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Pittsburgh Glass Center

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Our Classes

Make-It-Now: Fused Glass Suncatcher

$35
Calendar Next available session starts Sep 4, 2026 at 6 pm
2 additional sessions through Sep 4, 2026
Make glass during our monthly Hot Jam!

Join us on the first Friday of each month for our Hot Jam and open house with live glassblowing and flameworking demonstrations. Check out the gallery, explore the studios, shop for glass art, and now make your own glass!

Make-It-Now Fused Glass Suncatcher

Make a unique glass decoration. In this introductory experience, you'll combine colorful pieces of glass granules (frit) and thin colorful glass rods (stringers) to create a decorative glass suncatcher of your own design. Once you design it, we’ll fire it in a kiln with a hook for hanging.

Registration is suggested, but not required, for Fused Glass Suncatcher. Walk in seats are subject to availability.

Registration is not required for Hot Jam Open House.

Make-It-Now experiences offer a quick, hands-on introduction to the colorful world of kilnformed glass. In the kiln shop, you’ll learn from a skilled local artist how to design and assemble your own glass creation using glass frit and stringers. In less than an hour, explore how layers of glass come together to form vibrant patterns and images of your own design. Perfect for beginners, these quick experiences let you discover the beauty of working with glass at your own pace and with no heat.

Ages 5+

Adult supervision is required for any children under 14 years old.

Due to the nature of hot glass, items cannot be taken home the same day they are created. All items made in the kiln shop must be heated and fused in the kiln, then cooled slowly. Items are available for pick-up after 5 days. Shipping can be arranged on site the day of your activity.

Make-It-Now: Crows & Trinkets Egg

$30
Calendar Next available session starts Sep 4, 2026 at 6 pm
6 additional sessions through Sep 4, 2026

Make glass during our monthly Hot Jam!

Join us on the first Friday of each month for our Hot Jam and open house with live glassblowing and flameworking demonstrations. Check out the gallery, explore the studios, shop for glass art, and now make your own glass!

In this special Crows & Trinkets Hot Jam flameworking activity, fire up the torch, shape molten glass, and think like a crow. In this quick and exciting flame shop experience, you’ll work closely with a skilled artist to gather and shape molten glass into a fun and funky glass egg using a 3,000°F torch. Finish it with a magnet or glass loop to make an ornament or pendant, or leave it as a fun and festive sculpture. Registration is suggested, but not required, for the Flameworked Egg Make-It-Now. Walk in seats are subject to availability.

Registration is not required for Hot Jam Open House.

Make-It-Now experiences offer a quick hands-on introduction to the magic of glassmaking. In the flame shop, you’ll work one-on-one with a skilled local artist at a 3,000° tabletop torch. In about 20 minutes or less, you’ll work together to heat, shape, color, and craft your glass item. Perfect for beginners, these short experiences give a taste of the excitement, skill, and artistry that goes into working with glass in a supportive, guided setting.

Ages 8+

Adult supervision is required for any children under 14 years old.

Due to the nature of hot glass, items cannot be taken home the same day they are created. All items made in the flame shop must go through an annealing process to slowly cool the glass. Items are available for pick-up after 5 days. Shipping can be arranged on site the day of your activity.

Hot Glass Blowout

$275
Calendar Next available session starts Sep 5, 2026 at 9:30 am
PGC 205

If you've ever wanted to try glassblowing, this is the workshop for you. This 5-hour workshop offers an introduction to the art of glassblowing. Designed for beginners, you will gain hands-on experience in the hot shop, and learn essential techniques for gathering, shaping, and manipulating molten glass straight from the 2,100°F furnace.

 

After learning to gather, you'll sculpt a paperweight and then progress to additional glassblowing techniques, enabling you to craft a variety of glass objects throughout the day.

 

Instructors provide step-by-step guidance to ensure a safe and productive learning experience.

 

Warning! Hot glass is immersive and captivating. Once you start working with it, you may not want to stop.

 

Note: Class includes a 30-minute lunch break. Lunch is not provided, but a refrigerator is available for student use.

 

 

Due to the nature of hot glass, your items will be available for pickup 5 days after your activity.

