Events & Awards
Second Sunday Series Creators and Makers
Join us the second Sunday of the month Fall - Spring where we meet the leaders in the industry, ask questions, and learn together.
Hosted by the ISGB
- Introduction
- Interview
- Studio tour
- Demo
- Question & Answer
- Socialize with new an old friends around the world
Registration will be required
ISGB members can join for FREE
$10.00 Guests
The ISGB holds an annual conference to bring together an international community of glass bead artists and enthusiasts. The conference, called "The Gathering", is an occasion to become involved in the glass world and make valuable contacts.
There is a wide variety of events at the conference to satisfy many interests. It is an opportunity for attendees to network with each other, gallery owners, collectors, technical vendors, and suppliers. It also gives technical vendors an opportunity to showcase new equipment, tools, supplies, and glass. Through demonstrations, lectures, panel discussions, and more, attendees can learn new techniques and business skills to further their glass bead knowledge.
Registration is open to all; however being a member of the ISGB gives you the opportunity for early registration.
Past Gathering Locations
1993 Prescott, Arizona
1994 San Francisco, California
1995 Evanston, Illinois - Glass Alchemy: The Transformation of Molten Glass to Bead
1996 Seattle, Washington - Full Circle: Discovering Our Past – Defining Our Future
1997 Albuquerque, New Mexico - The Crash of Metal and Glass
1998 Corning, New York - Echoes of Ancient Glass
1999 Scottsdale, Arizona - Desert Bloom: Expanding Horizons
2000 Oakland, California - The Shape of Things to Come
2001 Boulder, Colorado - 2001: A Bead Odyssey
2002 Alexandria, Virginia - Fireworks: Celebrating a Decade of Glass Beadmaking
2003 Lowell, Massachusetts - Tapestry: A New Spin on Glass
2004 Portland, Oregon - Glasstown
2005 Louisville, Kentucky - Passing the Flame
2006 Kansas City, Missouri - United in the Heartland
2007 Minneapolis, Minnesota - Northern Lights
2008 Oakland, California - Currents: Merging Creativity with Culture
2009 Miami, Florida - Miami Fusion: A Blend of Culture and Persuasions, Styles and Techniques
2010 Rochester, New York - Beyond Boundaries
2011 Louisville, Kentucky - Diversity & Creativity: Cultural Influences in Glass Beadmaking
2012 Bellevue, Washington - Evolution (20th Anniversary)
2013 Rochester, New York - Renaissance
2014 Houston, Texas - Illumination: Insight to your Creative Journey
2015 Albuquerque, New Mexico - Forging Connections | Celebrating Community
2016 New Orleans, Louisiana - Breaking Tradition
2017 Las Vegas, Nevada - 25 years Strong
2018 Las Vegas, Nevada
2019 Las Vegas, Nevada - The Fire Within
2020 Las Vegas, Nevada - Reignite - Moved to Virtual Gathering due to pandemic
2021 Virtual Gathering - Reimagine
2022 Virtual Gathering - Thirty and Thriving
2023 Omaha, Nebraska - Fired UP
2024 Virtual Gathering - Flourish
2025 Rendezvous - Glass Craft Bead Expo
2025 was a first year of taking our community networking event "The Gathering" and joining forces with another organization for education, shopping and some glassy fun.
Your board is working on the next generation of Gatherings. Join us at the annual Membership meeting to keep up to date with all the ISGB upcoming events.
Awards
The Hall of Flame Award is extremely special to our organization.
Beginning in 2002, the ISGB has given this award annually to long-term members of the ISGB whose contributions deserve special recognition.

Whether it is for education, advancement of the field, support of the art form through glass and tool development, leadership, volunteerism, support of artists, support of the ISGB, wealth of knowledge, a positive community image of a beadmaker and/or beadmaking, or a spirit of sharing knowledge and expertise, the Hall of Flame Award sets a standard of excellence in our world of glass beadmaking.
