North Lands Creative Glass was set up in the 1990s out of a need to create a centre of excellence to stimulate the growing interest in the possibilities of glass as an art form. North Lands is open to glass artists, painters, sculptors, architects and designers wishing to explore the technical and artistic potential of glass either on its own or in combination with other materials.

North Lands opened its new state-of-the-art Alastair Pilkington Studio in 2002 and runs an annual programme of masterclasses and residencies for professional glass artists and students and others interested in studio glass. The studio is well equipped with a hot shop, a kiln room, a sand-blasting room, air-powered grinding tools, a lamp-working station and a cold working and finishing shop. The facilities are available for hire by individuals and groups of artists and also to university courses.

North Lands Creative Glass has received a £30,000 increase in funding (December 2004) from the Scottish Arts Council to enable them to develop their community links and provision for artists in advance of the Scottish Year of Highland Culture 2007.