1. Capital Campaign Complete
Our capital campaign and expansion are complete. As we crossed the finish line this year, we celebrated the 409 individuals and organizations who came together to raise over $15 million to strengthen our capacity to advance a more diverse, vibrant, and accessible glass art community.
2. Advanced Digital Infrastructure Launched
This year we launched a new class registration and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system developed through the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator for Arts and Culture. As one of nearly 200 institutions across the U.S. and the UK selected for the newest cohort of the Digital Accelerator Program, PGC partnered early on with the Lapine Group to analyze infrastructure needs, resulting in a recommendation to hire local consultants Rivers Agile. By centralizing student data and streamlining operations across all areas of PGC’s business, the new platform has already yielded immediate results. PGC saw a significant year-over-year increase in registrations. Notably, we now offer payment plans for the first time, making the specialized cost of glassmaking more accessible to a broader audience.
3. Cheers to a Successful Collab with Wigle Whiskey
The Wigle Whiskey x Penn/Fairmount partnership was a strong example of a true collaboration, bringing together glass and spirits in a shared, creative experience. Our November holiday release party showcased live glassblowing, seasonal cocktails, and the unveiling of the limited-edition bottle. The collaboration generated $4,500 in custom commissions for PGC and an additional $2,000 in complementary Penn/Fairmount glassware sales. By sharing the story of both Wigle’s distilling craft and Penn/Fairmount’s glassmaking, the partnership strengthened visibility for both brands and demonstrated the impact of collaborative, cross-disciplinary making.
4. Better Together Event Was the Best
BIPOC glassmakers from all across the country joined to celebrate and empower one another, teach alongside each other, and share their passion for creativity at Better Together x PGC, held on May 24 in collaboration with Crafting the Future. Free demonstrations and hands-on glassmaking activities were offered to the public throughout the day. Visitors shopped at the local vendor marketplace and a silent auction was held to raise funds to support more opportunities for BIPOC makers.
5. RAD Passes Go Live
In October 2025, PGC joined RAD Pass, an online ticketing platform that gives Allegheny County library cardholders free and discounted access to arts and entertainment opportunities in the region. Since then, 79 people have been able to participate in PGC’s Walk-In + Make-It-Now program through RAD Pass, gaining free access to experience hot glass by making a sculpted paperweight or a blown ornament thanks to support from the Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD).
6. Those Who Give Just Keep On Giving
This year we ran our most successful year-end campaign, raising over $46,000! Ten key supporters led the campaign with an incredible $15,000 matching fund, doubling individual donations and increasing their impact. Days after a meaningful Giving Tuesday, the matching fund was maximized, but the community continued expressing generosity to PGC through the final days of 2025. These significant year-end donations make PGC more than a studio, but a place where creativity is nurtured, barriers are broken, and people of all ages discover what they’re capable of.
7. Retail is Really On the Rise
Overall retail sales at the PGC Shop exceeded expectations, with gross sales growing 77% compared to 2024 and surpassing our annual sales goal by 15.57%. Throughout the year, the Shop supported a vibrant community of over 70 glass artists. Strategic retail partnerships added meaningful momentum through collaborations such as PGC’s Craft & Cocktails class—where participants worked with glass and learned to make cocktails in their own Penn/Fairmount cups—and a successful holiday release with Wigle Whiskey. In total, more than $95,500 in commissions or purchases were paid to glass artists, underscoring a year of strong growth, a growing community of artists, and a solid foundation heading into the next year.
8. Seattle Art Fair Success
PGC showed up alongside the best art organizations in the U.S. to elevate PGC’s status as a glass art hub at the Seattle Art Fair. Over one weekend we engaged and built relationships with the 22,000 collectors and artists who explored the fair. The highlight was showcasing and selling the work of nine Pittsburgh artists who are deeply a part of our glass community in Pittsburgh.
9. Josh Raiffe, Maker of Celebrity Blown Handbags In Residence
Artist Josh Raiffe, designer of fashionable, functional, and not-so-fragile glass handbags was in residency this fall making new handbags for his celebrity followers and sharing his skills with our local Pittsburgh community. “Pittsburgh Glass Center has a state-of-the-art facility which is an absolute pleasure to work in, but what’s even more impressive is the beautiful, vibrant, and tight knit community they have cultivated. That’s something money can’t buy. It only comes from friendship, generosity, and good vibes. I’d pick a strong community over fancy studio any day. Fortunately, PGC has both. Thanks for the amazing residency! I can’t wait to come back.” —Josh Raiffe
10. Supporting Artists Affected by Hurricane Helene
PGC’s collectors trip to Asheville was a highlight of the year—not just for the incredible studio visits and meaningful connections, but for what it represented. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, our decision to move forward with the trip was an intentional act of support for artists and arts organizations whose livelihoods had been disrupted. By purchasing work, engaging directly with artists, and supporting local businesses, PGC collectors provided both immediate economic impact and a powerful reminder that this creative community continues to matter.
In a time when many artists were still navigating loss, the presence of an engaged, curious, and supportive group from PGC was both practical and symbolic. The Asheville trip exemplified how cultural exchange, philanthropy, and community care can intersect—and how the arts can be a powerful vehicle for showing up for one another when it matters most.
