The first International Festival of Glass was held in 2004. This replaced the Dudley Glass Festival, which had been a smaller, local authority led event focusing on one or two sites within the Stourbridge Glass Quarter.

The IFG was initiated by a consortium of local public, private and charitable organisations. Ruskin Mill Educational Trust (Ruskin Glass Centre) took on the co-ordinating role from the outset.

The overall aim of the Festival is to create an internationally renowned, vibrant festival celebrating the drama and excitement of glassmaking with an atmosphere of inspiration, social inclusion and lively cultural exchange.

The Festival programme takes place in a number of venues which vary each year. The venues include Ruskin Glass Centre, Broadfield House Glass Museum, Red House Glass Cone, the Bonded Warehouse and Holy Trinity Church. Most of the venues are within the Glass Quarter, Stourbridge.

The Festival is held every two years. It is divided into two components – a series of masterclasses and workshops for both established and beginner glass artists at the beginning of the week and a celebratory festival packed with demonstrations, presentations, exhibitions, heritage trails, graveyard walks, children’s events and fantastic street theatre for general members of the public held over the August Bank Holiday weekend.