Host a Hot Event

With its chic, urban-industrial design, Pittsburgh Glass Center offers an exceptional space for hosting your group event, from intimate dinner parties and milestone celebrations to bar/bat mitzvahs and wedding receptions. With space for socializing, sit-down meals, presentations, and meetings, PGC is also an excellent location for corporate receptions. Whether you’re planning for 6 or 300 people, our spaces are available to rent year-round for daytime and evening hours to give your guests a truly memorable experience.

• Flexible space to set up lecture-style, banquet-style, or anything in between.
  
  
• Opportunities to add-on live glass demonstrations and hands-on glass-making experiences for you and your guests.
  
  
• Support from our expert team, including your dedicated event supervisor and our preferred caterer, Black Radish Kitchen
  
  
• Audio/Visual capabilities to support both in-person and remote attendees

See how our unique event venue would accentuate YOUR next holiday party, retreat, birthday, or other group event. Our team at Pittsburgh Glass Center eagerly invites you to explore our facilities to see how your next event could be a perfect fit for our urban chic venue. Open House attendees will enjoy light refreshments, a tour of our facilities, and live glass-working demonstrations.

Reservations are requested. 

PGC 214

Bring the forest indoors. In this introductory workshop, heat and shape glass rods with a 3,000°F torch to create whimsical mini mushrooms. Guided by a skilled instructor, learn torch basics and add color and details for pendants or tiny figurines perfect for plants or to display.

 

 

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

PGC 125

Melt, twirl, and spin your way to tiny works of art. In this introductory workshop, you’ll heat glass rods over a 3,000°F torch and learn to shape, layer, and decorate your very own beads. Guided by a skilled instructor, add dots, trails, and swirls to make colorful creations that are perfect to wear, share, or show off.

 

 

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

PGC 136

Carve out some fun with molten glass pumpkins. In this introductory workshop, you’ll gather glowing molten glass from the 2,100°F furnace and add colors of your choice. Then guided by a skilled instructor, you will blow and sculpt it into beautiful pumpkins with curly stems. This workshop is a fun introductory experience into hot glassblowing. Each participant will make two blown pumpkins, perfect for harvesting compliments at home, gifting to a loved one, or adding a decorative touch to any space.

 

 

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

PGC 210

It’s alive… in glass. In this introductory workshop, spark your imagination as you twist, melt, and sculpt your own glass monsters and mythical creatures using a 3,000°F torch. Guided by a skilled instructor, learn torch basics and add colors, texture, and personality. Add a glass loop or keep them as sculptures, perfect to wear, share, or show off.

 

 

 

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

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.

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.

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.