportunity for our students and staff, and a particularly valuable experience for our Graduate interns, who were able to get involved behind the scenes and gain first-hand insight into working with an international festival.”
