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Courses in Stained Glass in Higher Education
The main institutions offering qualifications in stained glass are:
- Central St Martins
- The International Glass Centre, Dudley College of Technology
- University of Sunderland
- Swansea Institute of Higher Education
- Edinburgh College of Art
- North Wales School of Art and Design
- Wolverhampton University
The information below is a summary of each of the following points:
1 Name of institution2 Course(s) offered
2a Qualifications offered
2b Full- and/or part-time options
3 Facilities available (e.g. kilns?, leading benches?)
4 Processes included (e.g. glass painting, blowing, sandblasting?)
5 Course location and contact details
6 Website link
7 One sentence description of course ethos.
Central St Martins
1 Name of institution:
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. The University of the Arts, London
2 Course(s) offered:
2a Qualifications offered:
Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in 'Glass and Fine art' and 'Glass and Architecture' to run concurrently. 30 weeks a year, two days a week. Tutors include Valerie Olleon, Helen Maurer, Julian Ewart, and Caroline Swash with other visiting artists
2b Full- and/or part-time options:
ARTSCOM courses are short courses run by the commercial arm of the University. Kathy Shaw runs a Monday afternoon and evening course in stained glass, which is very successful. Julian Ewart, Helen Maurer and Valerie Olleon run a 1 day a week 'Foundation in Glass' course throughout the year. Saturday courses are run by Nick Collins and Julian Ewart in surface decoration and kiln formed glass. The ARTSCOM courses have the advantage of small numbers so lots of attention, but no certificate at the end.
3 Facilities available (e.g. kilns?, leading benches?):
There are two rooms at Central. The studio has enough tables for everyone to sit at with table light boxes. There is also a bench light box and two tables arranged for screen printing. The workshop contains a sandblaster, linnisher, flatbed grinder, fume cabinet and four kilns. The kilns are a ceramic kiln, an Essex and two Laser kilns.
4 Processes included (e.g. glass painting, blowing, sandblasting?):
These days there is great interest in fusing and slumping glass, sandblasting and acid work. Most leading up takes place in Kathy Shaw's class or is done by students at home. Glass painting and screen printing are also taught.
5 Course location and contact details:
Southampton Row WC1B 4AP, University of the Arts, London
6 Website link:
http://www.courses.csm.arts.ac.uk/
7 One sentence description of course ethos:
‘Aim to support students in the search for their language in glass.’
The International Glass Centre, Dudley College of Technology
1 Name of institution:
International Glass Centre, Moor Street, Brierley Hill DY5 3EP, West Midlands
2 Course(s) offered:
2a Qualifications offered
2b Full-time courses ·
Open College Network West Midlands. Glass Techniques and Technology (Level 2 and 3).
A 1 year full-time course with practical teaching of hot glass, lamp working, kiln working, cold glass decoration and stained glass assembly. Design and glass technology is also taught and underpins the practical sessions. The certificate may be used towards access to Higher Education, a diploma or degree course. The course is also suitable for the enthusiastic amateur who wishes to undertake a career change or acquire new skills. This course is highly acclaimed as an excellent course for degree graduates who are wishing to enhance and complement their abilities, or in some cases, for students taking a year from their degree studies to obtain better practical skills. The course is also popular with those students who have completed a Degree in Fine Arts and wish to explore the medium of glass. The course is free to UK and EU nationals. This course is highly acclaimed as an excellent course for degree graduates who are wishing to enhance and complement their abilities, or in some cases, for students taking a year from their degree studies to obtain better practical skills. The course is also popular with those students who have completed a degree in fine arts and wish to explore the medium of glass.·
Professional Development Award in Design (Glass Techniques and Technology)
The qualification is centre devised and is equivalent to post graduate study. Whilst no formal qualifications are required, it is desirable that applicants have a degree or extended experience within the specialised area of glass study. The course takes one year to complete and covers compulsory subjects coupled with the option to study one particular area of glass in depth. The qualification gained will be at either Certificate or Diploma Level (level 4 or 5)
The course is free to UK and EU nationals.
Part-time courses are available in:
Evening
Hot Glass Blowing
Cold Glass Decoration
Day
Stained Glass
Glass Painting
Tiffany Glass
Industry Specific Commercial Courses. Double Glazing NVQs if you are making up window, door frames or conservatories.
NVQ Fenestration Installation (Level 2) and Fenestration Installation and Surveying (Level 3) if you are installing and/or surveying window, door frames or conservatories.
