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History

Glass symposiums known as IGS have been associated with Nový Bor for 30 years. Nový Bor will once again come to life in autumn 2012 when almost eighty domestic and foreign glass artists and other guests will come. Last year’s organization of the jubilee 10th anniversary of the IGS was an absolutely new experience for the town. However, as the supervisor and organizer it managed to keep this tradition alive. Of course not alone. The companies that took part in it provided their workshops, workers and financial support as well. Without them it would be impossible. This year, the companies and institutions participating in the preparation of the IGS 2012 besides the town and the Glass Museum are the founder of the tradition, Crystalex CZ, glass works and studios AJETO, SLAVIA, AVE CLARA, TGK, Jiří Pačinek, KOLEKTIV, ASTERA, and of course the local Glass school. Mgr. Milan Hlaveš PhD has agreed to be the curator of this event, and the Museum of Decorative Arts has also become its partner. The significance of this event emphasises the fact that the symposium itself is held under the patronage of Petr Nečas, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. Thanks to this the International Glass Symposium gets a new dimension. It is a support to the whole glass industry. Jaromír Dvořák, Mayor of Nový Bor said: “We have sent to the Prime Minister Petr Nečas an official invitation to the opening ceremony which will take place in the theatre. There, the minister might personally meet the symposium participants and invited guests closely associated with the glass art.” Therefore the 11th anniversary of IGS that is going to take place in days 4th - 7th October 2012 in Nový Bor will once more become a place from where a good reputation of Czech glass will be spread to the world. The participation of the Glass school in the symposium preparation was also taken into consideration by the Ministry of Education that has accepted patronage of the IGS. There are further negotiations concerning the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade. During the symposium there will also be many other public events. The public will be able to observe work at the furnaces and refining of glass objects during the open house on Saturday. Besides that there will be other cultural events accompanying the symposium. For those who are interested, there will also be a fair presenting various glass technology producers during the whole symposium. Visitors will also be welcomed to presentations of individual symposium participants and companies. As a new thing, this year the symposium expands to other parts of the Czech Republic. Before the IGS it will be possible to visit an outdoor exhibition of large-size photographs focused on IGS history. This exhibition is called “Born in Fire” and it will be in Prague at Hradčany Square. Traditionally the symposium will culminate with the symposium works exhibition in the Glass Museum, which will open its new building at this occasion. Then this exhibition will move to UPM (Museum of Applied Arts in Prague), which is a partner of this symposium. We certainly hope that we will manage to keep and promote the image of Nový Bor as a centre of phenomenal glass production and crafts with a long tradition.