Bring a whole new dimension to your stained glass projects by learning to create your very own art glass. In this 2-day introductory workshop, you’ll explore the interplay and possibilities between kilnforming and stained glass. On day one, you’ll dive into the colorful world of kilnforming as you learn glass cutting and fusing fundamentals. Experiment with accessory glass like frit and stringers to design and build your own custom art glass sheet.

On day two, discover how to incorporate your one-of-a-kind fused creations into a stained glass suncatcher. You’ll learn how to cut, foil, and solder your fused glass into a finished piece that glows with your personal touch.

Perfect for beginners and experienced glass artists alike. This workshop is a creative fusion of color, technique, and imagination.

This workshop meets 10am-2pm on Saturday, and 1pm-5pm on Sunday.

Ages 14+

SiO2 Flameworking is a hands-on, after school program specifically for students in grades 9 -12. Classes meet once a week for 10 sessions. This class does not meet on 3/3/2026.

High school-aged students will work closely with professional teaching artists to learn how to use a 3,000°F tabletop torch, the heat it generates, and gravity to shape molten glass. They will learn about borosilicate, a hard glass with a high melting point that can be used to make a variety of small sculptures, jewelry, and more. Young artists are encouraged to bring their creativity to the torch.

This program is designed with youth in mind. The course focuses on safety, confidence building with materials, and teaching foundational glassmaking skills to young artists. Sessions and content will vary and adapt to students' interests and skills. This program is often taken more than once. We encourage our students from Mixed and Mashed Up to level up to this program, but no previous experience is required.

Students who participate in SiO2 Flameworking are invited to participate in a celebration and exhibition at the end of the semester and are also invited to show their work in a rotating display on Pittsburgh Glass Center’s third floor.

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.

In this intermediate fusing class, you’ll refine your glass-cutting skills while diving deeper into color, pattern, and material behavior. Build confidence and precision as you practice advanced cutting techniques, including harnessing the use of the  ¼" strip. Discover fresh ways to make your work stand out by creating custom art glass with powders and stringers. You’ll also design and fabricate a pixel-pattern bar, repeating and manipulating your motif while investigating the scientific properties that drive how glass moves, melts, and fuses.  

Prerequisite:  Kiln 1 or 24 hours of stained glass experience with instructor experience required.  

Class does not meet on 3/3

Ages 14+

Working with borosilicate glass in this 8-week class, you will learn how to make tiny worlds inside spheres of glass. Each week you will learn a new color design while honing your basic flameworking skills and getting ever closer to the elusive perfect sphere. Things that you'll learn along the way might include pulling striped cane, clear or color encasement, heat control and more. This class is intended for beginners or intermediate flameworkers. Join us to advance your technical skills, consider new forms and designs, and hopefully make some friends along the way. No experience necessary.

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 from 5:00pm - 9:00pm.

Class does not meet on 3/4.

Ages 14+

Mixed and Mashed Up is a hands-on, glass making after-school program specifically for students in grades 6-8. Classes meet after school once a week for 12 sessions.

Students will spend four sessions in three studios learning foundational glassblowing, flameworking, and kilnforming from professional teaching artists.

In the hot shop, students will gather and shape glass from a 2,100°F furnace. In the flame shop, students will melt, shape, and manipulate rods of glass over a 3,000°F tabletop torch. In the kiln shop, students will explore the world of cutting and designing with flat glass and kilnforming, including casting, fusing, or stained glass.

This program is designed with youth in mind. All studios focus on safety, confidence building with materials, and teaching foundational glassmaking skills to young artists. Sessions and content will vary and adapt to students' interests and skills. This program is often taken more than once.

Students who participate in Mixed and Mashed up are invited to participate in a celebration and exhibition at the end of the semester and are also invited to show their work in a rotating display on Pittsburgh Glass Center’s third floor.

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.

SiO2 Glassblowing is a hands-on, after school program specifically for students in grades 9-12. Classes meet once a week for 10 sessions.

High school-aged students will work closely with professional teaching artists to learn to gather from the 2,100°F furnace, tool handling, and how to shape molten glass into solid and blown forms. After practicing and reviewing the basics, young artists are encouraged to bring their own creativity and ideas to the bench.

This program is designed with youth in mind. The course focuses on safety, confidence building with materials, and teaching foundational glassmaking skills to young artists. Sessions and content will vary and adapt to students' interests and skills. This program is often taken more than once. We encourage our students from Mixed and Mashed Up to level up to this program, but no previous experience is required.

Students who participate in SiO2 Glassblowing are invited to participate in a celebration and exhibition at the end of the semester and are also invited to show their work in a rotating display on Pittsburgh Glass Center’s third floor.

 

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.

Discover the art of printmaking with glass. In this introductory workshop, you’ll use cold shop etching tools to engrave your own glass plate and create a unique design. Be inspired by the season and opt to make one-of-a-kind Valentine prints! Once your plate is complete, you’ll bring your artwork to life with ink, transferring your design onto paper.

At the end of the workshop, you’ll leave with both your engraved glass plate and your printed works, ready to display, gift, or admire.

TEENS ONLY workshops are a great introduction to the world of glassmaking, just for teens. Teens will step into the PGC studios and explore the heat, color, and creativity of working with glass in the flame shop, hot shop, kiln shop, or cold shop– alongside other teens. Teens can come solo and make new friends who share an interest in glassmaking, or sign up with a friend to share in the experience.

Looking for a more in-depth experience? Check out our afterschool SiO₂ classes, full-day MOLTN workshops, or summer boot camp for even more hands-on glassmaking fun.

 

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.

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.