3 Equipment and facilities:
The Centre is well equipped with a range of furnaces and machines, including the following:
Glassmaking facilities: two furnaces, six glory holes, six benches, three lehrs, moulds, press and hand tools
Kiln working area with ten kilns, all microprocessor controlled.
Decorative and cold glass working machinery including: sandblasting cabinets, diamond drills, diamond mitre wheels, diamond saw, engraving lathes, flatting and polishing facilities.
Stained glass studio equipped with: grinders, cutters, assembly boards, soldering irons, etc.
Lampworking facilities including:
oxy-propane burners, annealers and top-loading kilns.
Design suite with twelve networked computers. Software for 3D design work, with scanning and printing facilities and internet access.
4 Processes included (e.g. glass painting, blowing, sandblasting?):
Glass blowing, sand casting, lampworking,
Kiln techniques: painting, stains, enamels, lustres, slumping, fusing, pate de verre,
Stained glass assembly, Tiffany glass
Contemporary cold glass techniques: cutting mechanical polishing, copper wheel engraving, diamond point engraving, sandblasting.
Design and Glass technology is also taught.
5 For further details on all courses contact:
John Taylor, The International Glass Centre, Dudley College of Technology, Moor Street, Brierley Hill, West Midlands DY5 3EP
Telephone: 01384 363067
Fax: 01384 261090
john.taylor@dudleycol.ac.uk
glass.centre@dudleycol.ac.uk
6 Website link:
http://www.dudleycol.ac.uk/glass
7 One sentence description of course ethos:
‘This superbly equipped glass facility is staffed by subject experts and I describe it as the best-kept secret in the western hemisphere.’
University of Sunderland
1 Name of institution:
University of Sunderland, School of Arts, Design, Media and Culture.
2 Course(s) offered:
Glass, Architectural Glass and Ceramics.
2a Qualifications offered:
BA (Hons) Glass and Ceramics
MA in Glass, and from 2007, in Ceramics.
Research degrees in Glass or Ceramics: MPhil, PhD.
2b Full- and/or part-time options both offered.
3 Facilities available (e.g. kilns?, leading benches?):
An enamelling kiln, a number of top loading kilns, a large casting kiln; furnaces, glory holes and two lehrs for hotworking; a cold shop (with glass drill, diamond saw, flat beds, glass lathes and linishers) two sandblasters and an acid etching facility (under review). From 2007 there will be an extended print facility and a new light facility (for neon etc.).
The architectural workshop has four light boxes, six leading benches and a dedicated painting and enamelling area, as well as a long window wall for glass easels.
4 Processes included (e.g. glass painting, blowing, sandblasting?)
Most hot and cold glass working processes are available (see above).
5 Course location and contact details:
The courses are sited in the University facility within the National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Sunderland SR6 0GL
Team leader: Peter Davies email
Tel. 0191 515 3609
BA Programme leader: Colin Rennie email
Tel. 0191 515 3609
MA Programme leader: Dr Kevin Petrie email kevin.petrie@sunderland.ac.uk
Tel. 0191 515 3610
6 Website link:
http://welcome.sunderland.ac.uk
7 One sentence description of course ethos:
‘ We focus on developing intellectual and technical ability and an understanding of the chosen subject area in relation to personal development, together with an emphasis on the student’s acquisition of transferable skills with a specialist understanding of glass or ceramic production.’
Swansea Institute of Higher Education
1 Name of institution:
Swansea Institute, Welsh School of Architectural Glass
2 Course(s) offered:
Higher National Certificate
Higher National Diploma
BA (Hons) Architectural Glass
BA (Ord) Architectural Glass
BA (Hons) Stained Glass Conservation & Restoration
MA Glass
Short workshops & master classes
2a Qualifications offered:
Higher National Certificate
Higher National Diploma
BA (Hons) Architectural Glass
BA (Ord) Architectural Glass
BA (Hons) Stained Glass Conservation & Restoration
MA Glass
MPhil and PhD.
2b Full- and/or part-time options:
Both for all programmes
3 Facilities available (e.g. kilns?, leading benches?):
Selection of flat bed kilns of varying sizes up to 1 x 1 metre bed
Glass casting kilns
Glass painting kilns
Glass furnace
Two abrasive blasting cabinets in dedicated room
Acid etching bay
Edging / linnishing machines
Flat bed grinder
Glass drill
Glass saw
Flexible drive engravers
Wet back spray booth for airbrush enamels
4 Processes included (e.g. glass painting, blowing, sandblasting?):
Well-appointed dedicated studio space for glass painting / cutting, Lead glazing, glass finishing, acid etching, screen printing, airbrush work, dalle de verre, adhesive technologies, kiln work and glass casting, conservation and restoration.
