Join us on the first Friday of each month for our Hot Jam and open house with live glassblowing and flameworking demonstrations. Check out the gallery, explore the studios, shop for glass art, and now make your own glass!

Make-It-Now Fused Glass Suncatcher

Make a unique glass decoration. In this introductory experience, you'll combine colorful pieces of glass granules (frit) and thin colorful glass rods (stringers) to create a decorative glass suncatcher of your own design. Once you design it, we’ll fire it in a kiln with a hook for hanging.

Registration is suggested, but not required, for Fused Glass Suncatcher. Walk in seats are subject to availability.

Registration is not required for Hot Jam Open House.

Make-It-Now experiences offer a quick, hands-on introduction to the colorful world of kilnformed glass. In the kiln shop, you’ll learn from a skilled local artist how to design and assemble your own glass creation using glass frit and stringers. In less than an hour, explore how layers of glass come together to form vibrant patterns and images of your own design. Perfect for beginners, these quick experiences let you discover the beauty of working with glass at your own pace and with no heat.

Ages 5+

Adult supervision is required for any children under 14 years old.

Due to the nature of hot glass, items cannot be taken home the same day they are created. All items made in the kiln shop must be heated and fused in the kiln, then cooled slowly. Items are available for pick-up after 5 days. Shipping can be arranged on site the day of your activity.

Ready to turn up the heat on your glass skills? Whether you’re brand new to flat glass or have taken a workshop or two, this in-depth 6-hour introductory workshop will help expand your technical know-how and creative techniques. You’ll learn glass tool fundamentals and glass cutting techniques while gaining an understanding of glass compatibility, fusing and slumping techniques, mold materials, firing schedules, and kiln theory. By the end of the day, you’ll have a set of functional glass items (plates, bowls, and platters) in the kiln and an appreciation for the alchemy of kilnformed glass.

Note: Class time includes a 30-minute break for lunch. Lunch is not provided, but we do have a refrigerator on site if needed.

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

PGC 232 Push the boundaries of traditional stained glass in this adults-only introductory workshop designed for those interested in bold, provocative imagery and themes. You will learn the fundamentals of stained glass like cutting, foiling, and soldering, while creating work that explores sensuality, the human form, and personal expression through a more daring lens.

Guided by a skilled instructor, you’ll work from provided templates that embrace playful, cheeky, or suggestive subject matter. Emphasis is placed on creative risk-taking, and a supportive, open-minded studio environment where participants are encouraged to explore imagery that might not fit within more traditional class settings.

This workshop is intended for adults (18+) welcomes all experience levels and celebrates creativity without judgment. Expect good vibes, great glass, and artwork that definitely won’t fit in grandma’s window.

Quilting and stained glass both celebrate the beauty of assembling many small pieces into one beautiful design. In this introductory and extended workshop, you’ll explore the timeless connection between these two crafts by creating your own “quilted” stained glass panel inspired by traditional quilt block patterns.

Students will learn about classic quilt block designs, select a favorite from a curated collection of patterns, and then dive into the copper foil stained glass process, from cutting and foiling to soldering and finishing.

Whether you’re a beginner eager to learn or a returning student looking for a fresh challenge, this workshop offers a creative blend of color, pattern, and light. No prior experience with quilting or stained glass is needed.

Bring your garden to life with a vibrant stained glass mushroom. In this introductory workshop, you’ll explore the fundamentals of stained glass. Under the guidance of a skilled instructor, you’ll learn to cut, wrap, and solder glass from a pattern into a fun and funky mushroom that brightens potted plants or outdoor beds. Great for adding personality and sparkle to any space.

Over the course of the session, high school-aged students will work closely with professional teaching artists to learn and practice kilnforming, casting, and kiln studio basics. Students will learn how to cut flat glass and work with a variety of other glass materials to melt and shape designs to create an array of functional and decorative pieces. Students will also explore reproducing items in glass from a found object through mold-making and casting. Young artists are encouraged to bring their own ideas and creativity to their projects to make them their own.

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 be adapted to students' interests and skills. This program can be and 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 Fusing and Casting 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 an eagerness to learn.

Create a meaningful and decorative fused glass mezuzah in this introductory fused glass workshop. Under the guidance of a skilled instructor, you’ll learn to cut and layer sheet glass, frit (colored glass granules), and stringers (thin colored glass rods) to design a one-of-a-kind piece that reflects your personal style. Whether you choose an abstract pattern, symbolic imagery, or a colorful landscape-inspired design, your finished mezuzah will bring handmade beauty and a touch of luminous color to your doorway. Once your design is complete, we’ll fire it in the kiln to fuse everything together into a durable and functional work of glass art.

Please note: scrolls and mounting hardware are not provided.

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

Join us for an evening of hot glass making and cold beer drinking with Two Frays Brewery.

Make a Fused Glass Coaster!

Everyday objects are better when they’re handmade. In this fun kiln experience, you’ll be guided by a skilled artist to use colorful glass granules (frit) and thin glass rods (stringers) to design your own glass coaster, a fun place to rest your beverage of choice and express yourself with glass. Once you design it, we’ll fire it, so all the pieces become one. 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!

Make-It-Now experiences offer a quick, hands-on introduction to the colorful world of kilnformed glass. In the kiln shop, you’ll learn from a skilled local artist how to design and assemble your own glass creation using glass frit and stringers. In less than an hour, explore how layers of glass come together to form vibrant patterns and images of your own design. Perfect for beginners, these quick experiences let you discover the beauty of working with glass at your own pace and with no heat.

Ages 21+

Guests under 21 are 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 kiln shop must be heated and fused in the kiln, then cooled slowly. Items are available for pick-up after 5 days. Shipping can be arranged on site the day of your activity.