Exhibition Brief: Glasgow 850 – Celebrating 850 Years of Creativity in Glass
We are excited to invite glass artists to participate in a unique exhibition that celebrates 850 years of Glasgow’s vibrant history, culture, and creativity. In honour of this milestone, we are seeking small-scale glass works of art that reflect the spirit, transformation, and diversity of the city over the past 850 years.
The theme of the exhibition is “Glasgow 850” — a tribute to the city’s rich heritage and its ongoing journey. Whether it’s a nod to Glasgow’s industrial past, its cultural renaissance, or its modern identity as a hub of art and innovation, we invite you to interpret this iconic anniversary through your glass art.
Artwork Specifications:
- Dimensions: Works must be either 20cm x 20cm or 30cm x 30cm and square. The frame/edge of work needs to be a max of 10mm deep. This is the overall dimensions of your work, either in or out of a frame. The display is specifically sized, therefore anything that is too big or too small cannot be displayed.
- Medium: All glass methods are welcome, including but not limited to fused, blown, cast, and stained glass. They just have to square, 2-dimentional and at least 60% glass.
- Subject Matter: Your piece should capture something meaningful about Glasgow, such as its people, architecture, landscapes, or history — past, present, or future. We want to see your artistic interpretation of what makes Glasgow special and significant over 850 years.
The Exhibition:
The exhibition will be taking place at several locations across Glasgow from August through to December. The locations include Glasgow Cathedral, the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society, The Trades House of Glasgow and WASPS Parade Artists. There may be more venues.
All work will be displayed on a purpose built, back lit A-Frame. The frame has shelving spaced 20cm and 30cm apart and can display up to 72 pieces.
Why Participate?
This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work to a wider audience and contribute to a momentous cultural event in the city’s history. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or an emerging talent, we encourage you to share your personal vision of Glasgow through the timeless medium of glass. Let your creativity shine and become part of this landmark celebration! So, what is the participation criteria?
- You have to be a Scottish Glass Society member
- There is no application fee
- There is no selection process
- Your work must be for sale
- There is a 20% commission fee on all sales
- There is no upper or lower price limit (keep it reasonable if you want it to sell)
- There is no limit to the number of pieces you can exhibit
How to Submit:
Notify the Secretary (sgssecretary@hotmail.co.uk ) by Monday 30 June 2025 of your intention to exhibit, how many pieces, and the sizes e.g. 20×20 and/or 30×30.
Your completed work must be submitted by Monday 11August 2025
Submit your completed pieces to the Scottish Glass Society, Studio 10, 77 Hanson Street, Glasgow G31 2HF
You MUST have insurance for the exhibition of your piece. The SGS will not insure your work, however the utmost care will be exercised when transporting, handling and displaying your work.
All unsold work can be collected from the Scottish Glass Society (address above) from 31 December 2025
Contact:
- Any questions please contact: sgssecretary@hotmail.co.uk
Glasgow 850 Application Form Link –
