2020 IN REVIEW & LOOKING AHEAD

The work of the SGAA in 2020 was a vastly different kind of creative than what we had planned. Still, in many ways, we are fortunate that we were already in a sort of “challenge and rebuild” mode here at the office and with our dedicated, long-time Board and Committee members. Digging into the organization’s foundation and embracing change has been the routine here since January 2018. So while we certainly have felt disappointed at times not to be on the path we envisioned, we’re still proud of all we accomplished.

Download our entire membership report read about both the highlights of 2020 as well as what we're looking forward to in 2021.

Download our entire membership report here.

Here’s a quick look back at some of the highlights from 2020:

  • We launched a new member resource platform to help with office efficiency and enable us to upload and house our SGQ and other publication archives for our members to access and use.
  • When faced with the challenge of working remotely, we embraced efficient technology, streamlining so that we could transition seamlessly between locations, cutting overhead costs both in the short-term and for our future.    
  • We launched a new education initiative offering webinars focused on stewardship education, all of which surpassed attendance expectations.
  • We received funding to invest in a professional Zoom account to better connect with members and even Zoomed over to France with Verrerie de St. Just’s Barbara Derix and Simon Ballagh.
  • We engaged in significant new connections with organizations that share our vision and beliefs.
  • We built and launched a new Foundation for our organization focused on public appreciation and public education for architectural art glass.
  • We moved to a new location that helps us better focus on our mission. It provides more resources in a better area with more community connections allowing a significant portion of our overhead expenses to support our mission and our members’ work.

There were exciting things that happened in our industry as well:

  • Youghiogheny announced their purchase of the Uroboros formulas and equipment in the Spring of 2020, got it all moved to their factory in Pennsylvania, and have started production. Uro by Yough will be an exciting new chapter for all glass artists who love and depend on the Uroboros glass line.
  • The SGAA attended some of the first-ever Virtual Glass Expos. Anything in Stained Glass in Frederick, Maryland gets our applause for bringing together such a large part of our industry online – their Virtual Expo was a success for both vendors and attendees. The owners created a seamless, painless process for everyone, and on top of that, it was free.
  • Across the industry, the SGAA has tracked an average 30% increase in sales and new activity. Makers of all ages are embracing the rewarding process of stained glass.
  • In support of our entire industry, encouraging passion everywhere, many great instructors are embracing the challenge of bringing instructional videos online.
  • Kudos to every single teacher learning something new themselves and support the exploration of others.
  • Many studio owners and instructors continue to work together to completely rethink and retool their spaces to make it possible to welcome limited, small classes as it is safe to do so. 
  • Suppliers have had to rethink shipping and learn curbside pickup, doing everything they can to make picking out that perfect sheet of glass possible. 

2020 By the Numbers:

  • We welcomed 164 new members last year.
  • Our newsletter has grown by over 1,500 in the last year to over 4,500 subscribers.
  • Thousands of users are looking at Accredited Professional and Professional studios’ profile pages and learning more about stained glass using our new website and, specifically, our Sourcebook page: “Find A Studio”:
    • 38,075 total unique visitors to stainedglass.org FY2020
    • The top 3 pages used on the site all speak to resources and information about stained glass
  • We connected with participants in all 50 states and three Canadian provinces in our new stewardship webinars in Fall 2020.
  • Our six Fall 2020 presentations averaged 50 participants each session.
  • We opened a dialogue with four major insurance companies, three funding companies, and multiple religious institutions to collaborate on how the SGAA can offer resources and education to owners and caretakers of architectural art glass all over North America.