Celebrate Pride at Pittsburgh Glass Center with an evening of colorful activities and free hot glass demonstrations.

Get creative with color! In this fun kiln shop experience, you’ll be guided by a skilled artist to use colorful glass granules (frit) and thin glass rods (stringers) to design your own vibrant glass suncatcher—a fun decorative way to capture sunlight and express yourself with glass. Once you design it, we’ll fire it, so all the pieces become one.

Pay What Makes You Happy: During checkout, choose a price that feels right for you. Higher contributions directly support reduced-cost access for others. Proceeds from this activity will benefit our LGBTQIA+ scholarship fund. 

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 child 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.

 

Have a blast in this quick and fun cold shop experience. You’ll turn an ordinary piece of glass into a beautiful one-of-a-kind work of art. Use stickers and tape to design your own pattern, motif, or image, and with the help of a skilled artist, sandblast your piece to a frosted finish, to capture the light in style. Create a design that’s seasonal, meaningful, geometric, or totally your own.

Make it, blast it, and take it home the very same night!

Make-It-Now experiences offer a quick hands-on introduction to the art of coldworking. In the cold shop, you’ll work with a skilled local artist using our specialized equipment to personalize your own glass piece through either sandblasting or engraving. In less than an hour, you’ll experience the cool side of glassmaking. Perfect for beginners, this guided session is a fun and creative experience with no heating or cooling required.

This is one experience where you can make it and take-it home on the same day.

Sandblasting Ages 5+

Adult supervision is required for any children under 14 years old

MOLTN is a dynamic and unique workshop created just for teens to explore the exciting world of glass art at Pittsburgh Glass Center. Working alongside professional glass artists, students will experience the heat, skill, and creativity that go into shaping molten glass across three studios: the Hot Shop, the Flame Shop, and the Kiln Shop.

In the Hot Shop, teens will gather and shape molten glass from a 2,100°F furnace. In the Flame Shop, they’ll use a 3,000°F torch to melt and sculpt solid glass rods. In the Kiln Shop, they’ll design and prepare glass pieces to be fused together in kilns reaching up to 1,700°F. Through this immersive experience, students will learn a range of glassmaking techniques, gain confidence working with heat and tools, and create their own one-of-a-kind glass artworks.

No experience necessary, just curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to get fired up about glass!

MOLTN is designed for students in grades 6–12.

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

 

PGC is committed to facilitating access for all young people. We offer full- and half-tuition scholarships for middle school and high school students based on application strength. No previous glass or art experience is required. Our only prerequisites are enthusiasm, curiosity, and eagerness to learn.

 

APPLY NOW for a youth scholarship at this link.

PGC 134

Dive into the magic of molten glass. In this introductory workshop, heat and shape molten glass into whimsical whale sculptures using a 3,000°F torch. Guided by a skilled instructor, learn torch basics, experiment with adding color and playful details to create one-of-a-kind creations. Add a glass loop to make it a pendant or keep them as trinkets. Perfect for adding whimsy to your home, fish tank, or sharing with a friend.

 

Ages 14+

 

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

Tweet yourself to something new. In this introductory workshop, heat glass rods using a 3,000°F torch and learn to shape into simple bird forms. Guided by a skilled instructor, learn torch basics and add color to make these one-of-a-kind creations. Add a glass loop to make it a pendant or keep them as cute sculptures perfect to wear, share, or show off.

 

Ages 14+

 

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

PGC 159

Craft a whimsical glass dragonfly. In this introductory workshop, you’ll explore the fundamentals of stained glass. Under the guidance of a skilled instructor you’ll learn to cut, shape, and assemble glass into delicate wings. Then you’ll solder your creation with glass gems into a charming, decorative piece. A perfect project for beginners who love colorful, nature-inspired art.

 

Ages 14+

 

Turn fire and color into wearable art. In this introductory workshop, learn how to melt and shape solid glass rods over a 3,000°F torch. Guided by a skilled instructor, learn torch basics, add bits of colorful glass frit, create beautiful swirling patterns, and watch your pendant come to life.

 

Ages 14+

 

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

PGC 148

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.

Ages 14+

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