Programs for Students and Educators
Pittsburgh Glass Center supports glass art learning in and out of the classroom. Our resources and experiences for educators and students include new virtual field trips and classes, school group tours, hands-on glassmaking activities in the studio, in-school glassmaking classes and residencies, partnerships, professional development, and educator resources.
Program pricing should not be a deterrent for any student. PGC is committed to making programming financially accessible for as many people as possible by awarding full or partial scholarships for schools or organizations that express a financial need.
If you would like to submit a request to schedule a program please fill out the community programs form.
If you have questions about programs, please contact us.
Virtual Learning Experiences
Bring the action of the studio and expertise of glass artist right into your classroom. With our new state-of-the art technology, students will experience a private glassblowing demonstration and get even closer to the glass making process. Program includes a live narrated 30-minute glass making demonstration and 20 minutes of personal conversation and Q and A with one of our expert glass artists in the PGC studios. Groups will receive special access to pre-recorded building and studio tours and a tour of our contemporary glass exhibition. Program includes pre and post visit materials to enhance your visit and extend your students learning, including a student guide for our current exhibition that focuses on developing close looking and critical thinking skills.
Combine a virtual class with a virtual field trip and get the full glass experience!
Virtual field trips can be held on your preferred virtual platform, adapted for students ages 5 and up, and should be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance. Program cost: $150 flat rate
Welcome an expert teaching artist into your class room for a virtual glass making lesson. Program includes a pre-scheduled virtual lesson with a teaching artist to introduce PGC and guide students through the glass making process and all of the materials pre-packaged for students to create their own mosaic or fused glass project. Program lasts about 1 hour.
Virtual Glass Class can be adapted for students aged 5 and up and should be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance. Program cost: starting from $25 per student.
Choose from the following options:
- MOSAIC MAKING: Learn the centuries old art form of mosaic making and create your own mosaic artwork with beautiful glass pieces. Students will learn the basics of mosaic technique, design, layout, and grouting. Choose from a variety of our different shapes for unique one of kind artwork.
- FUSING: Learn about glass properties and the science of glass while working with cold glass that needs to be fused and fired in the kiln. Students will work with colored glass stringers (small rods of glass) and frit (small granules of glass) to design a unique and luminous suncatcher while learning the basics of design, layout, and properties of glass. All fused projects require kiln firing.
Combine a virtual class with a virtual field trip and get the full glass experience! Contact us for more details and to schedule.
School Group Tours & Hands-On Glass Making Activities
Tour all of Pittsburgh Glass Center’s state-of-the-art studios and explore how glass art is made in each one. Learn about Pittsburgh’s lesser-known but incredibly rich glassmaking history and visit the contemporary glass art exhibition in the Hodge Gallery. Supplemental student gallery guides to extend student learning about current exhibition are available upon request.
Watch as an experienced glass artist demonstrates the fascinating process of manipulating molten glass into a functional or sculptural glass work live in the studio. Choose either a glassblowing demonstration in the Hot Shop or a flameworking demonstration in the Flame Shop. Learn about the process, the tools, and the science behind the artistry through live narration and conversation with a glass artist.
School tour and glassmaking demo lasts about 1 hour and should be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance. Program is adaptable for students aged 5 and up. This experience does not include a hands-on glass making activity. Program Cost: $15 per student when booked individually or $10 per student when added on to a group activity.
Try a quick glassmaking activity in the studio with plenty of assistance from a local glass artist. Students work closely with an instructor for about 15 – 20 minutes to make the glass item of their choosing (pre-determined when scheduling). Each student will make one glass item and come away from this unique experience with a basic understanding of glass making and an appreciation of the process.
Hands-on activities should be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance. The program is adaptable for students aged 5 and up. The length of the program is determined by how many students participate. Depending on the glass item chosen, hands-on activities can accommodate 6-60 students a session. Program Cost: starting from $40 per student. Add on a building tour and glassblowing demonstration for an additional $10 per student.
In School & Community Programs
Explore our opportunities to bring glass into your classroom, afterschool program, or community. We provide all the supplies, tools, and expert teaching artists to engage students of all ages in hands-on glass art making. Programs connect students to glass and relevant topics such as science, art, or history while focusing on 21st century skills prevalent in glass artistry: critical thinking, creativity, flexibility, collaboration, empathy, and creating community. Programs are designed to be flexible and appropriate for student K – 12 and adaptable for all abilities.
Bring glass artists into your classroom or after school program to create various fusing, mosaic, and enameling projects or a large-scale collaborative mosaic in this multi-week-in depth glass making experience for students. Teaching artists will guide students through every project. Students learn about science and glass properties, how to safely cut glass, and the basics of design. Students gain experience with the glass art making processes like mosaic making, fusing, using frit and stringers, and can experiment with glass sculpting techniques.
Multi-Visit Glass can be adapted to fit your program goals, are customizable for students aged 5 and up, and can range from a few sessions to up to a semester, depending on needs and availability. Program should be scheduled at least 4 weeks in advance. Program Cost: starting at $30 per student per session.
Bring glass artists into your classroom or after school program for a single hands-on glass making class. Expert teaching artists will guide participants through the process from design to production.
Choose from the following options:
- MOSAIC MAKING: Learn the centuries old art form of mosaic making and create your own mosaic artwork with beautiful glass pieces. Students will learn the basics of mosaic technique, design, layout, and grouting. Choose from a variety of our different shapes for unique one of kind artwork.
- FUSING: Learn about glass properties and the science of glass while working with cold glass that needs to be fused and fired in the kiln. Students will work with colored glass stringers (small rods of glass) and frit (small granules of glass) to design a unique and luminous suncatcher while learning the basics of design, layout, and properties of glass. All fused projects require kiln firing.
Single Visit Glass Classes can be adapted for students aged 5 and up and should be scheduled at least 4 weeks in advance. Program cost: starting from $25 per student.
Our compact traveling glass studio called Hot Wheels is complete with all of the equipment needed to conduct glassblowing demonstrations almost anywhere.
The Light Lab is a mobile neon and plasma demonstration station that can be brought to your location. PGC neon expert Percy Echols II is a Pittsburgh-based artist, alchemist, and educator who pioneered the development of the Light Lab. He developed the program to shine a light on the artistic and scientific application of electrified gasses.
Glass artists demonstrate how beads, marbles, and small glass sculptures are made using a tabletop torch at your location.
If you would like to submit a request to schedule a program please fill out the community programs form.
Professional Development
Pittsburgh Glass Center is an approved ACT 48 provider. Take any of our offered classes or workshops in any of our four state-of-the-art studios and earn ACT 48 credits.
Join us for an opportunity to learn more about Pittsburgh Glass Center’s many educational programs and student opportunities in person! This event includes a tour of PGC, a glassblowing demonstration, and a hands-on glass-making activity. Participants will make a fused glass tile available for pick up in 3 days after the event. Pre-registration is required. Program is not only for teachers! Principals, administrators, and PTA/PTO representatives are also welcome. Earn 1 hour of Act 28 credit.
Program can be scheduled privately for groups of 5 or more depending on availability.
Bring the wonder of glass art into your school, teach students about the value of teamwork, and share the delight of creative expression. In this one-day workshop for educators, learn multiple glassmaking techniques and complete projects that you can show your students! We will also discuss PGC’s on-site residency programs and how you can continue with this artistic medium in your classroom. Earn 5.5 hour of Act 48 credits. For more information, contact Valerie.
Have an idea you want to see in glass or want to explore other possibilities not listed? PGC welcomes opportunities to develop unique and meaningful partnerships and special programs with individual teachers, schools, districts, or organizations. Please complete the community programs form for more information.
