Let’s be honest: this is a tough time to be a maker.
Between skyrocketing costs, the loss of historic studio spaces, and a global climate that makes traveling and sharing work harder than ever, the creative sector is under pressure. These challenges aren’t abstract—we’re seeing them in our studios and feeling them in our community every single day.
But at the Glass Art Society, we know that intense heat makes magical things possible. We aren’t interested in just “preserving” the status quo or pulling back to wait for better weather. We are building right now. We are choosing depth over ease, and our focus is shifting from “maintaining” to “empowering,” especially for those facing the highest barriers to entry.
We’ve stopped asking how to keep things the same. Instead, we’re asking: How do we show up for artists who are fighting the hardest to stay in this game? We are moving with momentum, shifting our resources to where they matter most:
- Fueling the Next Generation: We’re doubling down on students and emerging voices. Programs like the MacPherson–Wortley Award and free memberships through GAS ♥️ Students aren’t just perks—they’re essential lifelines to keep the future of glass alive.
- Meeting You Where You Are: We are rethinking how we gather. From GAS Travels to the International Festival of Glass (IFoG) in the UK, we are moving beyond traditional centers to support vital glass communities where they live and work.
- Building for the Long Haul: We are committing resources to projects designed for steady, thoughtful growth. We are choosing impact that deepens over time rather than quick fixes.
We’re Not Slowing Down
This is a time for choosing support over comfort and care over ease. Even with the uncertainty ahead, GAS is leaning in—expanding our global platforms and acting as a megaphone for artists worldwide.
We’re grounded in our values and more confident than ever in the work our community is doing. Glass is a resilient medium, and so are the people who work with it.
That resilience is exactly why we are excited to kick off our Spring Appeal—focused on raising critical support for the programs that serve artists at every stage of their careers. From students finding their footing, to emerging artists building visibility, to established makers expanding their global reach, the programs we’re developing form the infrastructure that keeps our field alive and moving forward.
If you believe in a future where artists don’t just survive—but thrive—we invite you to make a gift this spring. Your support helps build the infrastructure and strengthens the opportunities and community that sustain glass artists worldwide.
March is also a time to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of women in glass. This month, you will read about Carrie Strope and the inspiring community mosaic she is leading at IFoG, hear from our Board member Annabelle Javier at Wissmach Glass, and discover other highlights that showcase the talent, creativity, and leadership shaping our field. Together, these stories reflect the richness, diversity, and vitality of the GAS network—and the many ways our community continues to connect, inspire, and grow.
Thank you for being the heart of our community. You make this work possible.
Brandi P. Clark,
GAS Executive Director + CEO