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Sensory Friendly Open House
4/7/2024 | 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Visitors with sensory sensitivities will enjoy our free sensory-friendly Open Houses. These open houses will take place after the Glass Center is closed to the general public, so visitors may explore the space on their own time. The safe and welcoming environment includes a self-guided tour of Pittsburgh Glass Center’s 4 studios, gallery, and retail space, glassblowing demonstrations in our Hot Shop, as well as a designated chill zone with an activity appropriate for visitors of all ages.
Visitors are encouraged to borrow a sensory kit at our front desk. The kits include noise-canceling headphones, paper fans, fidget toys, and more items to help visitors with sensory sensitivities navigate the space.
To prepare for your visit, review details about accessibility at PGC which includes a preview of our building, as well as accessibility and sensory information.
If you would like to RSVP for this event in advance, please email us. This event also welcomes those who would like to drop in anytime throughout the timeframe.
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Hot Shop ActivitiesWith the help of an instructor, participants will learn how to transform 2,000°F molten glass into a unique glass artwork. Sculpted items will be manipulated and shaped with various metal hand tools. Blown items will be inflated via a flexible tube attached to a blow pipe. The Hot Shop, as the name might suggest, can get warm at times, particularly during summer months. That being said, the activity will only take about 10-15 minutes per person so you won’t be warm for long. We encourage our guests to wear lighter, natural material clothing for safety and comfort. Visitors are welcome to bring water bottles and a water fountain/filling station is available. These activities will involves sitting, standing, and walking around. Suitable for ages 5 and up. |
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Kiln Shop Fusing ActivitiesCombine brilliantly colored pieces of glass granules and thin glass strands to create a one-of-a-kind luminous fused glass artwork. Once you design it, we’ll fire it, so that all pieces become one. Participants will work seated in our climate-controlled Classroom and with room temperature pieces of glass. You will begin with a glass tile that acts as your “canvas,” then arrange the colorful glass granules and thin glass strands into a design of your choosing. Once the designs are complete, suncatchers are placed in a kiln overnight to melt (fuse) together forever. Suitable for ages 5 and up. |
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Flame Shop ActivitiesWith the help of an instructor, participants will learn how to use tools and a tabletop torch to melt and manipulate glass rods and transform them into truly one-of-a-kind objects. These activities take place in our climate controlled Flame Shop, which involves working with a flame, but is not nearly as warm as our Hot Shop. Participants will be sitting at a workstation, making this option slightly more accessible and less physically demanding. Suitable for ages 8 and up. |