AN ambitious plan to open a new state-of-the-art glass museum to house Stourbridge’s prized glass collection is about to become reality – more than a decade after the campaign began.

Back in 2010 glass fans announced their vision to create a world class facility to replace Broadfield House Glass Museum in Kingswinford which Dudley Council had decided to close.

Glass enthusiasts from Stourbridge, with support from experts around the country, formed the British Glass Foundation to act as custodians of the area’s treasured glass collection and create a venue that could, like Broadfield House, become an internationally renowned attraction.

Now, 12 years on, their dream is about to become reality.

The Stourbridge Glass Museum is complete and in the last few months has undergone a long-awaited internal fit-out of glass cabinets to showcase one of the finest holdings of 18th, 19th and 20th century glass in the world.

Now, it’s just days away from opening to the public.

The attraction, located on the former Stuart Crystal factory site in Camp Hill, Wordsley, is set to welcome visitors from 10am on Saturday April 9.

Dubbed, ‘the People’s Museum’ due to the support the project has generated, the venture will tell the history of glassmaking and celebrate the present with regular exhibitions of contemporary glass.

It will host a programme of events, displays, glassblowing demonstrations and other activities celebrating glassmaking’s history and culture – including the prestigious International Festival of Glass which will take place in August this year.

The creation of the museum has been made possible with help from the European Regional Development Fund, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Dudley Council and site owners Complex Development Projects Ltd.

Graham Knowles, chairman of the British Glass Foundation (BGF), said: “We are indebted to the people of Stourbridge and beyond for having the faith in us to deliver the vision in the form of this inspirational new facility.”

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader Dudley Council, said he was “delighted” to see the project completed and he added: “We will now have a world class glass museum. My personal thanks go to Graham and his team for the work they have do get us over the line.

“This will be a great asset to our borough and an opportunity to showcase some of the best glass in the world.”

Dudley South MP Mike Wood added: “It is fantastic that people from far and wide will now be able to enjoy amazing examples of this heritage on display in the heart of our traditional glass-making quarter.

“The new museum doesn’t only celebrate our proud past, but also the living legacy of that industrial heritage that is kept alive by the exciting work done by today’s local craftsmen and artists.

“It has been a long road to get to this point, but Graham and the team have persevered and done an incredible job in turning this state-of-the-art museum from a dream into a reality that all lovers of glass can enjoy.”

The museum’s first contemporary exhibition will feature the work of glass artist Venessa Cutler and it will be followed by a presentation of work by supporters of the museum from the Contemporary Glass Society who are celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2022.

Opening times, admission charges and more information about the museum can be found online at stourbridgeglassmuseum.org.uk