Competitions and Awards
Here we list any competitions and awards that are relevant to the stained glass community.
Royal Fusiliers Memorial Chapel Window Competition
The Royal Fusiliers’ Korean War Commemorative Window Committee invite proposals to design, manufacture and install a stained-glass window that fittingly commemorates the Korean War within the architectural and spiritual context of the Chapel and church.
The Korean War is too often called the “forgotten conflict.” This project aims to ensure it is remembered with dignity and gratitude through the installation of a new stained-glass window in the south aisle, Royal Fusiliers Memorial Chapel at Holy Sepulchre, London.
Competition launch
The competition will be formally launched on 14 October 2025. Follow this link to the competition page and registration links: 3. Commemorative Window — Holy Sepulchre London
Deadline: 12th October
Glass Biennale call for Presentations and Masterclasses
The International Festival of Glass (IFoG) moves to Northwest England on 27-31 August 2026 at venues in St Helens, Manchester and Liverpool. New organiser the Glass Art Society (GAS) has put out a call for applications for masterclasses and presentations.
IFoG takes place every two years in the UK and is the only festival in the UK that celebrates glass. The creative programme of activities combines the full spectrum of glassmaking with other art forms to push boundaries and develop new opportunities, ideas, and collaborations for makers, artists, and performers.
The flagship exhibition, the British Glass Biennale, is the largest and most important selling show of contemporary glass in the UK. The event also includes the International Bead and Jewellery Biennale, one of the foremost opportunities for beadmakers and glass jewellery artists around the world to showcase their craft.
As part of the 2024 Biennale we were delighted to c0- sponsor the inaugural Glass Painters and Glaziers Award , showcase the ‘Inspired by Morris’ exhibition and see several individual BSMGP members be selected and would encourage members to consider how to get in the mix for 2026!
Anyone interested in submitting a proposal for a masterclass or presentation must do so by 12 October 2025. Find out more and apply on the GAS website
Submissions for the British Glass Biennale, International Bead and Jewellery Exhibition and GAS Member Exhibition open on 2 December 2025.
Deadline: Friday 7th February 2024
CHESTER CATHEDRAL OPPORTUNITY
You are invited to tender for an exciting stained glass opportunity offered by Chester Cathedral. The Dean and Chapter are hoping to commission a design made in stained glass for a commercial building which has been returned to Chester Cathedral and will be used to improve the facilities the Cathedral is able to offer to the local and visiting communities.
The Cathedral is open to approaches using conventional leaded construction as well as more contemporary approaches to glass design. The design should represent the spiritual purpose of the Cathedral but should not present a barrier to entry for people of all faiths and none. One of the aims the Cathedral has for its use of the former school building is to establish a confident church presence in the City Centre. Preference will be given to designs that are, in the interests of the assessors, contemporary, invitational, inspirational and eye-catching.
Deadline for Designs and Costings: Friday 7th February 2024
Full details, including how to apply, are included in the tendering documents below.
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Deadline: 1st December 2024
NEW BREWERY ARTS and HERITAGE CRAFTS are seeking makers and craftspeople aged 25 and under to take part in an exhibition at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester in 2025.
The exhibition aims to highlight the wealth of skill, thinking, heritage understanding and imagination in the craft sector, played out in the hands of young makers and will take place from the 8th February to 24th May 2025.
We aim to excite and inspire audiences by including work that approaches craft through the use of:
1. Fresh Perspectives: We want to see work that brings innovative ideas and unique approaches to traditional techniques, challenging conventional norms and sparking curiosity.
2. Diverse Mediums: We want to showcase a variety of crafts and create a vibrant and dynamic exhibition.
3. Storytelling: We value the personal stories behind the work, this adds depth and allows audiences to connect emotionally with the makers and their journeys.
4. Community Connection: We want to highlight talent and foster a sense of pride and connection within the craft community, encouraging support for young makers, especially those that are underrepresented in the craft sector.
5. Sustainability Focus: Many young makers prioritise sustainability. We are keen to explore and inspire conversations and practices around responsible crafting including considerations into the cultural, social, economic and environmental impacts of heritage crafts.
6. Emerging Trends: The exhibition aims to showcase emerging trends in contemporary and heritage craft.
7. Heritage Skills: We want to show audiences traditional heritage crafts that are a fundamental part of our living heritage and the imagination and expertise of young makers.
