TUT celebrates 30 years of glass education and a legacy forged in fire

The Tshwane University of Technology's (TUT's) Faculty of Arts and Design celebrated a significant milestone on Saturday, 11 July, marking 30 years of glass education in South Africa. The celebration, held as part of Glass Safari 2026, honoured a programme that has grown from an ambitious vision at Technikon Pretoria in 1996 into one of Southern Africa's leading centres for contemporary glass education.

Former Head of the Department of Fine and Studio Arts, Ian Redelinghuys, reflects on the vision that laid the foundation for TUT's Glass programme, celebrating 30 years of innovation, collaboration and excellence in glass education. The occasion brought together the programme's founding visionaries, former lecturers, alumni, students, industry partners and members of the international glass community to celebrate three decades of excellence, collaboration and innovation.

The programme was established through the vision and commitment of former Dean, Eric Dinkelmann; former Head of Department of Fine and Studio Arts, Ian Redelinghuys; Dr Ingram Anderson; Keith Fisher and celebrated glass artist and former lecturer, Retief van Wyk. Their efforts were supported by Consol Glass (now Ardagh Glass Packaging – Africa), the University of Wolverhampton and numerous artists, educators and industry partners who helped transform an ambitious idea into reality.

Reflecting on those early years, Redelinghuys said: "The beginnings of glass in the mid-90s were a convergence of things and actions around an idea whose time had come."

Current Glass Coordinator and Section Head for Fine and Studio Arts at TUT, Caitlin Greenberg, paid tribute to those pioneers.

"This programme was built by a community of visionaries who believed that glass had a place within higher education in Southern Africa. Their passion, courage and determination created something truly extraordinary and today we stand on the foundations they laid."

"It is both a privilege and a responsibility to stand before you today as the current Glass Coordinator of this programme. Every day I am reminded that I am not simply teaching glass. I have the honour of caring for a legacy that has been entrusted to us, so we may pass it on to the next generation,” she added.

Current Glass Coordinator, Caitlin Greenberg, honours the pioneers who established TUT's Glass programme, recognising their vision, courage and determination while reaffirming her commitment to carrying their legacy into the future. The celebration itself reflected that passing of knowledge from one generation to the next. Visitors watched experienced master glassblowers working alongside younger artists and students, demonstrating that glassblowing is never the work of a single individual, but a collaborative craft built on trust, communication and teamwork. Molten glass moved seamlessly from one pair of hands to another as artists worked together, illustrating the spirit of mentorship and cooperation that has defined the programme for three decades.

Adding further significance to the occasion was the return of internationally renowned glass artist, David Reade, who helped build the programme's original furnaces and kilns in 1995.

International guest artist, Lancelot Fraser, an acclaimed American sculptor and glassblower from Oakland, California, captivated audiences by creating a striking baobab tree during one of the live demonstrations, showcasing the artistic possibilities of hot glass while highlighting the international collaborations that continue to enrich the programme.

Presented in partnership with the Moya African Glass Network (MAGN) and Smelt Glass Studio, Glass Safari 2026 celebrates contemporary glass art from Southern Africa and beyond while strengthening international collaboration, artistic exchange and professional development.

The programme culminates in the Glass Safari 2026 Exhibition, hosted at the Association of Arts Pretoria from 25 July to 15 August 2026. The exhibition will showcase works created during the Glass Safari alongside pieces by South African and international artists, celebrating both the programme's rich legacy and the future of contemporary glass on the African continent.

Today, TUT is home to one of Southern Africa's leading centres for contemporary glass education and offers a unique Fine and Applied Arts qualification with Glass as a specialisation not available in the same format at any other South African tertiary institution.

From the youngest visitors to seasoned artists, spectators watched in fascination as molten glass was transformed through teamwork, craftsmanship and decades of shared knowledge, highlighting the collaborative spirit at the heart of glassblowing. Glass artist, David Reade, who played a key role in constructing the original furnaces and kilns nearly three decades ago.

From furnace to finished form, the creation of an awe-inspiring glass baobab tree unfolds during a live demonstration by international glass artist Lancelot Fraser, showcasing the precision, teamwork and artistry behind the ancient craft.

PHOTOS: Gerrit Bester