Chrysler Museum of Art Celebrates the Grand Opening of $30 Million Perry Glass Studio

NORFOLK, Va., Dec. 1, 2024 – The Chrysler Museum of Art is pleased to announce an exhilarating lineup of events for the grand opening weekend of the Perry Glass Studio at 245 Grace St, Norfolk, March 28-30, 2025.

The Perry Glass Studio, which initially opened in 2011 as a 9,200-square-foot glass-making and artist studio, underwent significant renovations, including a 24,000-square-foot expansion, bringing the total capacity to 33,200 square feet. What began as an experiment to complement the Chrysler Museum’s world-class glass collection turned into a significant draw for Museum visitors. The popular glassblowing classes, combined with community partnerships, resulted in rapid growth.

Now it’s time to celebrate! The opening weekend will bring in more than a dozen artists from around the world, including Dante Marioni, the famed American artist who entertained guests at the first Perry Glass Studio opening. Other artists will include the internationally renowned de la Torre Brothers, Netflix hit series Blown Away contestant Minhi England, and more.

Friday, March 28, will honor the prominent supporters of the Perry Glass Studio with a private artist dinner, the first of its kind for this area. More than 300 donors contributed $56 million to the Campaign for the Chrysler, $30 million of which was needed for the new Studio.

The weekend will light up with Saturday night’s main event, Glass & Glitz: Grand Gathering and Auction. Tickets for this glamorous yet creative evening are just $125 each and include glass demonstrations, pop-up art performances, live music, food, and drink. Attendees can explore all the new amenities and immerse themselves in the new galleries featuring local artists and highlighting past Glass Studio visiting artists and assistants.

The festivities continue Sunday, March 30, with an early El Día de los Niños (or the Day of the Child) Festival. This free block party, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., will feature street theater, visual and performing artists, and live music. People of all ages can enjoy glass demos, an art carnival, hands-on activities, and large-scale print production inspired by the Oaxaca Central: Contemporary Mexican Printmaking, which will be on view in the Museum.

More details, including tickets, can be found at chrysler.org/glitz. For sponsorship opportunities, contact support@chrysler.org.

ABOUT THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART

The Chrysler Museum of Art brings art and people together through experiences that delight, inform, and inspire. Internationally recognized for its collection of more than 35,000 objects, including one the largest glass collections in America, the Museum also includes free admission, the state-of-the-art Perry Glass Studio, a full-service restaurant, shop, theater, works on paper space, and oversees the historic Myers House. The Museum boasts an ambitious schedule of exhibitions, events, and programs, and has been nationally recognized for its commitment to inclusion through its innovative gallery host program. For more information, visit chrysler.org. Follow on social media @ChryslerMuseum to receive the latest updates.

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