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Pittsburgh Glass Center



Activity Type

Stained Glass Twinkle Lights

$115
Calendar Next available session starts Dec 22, 2026 at 6 pm
Brighten up the season with handmade glass. In this introductory workshop, you’ll explore the fundamentals of stained glass while creating a colorful set of festive light bulb decorations. Under the guidance of a skilled instructor, you’ll learn glass cutting, the copper foiling method, and soldering.

Using colorful sheet glass and traditional stained glass techniques, you'll assemble a series of two-dimensional stained glass bulbs that can be strung together as cheerful seasonal décor or used individually as ornaments and gift toppers. Each finished piece brings a playful pop of color and handmade sparkle to the holidays. Each participant will make up to 3 bulbs.

Hot Shop Winter Sampler

$135
Calendar Next available session starts Dec 23, 2026 at 6 pm

Double the fun, double the creativity. In this festive introductory workshop, you’ll make two distinct glass creations. You’ll gather glass from the 2,100°F furnace and add color. Then guided by a skilled instructor, you will create one festive blown glass ornament and one sculpted snowperson.

This workshop is a fun introductory experience to hot glass sculpting AND hot glassblowing. Each participant will make two unique seasonal creations, perfect for decorating or gifting.

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

Flame 1: Introduction to Flameworking

$475
Calendar Next session starts Jan 19, 2027 at 9:30 am

PGC 1 Flameworking is the art of melting, manipulating, sculpting, and blowing glass over a tabletop torch. This introductory 8-week class will cover safety, torch operation, and a variety of solid sculpting practices using borosilicate glass rods. Weekly demonstrations will teach new tips, tools, and the color applications needed to melt glass and create unique works of art. You can expect to learn how to sculpt pendants, marbles, animals, leaves, flowers, and small sculptures. The instructor will also provide one-on-one troubleshooting. No experience necessary..

Class tuition includes 2 hours of open-studio time to be used during the 8-week course period. This will help you become familiar with the studio and learn the process of studio rental beyond class hours. Open Studio is held on Monday Nights 5:00pm - 9:00pm.

Ages 14+

Kiln 1: Fusing and Casting

$540
Calendar Next available session starts Jan 19, 2027 at 9:30 am, runs for 8 weeks

Are you curious about the kiln Shop? In Kiln 1, you will gain a broad understanding of the vast possibilities of kilnformed glass exploring both fusing and casting techniques. You will learn how to cut sheet glass and work with a variety of other materials to melt and shape your designs creating an array of functional and decorative pieces.

Then, get a bit more dimensional with an introduction to cast glass. Using a found object, you will learn how to reproduce the object in glass. You will also gain an understanding of kiln programming and the properties of glass. No experience is necessary.

 

Ages 14+

Stained Glass 3: Intermediate Lead Came: Experimental Techniques

$610
Calendar Next available session starts Jan 19, 2027 at 9:30 am

Take your leaded glass skills further by exploring new materials, construction methods, and decorative techniques. In this eight-week course, students will experiment with different lead sizes and profiles, pattern-making approaches, building styles, and finishing techniques while developing greater confidence with the possibilities of leaded glass.

You’ll create two medium-sized panels during the course. The first will be an instructor-led project designed to introduce new techniques and approaches. For the second, you’ll develop your own custom design, with class discussion and instructor feedback focused on how to translate specific design elements using different materials and construction methods.

Throughout the course, we’ll explore overlays, mixed media, decorative elements, and other ways to push beyond traditional leading techniques. The emphasis is on experimentation and creative problem-solving, encouraging students to test ideas, take risks, and discover that there isn’t always a “wrong way” to work with leaded glass.

Ideal for students with previous leaded glass experience who are ready to experiment beyond the basics and develop their own approach to the mediumClass tuition includes 2 sessions of open-studio time to be used during the 8-week course and will be available for scheduling between weeks 5-7 of the class session.

Prerequisite: Stained Glass 1: Introduction to Copper Foil, and one of our Stained Glass 2 classes or 48 hours of similar class experience and instructor permission, is required.

Flame 1: Introduction to Flameworking

$475
Calendar Next available session starts Jan 19, 2027 at 6:30 pm

PGC 1 Flameworking is the art of melting, manipulating, sculpting, and blowing glass over a tabletop torch. This introductory 8-week class will cover safety, torch operation, and a variety of solid sculpting practices using borosilicate glass rods. Weekly demonstrations will teach new tips, tools, and the color applications needed to melt glass and create unique works of art. You can expect to learn how to sculpt pendants, marbles, animals, leaves, flowers, and small sculptures. The instructor will also provide one-on-one troubleshooting. No experience necessary..

Class tuition includes 2 hours of open-studio time to be used during the 8-week course period. This will help you become familiar with the studio and learn the process of studio rental beyond class hours. Open Studio is held on Monday Nights 5:00pm - 9:00pm.

Ages 14+

Hot Glass 1

$680
Calendar Next available session starts Jan 19, 2027 at 9:30 am
1 additional session on Jan 19, 2027

PGC 1 Learn to blow glass now.

In this introductory class, learn to gather clear molten glass from the furnace and shape it into various forms, from paperweights to simple blown shapes, such as cups and bowls.

Instruction focuses on a team approach to glassblowing, with an emphasis on safety, proper tool use, basic techniques, and materials. Youll never drink from a glass again without appreciating the energy and detail that went into making it. No experience is required.

You may also wish to take this class a second time in order to continue to develop and refine basic skills before moving on to Hot Glass 2. Each time you take it, your skill level, confidence, and passion for glass will grow.

Class tuition includes 2 hours of open-studio time to be used during the 8-week course period. Open Studio is held on Monday Nights 5:00pm - 9:00pm.

Powder Printing with Screens

$540
Calendar Next available session starts Jan 19, 2027 at 6:30 pm, runs for 8 weeks

Explore the versatility of powder printing, an exciting glass process that combines screenprinting techniques with finely ground glass powder to transfer imagery onto sheet glass. Inspired by Pittsburgh’s rich history of photographic silkscreen printing, this course invites artists of all backgrounds to experiment with imagery, pattern, layering, and repetition.

You’ll learn how to manipulate images using computer software, prepare artwork for screenprinting, and burn your own designs onto screens. From personal photographs to patterns and graphic imagery, you’ll explore techniques for creating multiples and building layered compositions with glass powder.

Projects will be limited in size to accommodate the available screens and kilns, but you’ll leave with the skills and knowledge to scale up your work and confidently use PGC equipment for larger projects independently.

No prior glass or screenprinting experience is necessary.





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