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.

A well-crafted pattern is the foundation of every successful neon piece. In this seminar-style class, you'll explore both analog and digital tools for designing patterns specifically for neon bending. Learn how to break down complex shapes into achievable bends, plan efficient bending sequences, and apply essential design principles to create patterns that translate seamlessly into glass.

 

Through guided demonstrations and hands-on exercises, you'll develop a deeper understanding of how to balance aesthetics with functionality, ensuring your designs are not only visually compelling but also structurally sound. Whether you prefer hand-drawn sketches or digital drafting, this class will equip you with the skills to refine your neon planning process and set yourself up for success in the bending studio.

 

Perfect for neon enthusiasts or designers interested in neon, beginners looking to improve their approach, or experienced benders looking to expand their tools and workflow. Note: This is a seminar style class that will meet in the PGC Classroom. A laptop is required for this class to work with digital tools such as Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape. Receive a $10 discount on registration if you're currently registered in a Neon class.