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Hot Glassblowing
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Beyond the Cup
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+
Hot Glass in the Fast Lane
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+
Gather and Brew: Blown Glass Cup
Join us for an evening of hot glass making and cold beer drinking with Two Frays Brewery.
We think beer tastes better in a handmade glass. The right glass can transform every sip, letting you savor the flavors and nuances of your favorite brew. In this quick and exciting hot shop experience, you’ll work closely with a skilled artist to blow and shape molten glass from our 2,100°F furnace into a handmade cup, perfect for enjoying a beverage of your choice.
After your hands-on studio time, kick back, and talk with the brewer, enjoy the beers, relax on the patio with some snacks, wander the gallery, and watch live glassblowing demonstrations throughout the evening. If you register for a later glassmaking slot, we suggest arriving early to enjoy all this event has to offer.
Cheers to a night of craft, flavor, and fun!
Ages 21+
Don’t put a cork in it yet. Register here to make a glass bottle stopper in the flame shop and register here to make sandblasted drinkware in the cold shop!
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.
SiO2 Teen Boot Camp
Ages: 12 - 19
Spend an unforgettable and fun week this summer diving into the world of glass.This program is designed for teens in grades 6 - 9 to take over the Pittsburgh Glass Center studios. It gives students the rare hands-on opportunity to learn the many facets of glass in one of the top facilities in the country. Working with experienced instructors, students will rotate through all of the studios and explore glassblowing, flameworking, kilnforming, and coldworking. New this year, students will also connect glass and technology in the fabrication lab.
Please look over our Teen Boot Camp Policies and important information regarding scheduling and forms by clicking here: https://www.pittsburghglasscenter.org/teen-boot-camp-policies/
Required Forms
All registered students must complete our Teen Boot Camp Intake form. This form is presented during the registration process, and is required for all students prior to their first day of camp. Forms will ask for emergency contacts, known student allergies, and designated persons allowed to sign students out of camp.
Scholarships are available for all students! Scholarship Application Deadline: May 3, 2026.