In January 2009, a campaign began in the Stourbridge area of the west Midlands. An award-winning museum set in a Grade II-listed building, with a hot glass studio, was under threat of closure.
Staff had been told that the museum would be closed by March 2010 and they would be deployed somewhere else in the Dudley borough. As word spread through the glass community, there was panic and disbelief. Why all the fuss?
The fuss was all about the glass collections and archives held at Broadfield House Glass Museum, the only publicly run glass museum in the UK and one with an established international reputation. A glass museum that is a showcase to the world of a 400-year-old Stourbridge glassmaking history.
As national and international indignation poured in the campaign gained momentum. A spring concert was held to highlight the plight of the museum. Local MPs got involved. The local media monitored every move made by the campaigners.
T-shirts were printed; banners were prepared; experts from BBC TV's Antiques Roadshow offered their help and there was even a 30-minute debate in the House of Commons delivered by Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho.
This was all because the campaign was backed by local people who dared to stand up and say no to their council. In fact, they said quite a bit more: about wanting to keep our local identity and our glass heritage alive, about wanting visitors from far and wide to see and learn all about our glass making in this area.
This area is renowned for the glass factories such as Webb Corbett, Stuart & Sons and Stevens & Williams. Far from wanting the museum to close, we would go so far to say we want an even better museum.
After campaigning for ten months, on 12 October, a resolution was put forward by Dudley councillor Peter Lowe. It was for all the political parties to work together for the glass collections at the museum and the monies from the sale of Broadfield House to be ringfenced for the creation of a glass museum of national importance that is worthy of the glass collections and archives.
As a result of the campaign, negotiations have started with Dudley Council to create such a museum for the glass collections and we have been reassured that the museum will not close until an alternative site is built, funded and commissioned.
Now the important task begins: to get the collections designated, to find funding and to create a better glass museum. It is the museum's 30th birthday in April 2010. We look forward to celebrating this with pride.
I would urge anyone to stand up for their museum. Enrol the help of local people and groups; get the media involved - ring the newspapers up. Don't be afraid, get passionate and save your local heritage.
Janet Hendry is the leader of the Save our Glass Heritage group
saveourglassheritage.blogspot.com
