Seattle, WA – The Glass Art Society (GAS), along with partners Travel Tacoma – Mt. Rainier Tourism and Sports and Museum of Glass, announce the postponement of their international conference scheduled for May 2021 in Tacoma, WA. The new date, which will celebrate the organization’s 50th Anniversary, has been rescheduled for May 18-21, 2022.

Each year, GAS brings together glass artists, collectors, and enthusiasts from around the world for a multi-day conference featuring glass in its many forms. With continued government restrictions, closures, and mandates due to the outbreak of COVID-19, GAS and its partners in Tacoma are prioritizing the health and safety of conference attendees. “We are so eager to gather together and celebrate our 50th Anniversary, but it’s not worth the risk and uncertainty that still hovers around COVID-19. We are choosing to view this as gaining an additional year to make sure the Tacoma conference is truly something special,” said Brandi Clark, Executive Director of the Glass Art Society.  

The Museum of Glass partnered with Travel Tacoma to advocate for Tacoma as the next GAS conference destination and believe that this change, although unfortunate, will allow the immense amount of planning and preparations that have gone into this conference to see their full potential. 

“With these larger international conventions, we’re often talking about years of work between the lightbulb going off in someone’s head that this would be a good fit,” said Dean Burke, President and CEO of Travel Tacoma – Mt. Rainier Tourism and Sports. “In this case, with both a conference and a destination that are true to the cultural roots of glass art, we knew we had to make it happen no matter how long it took.”

“COVID-19 has impacted artists and organizations alike and, while we’ll certainly miss hosting the GAS community in 2021, we’re excited about the impact we can collectively achieve in 2022,” said Debbie Lenk, Executive Director, Museum of Glass. “It will be a perfect way to celebrate GAS at 50, and the resilience of the glass community.”

Earlier this year, GAS canceled its 2020 conference slated to take place in Småland, Sweden, and presented its first-ever virtual conference in its place. The GAS team can confirm an expanded virtual conference in 2021, but the dates have not yet been determined. Stay tuned for an announcement coming later this Fall. 

About Glass Art Society

Based in Seattle, the Glass Art Society (GAS) is an international non-profit organization founded in 1971. The mission of GAS is to encourage excellence, advance education, and support the worldwide community of artists working with glass. GAS strives to stimulate communication among artists, educators, students, collectors, galleries and museums, and all others who are interested in and involved in the production, technology, and aesthetics of glass. The organization is dedicated to creating greater public awareness and appreciation of the glass arts.

About Travel Tacoma – Mt. Rainier Tourism and Sports

Travel Tacoma – Mt. Rainier Tourism and Sports is the official destination marketing organization for Tacoma and Pierce County, Washington. Accredited by Destinations International. For more information, visit www.TravelTacoma.com.

About Museum of Glass 

Located in Tacoma, Washington, Museum of Glass is a premier contemporary art museum dedicated to glass and glassmaking in the West Coast’s largest and most active museum glass studio. Opened in 2002, the Museum has established a reputation for hosting impactful and engaging artist residencies, organizing nationally traveling exhibitions, and creating unique programs for visitors while building a growing permanent collection chronicling the development of modern and contemporary glass. Museum of Glass provides an environment for artists and the public to ignite creativity, fuel discovery, and enrich their lives through glass and glassmaking. Museum of Glass is a non-profit organization sponsored in part by the City of Tacoma Arts Commission, ArtsFund, The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, The Dimmer Family Foundation, and the Driscoll Foundation.