Fast Track Flameworking: Fall Foraging

$155
Calendar Next available session starts Sep 5, 2026 at 10 am
PGC 164 Spend a day immersed in the colors and textures of the season in this full-day beginner flameworking workshop. Working with borosilicate glass and a 3,000°F tabletop torch, you’ll learn how to melt, shape, and sculpt solid forms inspired by autumn: leaves, acorns, and fall flowers. Explore autumnal abundance as you bring each piece to life with color and detail. Demonstrations throughout the day will guide you in shaping organic forms, adding texture, and exploring a range of techniques to build your seasonal collection.

Design your pieces as small sculptural objects or incorporate loops to transform select forms into wearable pendants. You will gain a strong foundation in studio safety, torch operation, and essential solid sculpting techniques, while enjoying an immersive day working with molten glass.

Note: Class includes a 30-minute lunch break. Lunch is not provided, but a refrigerator is available for student use.

Fusing and Slumping

$215
Calendar Next available session starts Sep 5, 2026 at 10 am

Ready to turn up the heat on your glass skills? Whether you’re brand new to flat glass or have taken a workshop or two, this in-depth 6-hour introductory workshop will help expand your technical know-how and creative techniques. You’ll learn glass tool fundamentals and glass cutting techniques while gaining an understanding of glass compatibility, fusing and slumping techniques, mold materials, firing schedules, and kiln theory. By the end of the day, you’ll have a set of functional glass items (plates, bowls, and platters) in the kiln and an appreciation for the alchemy of kilnformed glass.

 

Note: Class time includes a 30-minute break for lunch. Lunch is not provided, but we do have a refrigerator on site if needed.

 

 

Due to the nature of hot glass, your items will be available for pickup 5 days after your activity.

Stained Glass After Dark: Explicit Suncatchers

$175
Calendar Next available session starts Sep 5, 2026 at 5 pm

PGC 232 Push the boundaries of traditional stained glass in this adults-only introductory workshop designed for those interested in bold, provocative imagery and themes. You will learn the fundamentals of stained glass like cutting, foiling, and soldering, while creating work that explores sensuality, the human form, and personal expression through a more daring lens.

Guided by a skilled instructor, you’ll work from provided templates that embrace playful, cheeky, or suggestive subject matter. Emphasis is placed on creative risk-taking, and a supportive, open-minded studio environment where participants are encouraged to explore imagery that might not fit within more traditional class settings.

This workshop is intended for adults (18+) welcomes all experience levels and celebrates creativity without judgment. Expect good vibes, great glass, and artwork that definitely won’t fit in grandma’s window.

Sculpted Glass Flowers

$135
Calendar Next available session starts Sep 5, 2026 at 5:30 pm
PGC 225

Let your creativity bloom. In this introductory workshop, you’ll gather molten glass from the 2,100°F furnace and add color. Then guided by a skilled instructor, you will pull, shape, stretch, and sculpt it into colorful flowers.

This workshop is a fun introductory experience to hot glass sculpting. Each participant will craft two unique flowers, ideal for display, gifting, or brightening any space.

Due to the nature of hot glass, your items will be available for pickup 5 days after your activity.

Experience Neon

$165
Calendar Next available session starts Sep 5, 2026 at 6 pm

PGC 162 Explore the art of bending light. In this introductory workshop, you’ll work closely with a skilled instructor to learn the fundamentals of shaping heated glass tubing over a torch. Through a series of guided exercises, you’ll practice basic bends and gain an understanding of how glass moves and responds to heat while gaining confidence at the torch. Once you’re comfortable, you’ll create your own form like a smooth curve, playful squiggle, or unique design. To finish, you’ll watch a live demonstration of how neon tubing is processed, filled, and illuminated, revealing the transformation from glass tube to glowing artwork.

Your tube will remain at the studio to be filled with neon gas. It will be ready for pickup in five days, fully transformed into a glowing work of art. This workshop is a fun introduction to neon bending and glass tubing techniques. Each participant will create one custom neon piece. Fun to make, mesmerizing to watch, and perfect for displaying. Registration includes a transformer power cord and electrodes to light up your sculpture at home.





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