5 Course location and contact details:
Welsh School of Architectural Glass, Swansea Institute, Alexandra Road, Swansea SA1 5DU
Tel: 01792 481179
Admissions tutor: Lisa Burkl
6 Website link:
7 One sentence description of course ethos:
‘Dedicated to education and training in all aspects of Architectural Glass Practice.’
Edinburgh College of Art
1 Name of institution:
Edinburgh College of Art
2 Course(s) offered:
BA Hons Glass and Architectural Glass
Postgraduate Glass and Architectural Glass
Masters (MDes) in Design
Summer course – stained glass
3 Facilities available:
Large stained glass room with 12 movable glass easels
4 m x 1.3 m fixed leading table, several smaller portable leading tables
Kilns: 1.5 m x 1.2 m flat bed
12-rack shelf kiln
Small flatbed test kiln
Additional 8 large casting kilns available to architectural glass students
Light benches
2 sandblasters
Large cutting table, shelves, misc.
Stained glass studio was custom built on top floor of building for maximum light potential.
4 Processes included:
Stained and architectural glass, glass blowing and casting, kiln forming and cold forming, including wheel-cutting and engraving, developing creativity, business and professional studies.
5 Course location and contact details:
The Registry, Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF;
+44 (0) 131 221 6027 registry@eca.ac.uk
6 Website link:
7 One sentence description of course ethos:
'We are committed to the promotion and development of glass as a valid and vital form of expression, within the fields of art, design and architecture.'
North Wales School of Art and Design
1 Name of institution:
North Wales School of Art and Design
2 Course(s) offered:
Applied Arts, glass specialism
2a Qualifications offered
BA and BA Honours
2b Full- and/or part-time options
Full time
3 Facilities available (e.g. kilns? leading benches?):
Fusing and casting kilns, 2 ‘speed burn’ gas kilns
Leading benches, light boxes with extractor systems for painting
Mould making room and cold working room with diamond saw, drill, hand-held water-cooled grinder and saw, flatbed grinder
Purpose-built studio and workshops, opening 2006, with easy access to the facilities of Ceramics and Jewelry/metalwork.
4 Processes included:
Painting, sandblasting, acid etching, engraving, fusing, casting and cold working
5 Course location and contact details:
NWSAD, 49 Regent Street, Wrexham LL11 1PF
6 Website link:
7 One sentence description of course ethos:
'The glass pathway at NWSAD introduces students to a comprehensive range of architectural and ‘warm glass’ techniques whilst encouraging a focused and dedicated approach to both creative goals and the use and development of specific techniques.'
Wolverhampton University
1 Name of institution:
University of Wolverhampton
2 Course(s) offered:
MA GLASS
BA (Hons) Design + Applied Arts (Glass)
2a Qualifications offered:
Ph D, M Phil, MA, BA (Hons), BA
2b Full- and/or part- time options:
Both MA and BA have full- and part-time pathways.
BA is 3 years full time, 5-6 years part time
3 Glass facilities available:
Well-equipped recently refurbished workshops, (2004), for all aspects of glass making - including hot shop with 2 furnaces, centrifuge machine, sand casting area: dedicated architectural glass room, plaster room and cold-process room. Sandblaster, engravers, crystal cutting wheels, diamond drill, etc. Dedicated kiln room with kilns for sheet glass, large and small-scale casting and all aspects of glass forming.
4 Processes included (e.g. glass painting, blowing, sandblasting?):
Blowing, hot glass casting, kiln forming and kiln casting, all aspects of surface working, including glass painting, sandblasting, engraving. All processes have potential for architectural glass application.
5 Course location and contact details:
Stuart Garfoot, Subject Leader, Glass Department, School of Art + Design, City Campus, University of Wolverhampton, Molineux Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1SB Tel: 01902 321648 E mail S.Garfoot@wlv.ac.uk
General enquiries: 01902 321000
Course enquiries: 01902 322222
Email: enquiries@wlv.ac.uk
6 Website link:
7 One sentence description of course ethos:
‘On this specialist BA (Hons) course students are introduced to all aspects of glass making in the first year, encouraged to explore their potential and develop glass making skills in the second year before selecting their individual preference for glass design and making in the third year.’
