2009 Glass Association
Annual General Meeting Report
by Brian Clarke
The time period covered by this, my second report as Chairman, is from August 1st 2008, through to 31st July 2009; this is the period of our financial year. The comments on Broadfield House, due to their importance, take us right up to the present.
Welcome to our AGM, during a momentous period in the glass world in the UK. Part of the very substance that makes us tick, the collections and archives held at Broadfield House, Himley Hall and the library at Coseley, having been at risk of dispersal.
Broadfield House
In early January this year, Dudley Council officers held a meeting with the staff at Broadfield House, where plans to close Broadfield House in March 2010 and move the collections to the site of the Red House Cone were divulged. Through a major effort from individuals and organizations, locally, nationally and internationally, including the Glass Association’s online petition, concerns were voiced about the unsuitability of the Red House cone site and Dudley Council were pressed not to act hastily and close Broadfield House before a new and improved museum facility was available. The council subsequently concurred and put out a rather narrow brief to consultants; L&R Consulting were chosen and have been conducting the feasibility study through the summer. The stage one presentation of the report has now been completed and closure of Broadfield House has been delayed pending further planning.
At a full meeting of Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council on 12th October, a resolution was unanimously passed by all parties. In brief, this recognized the national and international importance of the Broadfield House collections as well as the Stourbridge areas’ Glass Making Heritage. The resolution then resolved to form a joint working party of the council to engage with glass groups and individuals in order to source external funding to support a partnership plan for the future of the museum.
This means that Broadfield House Museum will not close in the near future. At a meeting a few weeks ago at Broadfield House with Eric Knowles and Andy McConnell explaining the importance of the collections to a number of councillors, Anne Millward, the Leader of the Council was reported as saying “The museum will not close on my watch”. This follows her earlier comments in march this year, when as Dudley Council’s Cabinet Member for Finance and Deputy Leader of the Council, she was reported as saying “I have a vision to have a world glass centre complete with disabled access – not some pet project”.
It has taken continuous pressure from the glass community, locally and worldwide to have reached this point, where Dudley MBC have accepted the vital importance of the glass heritage to the area and have agreed to work with the glass community to establish a museum attraction worthy of world status.
To locate premises and to fund a museum building and fund its ongoing annual administration is a big remit. The hard work really starts now. So thanks to everyone for their input so far, but stay on board – much to be done.
(see Cone 88)
The Committee
All of us being connected by email, we resolved to use that medium to stay in touch with each other – all the committee being “connected” with progress at all times and not just at meeting times. The agreed four “live” committee meetings a year, held in London, which is the most central gathering place for all the members, has been a successful concept; the meetings being very well attended. Working in this way has also helped to keep committee expenses down. We have been using the Space Centre, near to The British Library and The Art Workers Guild in Bloomsbury and will continue to do so.
The energy and goodwill within the committee has been truly inspirational, everyone playing a vital role. Myself as a new chairman, Pauline Wimpory the new membership secretary, and Maurice Wimpory the new treasurer and now a new secretary, Alison Hopkins have found ourselves growing into our jobs as the time has gone by. Francis Grew of the London
Museum acting as museum liaison has provided invaluable advice and contacts. Bob Wilcock, editor of our quarterly magazine, The Cone, is creating a really top rate production for the association. The Cone, with inserts is packed and posted by the hard work of Paul Bishop joined by Cristina Glover; Cristina is also ensuring that our events postings on the website are up to date. Gaby Marcon has continued to organize national events and plan international trips in her own personal and very capable manner.
Our area representatives have been busy bringing together members at meetings, Maurice Wimpory and our previous committee member, Peter Beebe having found new roles as roving lecturers. Janet Sergison, who has been representing the South and South-East for many years, has asked to stand down but has graciously accepted the role for a last year – we will need a new rep for the south. During the year, there have been a few “hiccups” with the health of the Committee, both Valerie and Francis breaking bones in their feet! Jackie is on the way to recovery from an illness and has just lectured at a GA meeting last week. Unfortunately, Mark Hill has found himself too pressured with other commitments and has stood down from the Vice Chair of the Association, but remains as an ordinary member. Finally, Roger Dodsworth has been less involved with The Journal as he has been spending the majority of his time with the problems and progress at Broadfield House.
Events
Maurice & Pauline Wimpory have taken on the main role of mounting our table displays at the specialist glass fairs; representing us at both National Fairs, (May and November), now back at The Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham and the two Cambridge Fairs, (February and September), Bob Wilcock with Ruth also helping out when possible. Unfortunately none of us managed to man a table at The Art Glass Fair in Cambridge in April.
