It brings together collections that bear witness to Portuguese industrial, artisanal and artistic glassmaking activity from the mid-17th/18th century to the present day. It is the only museum specifically dedicated to the study of art, crafts and the glass industry in Portugal.
Although the scope and objectives of the museum at the time of its creation and subsequent development of the museum programme were not extended to earlier periods, if we take into account its representativeness and national scope, the research projects it has carried out and in which it has been involved, and taking into account that it is the only museum of its kind in Portugal, a reflection was justified that led to the development of the new museum programme to broaden these parameters to incorporate glass essentially of an archaeological nature prior to the industrialisation process and the consequent treatment of testimonies, themes and processes prior to the 18th century.
In the field of visual arts, the museum seeks to represent the most varied artistic and design trends, seeking to bring together an international collection of contemporary artistic glass, currently consisting of dozens of works by Portuguese and foreign artists from the 20th century to the present.
In addition to its important role in studying the glass industry in the past, the museum also documents current activity and encourages its continuation in the future.
The Glass Museum is open to the public six days a week, with a diverse cultural programme, and is one of the most important centres for individual and collective cultural appreciation in the area of glass, as well as attracting leisure and tourism flows in the Marinha Grande region.
The museum should continue to play an important role in local, national and international cultural, scientific and educational activity, encouraging the participation of different types of audiences, and particularly the local community, in the development of its objectives, functions and activities.