As the International Festival of Glass arrives in St Helens for the first time, the district’s world-changing heritage is helping shape a new creative future.
When people think about the Liverpool City Region’s global influence, music, maritime heritage and sport often take centre stage. Yet few places can claim to have shaped the modern world quite like St Helens.
For generations, the town stood at the forefront of glassmaking innovation, producing materials, expertise and ideas that travelled across continents and helped transform industries. Its name became synonymous with a craft that quite literally changed how people see the world.
This summer, that extraordinary legacy enters a new chapter.
For the first time, the International Festival of Glass will be hosted in St Helens, marking both the event’s debut in the borough and its first-ever appearance in the North West. Artists, makers, collectors, educators and enthusiasts from across the UK and overseas will converge on the town, turning it into a global meeting point for one of the world’s most innovative creative disciplines.
Organised by the Glass Art Society (GAS), the event promises far more than exhibitions and demonstrations. It is an opportunity to celebrate a living heritage, showcase contemporary creativity and introduce new audiences to a place whose connection to glass remains as relevant today as ever.
To find out why St Helens was chosen to host such a significant event, and what it could mean for the future of the borough and the wider Liverpool City Region, we spoke to Jennifer Allison, Events and Programme Manager at the Glass Art Society and Sarah Taylor, Executive Director at The World of Glass.
Jennifer:
“It’s a really exciting moment for St Helens. This will be the first time the International Festival of Glass has been held here, and the first time it has come to the North West.”
“For the Glass Art Society, St Helens felt like the natural choice. Its place in the history of glassmaking is recognised across the world. We saw a genuine commitment to celebrating the craft, supporting artists and engaging local communities.”
The Biggest Surprise for First-Time Visitors
Sarah:
“I think many people arrive expecting a story rooted entirely in the past, and they’re often surprised to discover how vibrant and relevant the glass community still is today.”
“The World of Glass brings together heritage, contemporary practice and public engagement. Visitors quickly realise that glass isn’t just part of St Helens’ history. It’s still very much part of its identity.”
“People are also often surprised by how accessible The World of Glass is. Situated between Liverpool and Manchester, it’s easy for visitors to explore the area and incorporate the Festival into a wider trip.”
Jennifer:
“The Festival includes major exhibitions such as the British Glass Biennale, alongside the International Bead and Jewellery Biennale and the International GAS Member Exhibition. Together, they showcase an incredible variety of work and perspectives from across the glass world.”
“There are very few events that bring together so many different parts of the international glass community in one place, and that’s what gives the Festival its unique atmosphere.”
Why Events Like This Matter
Sarah:
“Glass is woven into the fabric of St Helens. Generations of glass workers shaped the town, while the Sankey Canal connected St Helens to Liverpool, bringing in the raw materials that helped the industry grow. That shared industrial history is part of the story we celebrate through the International Festival of Glass.”
“We’re proud to host the International Festival of Glass and celebrate what makes this place so distinctive. It’s an opportunity to showcase something people can’t experience anywhere else and to share our glass heritage with an international audience.”
“Events like this attract visitors and encourage them to stay longer, explore more and discover places they might not otherwise have visited. For St Helens, the opportunity extends beyond cultural recognition; it also brings tangible benefits for the visitor economy.”
A Boost for Local Businesses
Sarah:
“Any event that brings thousands of visitors into a place creates opportunities for local businesses, and that’s certainly the hope here.”
“The Festival runs across the August bank holiday weekend, but the exhibitions continue until 1 November, meaning people will keep returning long after the main event has finished.”
“For local hotels, cafés, restaurants and retailers, that’s a chance to welcome new visitors and introduce them to everything the district has to offer. We want people to come for the Festival and leave feeling they’ve discovered a destination they want to revisit.”
More Than an Exhibition
Jennifer:
“Visitors want to learn something new and feel part of an experience. Over the August bank holiday, Festival visitors will be able to watch demonstrations from leading artists, take part in workshops and gain a deeper understanding of both the artistic and industrial sides of glass.”
“One of my favourite parts of the programme is the community mosaic project led by Carrie Strope. Local schools are already involved, and during the Festival everyone will have the opportunity to make their own contribution.”
“By the end of the event, thousands of people will have played a part in creating something permanent for The World of Glass, and that’s a wonderful thing to be able to say.”
Looking Beyond 2026
Sarah:
“The city region is already known globally for its music, culture and heritage, and events like this help tell another part of that story by highlighting the strength of its creative and craft sectors.”
“Of course, we’d love to see strong visitor numbers, but success goes beyond that. We want local people to feel inspired by what they experience, whether that’s a young person discovering glass as a creative career, someone trying a new skill in a workshop or residents learning something new about their own local heritage.”
“We’d also love to see artists making valuable connections and leaving with new ideas, collaborations and opportunities. If people leave feeling inspired, excited and connected, then we’ll have achieved something really special.”
Legacy
Sarah:
“The community mosaic is a very visible part of that legacy because it will remain at The World of Glass long after the Festival has ended.”
“More broadly, we hope the event helps strengthen St Helens’ reputation as a place where glass continues to thrive. The World of Glass has an extraordinary story to tell, and this is an opportunity to share that story with a much wider audience.”
“If the Festival helps inspire future artists, strengthens local partnerships and encourages more people to engage with glass in all its forms, I think that would be a wonderful legacy.”
A Final Invitation
Sarah:
“We’d simply say: come and give it a try. You don’t need any prior knowledge of glass to enjoy the Festival. There will be exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops, talks, tours and opportunities to meet artists from around the world.”
Jennifer:
“Whether you’re already passionate about glass or completely new to it, there will be something to engage with.”
“And there really couldn’t be a better place to experience it than here in St Helens. The area’s connection to glass is unlike anywhere else, and for a few days in August it will become the centre of the international glass world. That’s something quite special to be part of.”
Find Out More
Visit the International Festival of Glass website HERE.
Visit the Glass Art Society (GAS) website HERE.
Visit The World of Glass website HERE.
Plan Your Visit HERE.
[Top image: Montage of images representing ‘International Festival of Glass’ activities, including mosaic design and expert glass making, featuring world-famous glass maker and artist Peter Layton.]