Glassmaking Tradition Meets Innovation
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Glassmaking Tradition Meets Innovation (GTMI) is an international project connecting artists, researchers, and creative professionals from Serbia, Denmark, and Slovenia.[Linjeskift til tekstombrydning]It reimagines glassmaking as a dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary innovation, linking heritage, design, and sustainability.
The project is coordinated by the Foundation for the Advancement of Economics (FREN), Faculty of Economics, University of Belgrade, and co-funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) under the Creative Europe Programme – Culture Strand (COOP).
Og det var således Holmegaard Værk, der løb med sejren i denne sidstnævnte kategori 'Environmental Sustainability'.
VISION
GTMI aims to revive the European glassmaking tradition by integrating it with modern tools, creative technologies, and environmentally responsible design. It promotes cross-sector collaboration and circular economy principles, showing how glass can become a symbol of sustainability, resilience, and cultural innovation.
PROJECT PARTNERS
- Foundation for the Advancement of Economics (FREN) – Serbia (Coordinator)
- Museum Sydøstdanmark – Holmegaard Værk – Denmark
- Center Rog (Kreativno središče Center Rog) – Slovenia
- Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship and Innovation (IKPI) – Serbia
Together, these institutions combine research, craftsmanship, design, and innovation to shape a new narrative of glass as a medium for creativity and sustainable growth.
Carbon Footprint Calculator for Glass Products
The Carbon Footprint Calculator will be developed as a digital tool that will enable artists, designers, and creative entrepreneurs in the glass sector to measure and understand the environmental impact of their activities. The tool is designed to support the transition toward more sustainable and circular practices in creative glassmaking by providing a simple and transparent way to monitor greenhouse gas emissions generated in studios, workshops, and small-scale production settings.
The Calculator is being developed as an interactive online platform, accessible through the project’s partner website. It will serve both as a practical tool for environmental management and as an educational resource that encourages creative professionals to adopt sustainable production models and circular design approaches.
Catalogue of 30 ideas for circular-based
The Catalogue of 30 Ideas for Circular-Based Creative Work in Glass will be an online multimedia publication, developed by the Foundation for the Advancement of Economics (FREN) as part of the research and innovation activities.
The catalogue will present 30 business and creative ideas that demonstrate how glassmaking can evolve through circular-economy principles — focusing on re-use of glass waste, low-carbon design, energy efficiency, and creative entrepreneurship.[Linjeskift til tekstombrydning]It will be designed as a knowledge and inspiration tool for artists, SMEs, and educational
institutions seeking to develop environmentally responsible glass practices.
Each idea will include:
- a description of the concept and its potential market or social impact,
- the type and source of glass material used (especially recycled glass),
- the processes, required skills, and equipment,
- potential distribution channels, cost structure, and revenue model,
- and an estimated carbon footprint, calculated using the GTMI Carbon Footprint Calculator
Serious Gaming in Smart Production of Art Glass
Serious Gaming in Smart Production of Art Glass focuses on developing an innovative virtual reality (VR) software for the digital transformation of traditional glassmaking.[Linjeskift til tekstombrydning]The software will simulate the full artistic process of glass etching, modelling, and finishing, allowing users to prototype creative glass works without generating waste or carbon emissions.
Using the Oculus Rift VR headset, the experience will merge heritage craftsmanship and digital technology — enabling artists, students, and designers to virtually explore the techniques of handmade glass production, experiment with 3D glass forms, and test aesthetic and technical variations in a safe, sustainable environment.
Creative Glass LABs
The Creative Glass Labs are short, intensive experimental residencies that will provide hands-on collaboration between glass artists, designers, researchers, and traditional craftsmen. Each Lab will last three days, bringing together approximately 12 participants per country, and will serve as a testing environment for GTMI’s key tools — the Carbon Footprint Calculator, the Catalogue of 30 Circular-Based Ideas, and the Serious Gaming software for smart production of art glass.
Each Lab will produce visual documentation and reports summarizing its process, outcomes, and lessons learned. Together, they will result in at least 12 advanced artworks in glass, form the creative basis for the final exhibition in Ljubljana, and represent a tangible demonstration of how tradition, innovation, and sustainability merge in GTMI’s approach.
Exhibition of Artworks Created in the Creative Glass Labs
The GTMI Exhibition of Artworks Created in the Creative Glass Labs will be the project’s main public presentation of artistic results.
The exhibition will showcase 12 original glass artworks and design objects produced through the three Creative Glass Labs held in Denmark, Slovenia, and Serbia, and will illustrate how traditional craftsmanship can evolve through sustainable, digital, and collaborative innovation.
The exhibition will take place in Ljubljana (Center Rog), serving as a symbolic conclusion of the Labs’ creative process and as a space for dialogue between artists, researchers, and the public. It will combine physical displays of glass artworks with digital presentations, including video projections, interactive VR content developed through the Serious Gaming in Smart Production of Art Glass activity, and explanatory materials about the Carbon Footprint Calculator and the Catalogue of 30 Circular-Based Ideas.
COMING IN 2025
- Publication of the Ideas Catalogue
- Online Carbon Footprint Calculator for Glass Products
- Announcement of the 3rd Creative Glass Forum Belgrade 2025