Hot Mess Part Fifty: ...Or Not

 

The End

17 June 2025

Dear Colleagues,   I am writing to you with news about our glassblowing studio. After careful consideration and review of our current equipment, we have made the difficult decision to formally retire the glass-blowing furnace, glory hole, and annealing ovens, effective July 2025.   The current equipment has served us well over the years and has been instrumental in supporting educational and creative objectives. However, due to factors such as age, declining performance, and maintenance costs, it is no longer practical or sustainable to keep the equipment in operation. Our equipment has simply reached the end of its useful life, and the replacement costs are beyond our budget at this time. In addition, the ongoing gas, labor, and material costs required to keep the obsolete and inefficient equipment in operation are no longer sustainable.   The decision to close a studio is not an easy one. Please know that this is a pause, not a termination, of glass at Bucks. During the coming year, we will review our offerings with an eye toward developing a studio and offerings that will meet both artistic and occupational needs and for which we can secure funding to purchase the necessary equipment and supplies. We are looking ahead to building something rooted in legacy but also positioned to meet occupational and market demands in areas like scientific glassblowing. Such a repositioning would provide venues for both creative expression and gainful employment.    Thank you for your understanding.