You may wish to take this class more than once to deepen your skill and understanding of the material. Content may vary by session.

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

Prerequisite: Hot 2 or equivalent 48 hours experience with instructor permission required.

Class does not meet on 3/7.

Ages 14+

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.

Class does not meet on 3/1. Ages 14+

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.

Get ready for a hot date night. In this quick and exciting hot shop experience, you and your special someone will team up with a skilled artist to transform molten glass from our 2,100°F furnace into one magical glass heart, a loveable keepsake of your teamwork.

After your hands-on studio time, kick back on the patio with a glass of wine or beer and some tasty bites, let the live music set the mood as you wander the gallery, and be wowed by glassblowing and flameworking demonstrations happening throughout the evening. If you register for a later glassmaking slot, we suggest arriving early to enjoy all this event has to offer.

Each couple makes 1 glass heart together.

Make-It-Now experiences offer a quick hands-on introduction to the magic of glassmaking. In the hot shop, you’ll work one-on-one with a skilled local artist at the 2,100°F furnace. In about 15 minutes or less, you’ll work together to shape, color, and craft your glass item. Perfect for beginners, these short experiences offer a taste of the excitement, skill, and artistry that goes into working with glass in a supportive, guided setting.

Ages 21+

Guests under 21 not permitted.

Due to the nature of hot glass, items cannot be taken home the same day they are created. All items made in the hot shop must go through an annealing process to slowly cool the glass. Items are available for pick-up after 5 days. Shipping can be arranged on site the day of your activity.

PGC 123 Create your own distinctive glass goblet in this immersive two-day introductory workshop, combining both hot and cold glass techniques. In the first session, work in the hot shop under the guidance of skilled instructors to gather, color, and shape molten glass from the 2,100°F furnace, forming the foot and stem of your goblet.

In the second session, transition to the cold shop to etch and sandblast a pre-made top, adding personalized designs that make your vessel truly unique. Instructors will also guide you through cutting, gluing, and assembling your pieces to create a functional and striking final goblet.

This workshop is a great introductory experience in both hot and cold glass processes, resulting in a one-of-a-kind piece you’ll be proud to take home.

Ages 14+

Play with pattern, light, and distortion in this 2-day intensive class and explore the creative potential of optic molds. We will begin with the fundamentals of gathering and setting up a proper bubble for mold blowing, then experiment with ways to transform optical ridges. Through guided demonstrations and hands-on practice, you’ll learn how to twist, pinch, cut, and manipulate the optical ridges to create different and fun effects. Hot glass 1 or equivalent 24 hours glassblowing experience with instructor approval required.

Saturday, March 28th, class is from 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM. Sunday, March 29th, class is from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

An 8-week curriculum, accelerated into just 4 weeks.

Explore glassblowing in just 4-weeks! Learn to gather molten glass from the furnace, and then sculpt it into various forms, from paperweights to simple blown shapes, like cups and bowls. 

Focus will be placed on the team approach to glassblowing and will emphasize safety, proper tool use, basic techniques, and materials.

This class is appropriate whether you have limited hot shop experience or none at all. You will experience the same number of contact hours as students attending the once-a-week, 8-week classes, but in a condensed, 4-week format.

There are two options: One class meets twice a week on both Tuesday and Thursday; the other is a longer day on Saturdays.

Ages 14+

Move beyond the basic cup shape to create other hot glass forms.

Take your glassblowing skills to the next level by moving beyond the cup. In this intermediate class, you will expand on basic vessel forms by exploring new techniques and shapes while refining your understanding of heat and timing to blow glass quicker and thinner.

Prerequisite: Hot 1 or 24 hours equivalent hot glass experience with instructor permission is required.

Ages 14+