Hall of Flame Inductees
2002 Jim Kervin
2003 Cindy Jenkins
2004 Craig Milliron
2005 Kristina Logan
2006 Mike Frantz
2007 Cathy Finegan
2008 Lewis Wilson
2009 Donna Milliron
2010 Lisa St. Martin
2011 Greg Fuchs
2012 Peter Norton and Jean Robichaud
2013 Leah Fairbanks
2014 Heather Trimlett
2015 Sharon Peters
2016 Tom Holland
2017 Kendra Bruno
2018 Shelia Collins and Mary Dougherty
2019 Patricia Frantz
2020 Gathering Canceled due to covid-19 Jed and Julie Hanney were Awarded in 2022 the 2020 award.
2023 Jeri Warhaftig
Current Exhibition
Your Bead for Venice 2025
The Committee for the Safeguard of the Art of Venetian Glass Beads and the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB) present the 4th International Glass Bead Competition dedicated to the Art of the Traditional Venetian Glass Beadmaking.
Applications are now closed. Awards will be announced after the final judging takes place during Venice Glass Week from September 13th through 15th, 2025.
Past Exhibitions
Supporting ISGB Members
ISGB artists were encouraged to challenge themselves and submit pendant pieces that embody their personal voice — expressions that highlight the infinite possibilities in contemporary glass beadmaking and radiate from within their work . From novice beadmakers to artists that have years of experience these peices were created showing their favorite designs and what ignites their lamp work bead passion! Proceeds from this exhibition and sale were shared with the artists and the ISGB.
Join us for your chance to participate in future events.
Igniting Passion PENDANT EXHIBITION 2021
Since 2007, each president of the ISGB has selected work by various glass artists to reside in a permanent exhibition, known as “The President’s Collection”, at the Corning Museum of Glass. Each president chose the work based on the artist's style, design, technique, aesthetics, and contribution to the ISGB and the glass community.
The Presidents Collection
President Sara Sally LaGrand
Lucio Bubacco
Diana East
Leah Fairbanks
Kate Fowle-Meleney
Bronwen Heilman
Sage and Tom Holland
Norikazu Kogure
Kristina Logan
Emiko Sawamoto
Dustin Tabor
*And President’s Bead
President Pam Dugger
Dan Adams
Kim Affleck
Dolly Ahles
Jeff Barber
Trey Cornette
Kim Fields
Jim Jones
Kristina Logan
Jiley Romney
Lewis Wilson
*And President’s Bead
President Kendra Bruno
Holly Cooper
Ronit Dagan
Wesley Fleming
JC Herrell
Kristen Frantzen Orr
Heather Trimlett
Amy Waldman
Jeri Warhaftig
Beth Williams
Margaret Zinser
President Terry Hale
Lori Greenberg
Jennifer Geldard
Kerri Fuhr
Libby Leuchtman
Janice Peacock
Brad Pearson
Sharon Peters
Jari Sheese
Claudia Trimber-Pagel
Ali VandeGrift
*And President’s Bead
President Angie Ramey
Lisa Atchison
Laura Bowker
Greg Chase
Kim Edwards
Mary Ann Helmond
Jennie Lamb
Jodie McDougall
Joy Munshower
Stephanie Sersich
Misty Shwiyyat
*And President’s Bead
President Jeri Warhaftig
Loren Stump
Corina Tettinger
Barbara Becker Simon
Gregory Burgard
Ann Scherm Baldwin
Elena Hernburg
Stephanie White
Elise Strauss
Art Seymour
Akihiro Okama
*And President’s Bead
President Susan Richards
Kristina Logan
Beau Barrett
Cindy Jenkins
Marcy Lamberson
Lydia Muell-
Leah Nietz
Hayley Tsang Sather
Alexx Cheng,
Frank Miguletz
Astrid Riedel
*And President’s Bead
ISGB has proudly sponsored group exhibitions to promote the art of glass beadmaking and its members. These exhibits have traveled the world and have been featured at many of our annual conferences, "The Gathering". With your support, we can continue to bring opportunities to our members.