Our year started at the end of August 2008, by creating and manning a video room at the International Festival of Glass at Ruskin Mill in Stourbridge, 23rd to 25th August. We used this event to launch our professionally produced DVD on the life of Frank Thrower & Dartington glass, with the accompanying Dartington paperweight commissioned by the Glass Association. The film was shown over three days, several times a day and our presence acted as a gathering point for old and new members. (see Cone 85)
Our members made up the bulk of the party travelling to The Czech Republic, 17th to 22nd September, with John Smith of The Glass Circle. The major comments – apart from having a great time – were the changes in the glass industry of the area, relating back to our first visit a number of years ago. As with the UK industry, the direction has been downhill.
(see Cone 85)
The inaugural meeting of the north area, under the stewardship of Jackie Fairburn, with Maurice Wimpory giving his talk “ A Celebration of British & Continental Cut Glass from the Middle of the 20th Century” was a success, with over 20 people in attendance at the Wordsley Church Hall.
Then we came to our AGM day, held at The Wallace Collection on 18th October. The refurbished lecture room proved a wonderful venue and the addresses by Rebecca Wallis of the Wallace Collection and David Williams-Thomas of Stevens and Williams, filled the morning. Brian Watson entertainingly filled in for Jeanette Hayhurst with his own lecture on “Real, Repro & Repaired” and Francis Grew took up the end of the day with an initial exploration of the Garton Collection, held at the Museum of London. We all agreed that this was a great follow up to the previous years AGM at Manchester. (see Cone 86 and Cone 87)
In 2009, the first event was in the north area again, with a visit to The Haworth Art Gallery, Accrington, to have a presentation by the curator on the Tiffany Glass in their holding – the largest public collection of Tiffany glass in Europe. Again well attended.
The south west, convened by Valerie Humphreys, then again used Maurice Wimpory’s cut glass lecture on 25th April at Clevedon, to open the first of hopefully many more events centred in her part of the world.
Janet arranged a meeting for the south at the roman Glass Studio in Quarley, then going on for a hands-on engraving day with Patricia Hilton Robinson. Not the best attended, but everyone who went really had a most interesting time.
July gave a flurry of activity, the two evenings held at the Museum of London’s Research Centre, Mortimer Wheeler House, were booked out for the 18th Century collectors to have a hands on time with their own chosen pieces from the Garton Collection. Both evenings created intriguing discussions and we were all content when at the finish, no damage had been done!
On July 18th, the Arts & Crafts House, Blackwell, in Bowness-on-Windermere, housing a loan collection of Whitefriars glass produced between about 1850 and 1920, brought over 30 people out to see the glass and hear Kathy Haslam, the curator, give a presentation. I feel that this period of Whitefriars glass is under exposed, so it was delightful to have such an enthusiastic response.
Our members were also in good evidence at Fieldings 300 years of glass auction on April 18th. Will Farmer extended his hospitality and the first inter group meeting of those interested in the Broadfield House issue, was then held at Fieldings, through the invitation of The Glass Association.
Again many of us were present at the viewing and sale of the first major auction of Contemporary glass, held at Bonhams on May 19th. The driving force for this sale was the partnership of Dan Klein and Alan Poole and its success was a comment on the dedication of these two individuals. Sadly, it was one of Dan Klein’s last public appearances.
As ever, with an organization, it’s the response of the members that determines its success. The committee can only plan. Thank you to all of our membership for your involvement.
Publications
We are still keeping to the formula of four issues of our magazine,
The Cone, each year. During this year we have published editions 85 through 88. In full colour and now with a few issues reaching 32 pages, with specialist “museum” reviews (Wallace Collection and Broadfield House to date) under the editorship of Bob Wilcock, the magazine is becoming a “must have” life accessory! With content ranging from Roman glass through to current studio glass, we have endeavoured to cater for all areas of collecting. As ever, we welcome new contributors to The Cone from amongst our membership; this year Roger Ersser has been a notable addition to the writing team. You don’t have to be a professional writer – if you have an idea, have a go and write it down; the committee and the editor will always help you out.
Our triennial publication, The Journal of The Glass Association, volume 9 has had articles commissioned and is on track for publishing in October 2010. The last issue, volume 8 has been much admired, the layout and quality of articles, print, photographs and illustrations were splendid, a tribute to the authors and editors.
Website
The website has been under revue, led by a small group under the guidance of Gaby Marcon. We will be progressing with a revamped or renewed website this year. We hope to see it as our main face to the world. Alison Hopkins has kindly accepted the brief of leading the team for this year.
The Future
Perhaps because of Broadfield House, all of the glass groups are talking to each other more than at any time before. Our co-operation is necessary to prevent duplication of and reinforce efforts to preserve the legacy of glass, as well as helping new entrants to both the making and collecting of glass.
The committee offer their time to provide an interesting programme for the year. We hope that we are fulfilling the Associations aims to provide a variety of educational events and articles in our publications, enthusing old and new collectors, and in the process, enjoying the glass and the friendships.
We do have room on the committee for new members and in particular, an organizer for the London and South area – if you can help, please talk to one of the committee.
Brian Clarke (Glass Association Chairman) |
