FAQ

Pittsburgh Glass Center is located between the East End neighborhoods of Friendship and Garfield, about 3.5 miles east of the Strip District, near the corner of Penn and Negley Avenues at 5472 Penn Avenue. HERE'S A MAP

We are free and open to the public with a $5 suggested donation fee.

Monday Closed
Tuesday–Saturday 11am–7pm
Sunday 11am–4pm

Beginning in March 2023, Pittsburgh Glass Center will begin construction on the expansion of our facility which will allow us to more than double the number of people that visit each year! During construction, all activities will proceed as normal, but our parking lot will be unavailable. 

We encourage you to allow extra travel time to find parking in the surrounding areas before your activity. Parking on Penn Avenue in front of and near our building is free.

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 HERE'S A MAP

Pittsburgh Glass Center is open to the public for free:

Monday Closed
Tuesday–Saturday 11am–7pm
Sunday 11am–4pm

Join us to: 

• Take a handson workshop REGISTER IN ADVANCE
• Explore our contemporary glass gallery EXPLORE THE GALLERY 

• Watch artists making glass
• Purchase and pick up Glass-To-Go Kits BUY A KIT 

• Shop for handmade glass gifts 
 SHOP PGC
• Pick up items made previously in classes 


We’re so excited that you saw us on Blown Away! 

Visit us to:

• Explore our contemporary glass gallery EXPLORE THE GALLERY 

• Watch artists making glass
• Purchase and pick up Glass-To-Go Kits BUY A KIT 

• Shop for handmade glass gifts 
 SHOP PGC
• Pick up items made previously in classes 

• Take a hands-on workshop REGISTER IN ADVANCE

We have a growing community of talented glass artists that are almost always making art in our studios. Feel free to call us at 412-365-2145 to learn more about what's happening in the studios on the day you plan to visit.

You can also schedule a one-hour tour of our studios with an experienced glass artist, including a glassblowing demonstration and gallery conversation. Tours cost $7-15/participant and require a minimum of 10 participants, or minimum fee of $100. SCHEDULE A TOUR

All of our classes and workshops are pre-registration only. You will receive guided instruction from a local teaching artist to help you create your own work of glass art.  

REGISTER FOR A CLASS + WORKSHOP 

We also offer glass kits that you can buy and take home to make your own mosaic, stained glass or fused work of art.  

BUY A GLASS TO GO KIT 

Primanti Bros. Restaurant is located across the street from Pittsburgh Glass Center, and there is a Commonplace Coffee less than a block away. We are also about half a mile from the busy Highland Avenue area with many restaurants.  HERE'S A MAP

Make-It-Now events are more fun with friends.

When registering multiple participants be sure to sign up for sequential time slots (instead of multiple slots at the same time) so everyone in your group can participate, watch, and take pictures together during your activity. For example, register your family of 4 for one slot each at 6:00, 6:20, 6:40 and 7:00pm.

Still have questions? Call us at 412-365-2145. We can help.

We have several opportunities from 2-hour weekend workshops to 12-week after school classes for children to learn all about glass including:

• Glassblowing
• Casting
• Flameworking
• Fusing
• And more!

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUTH CLASSES

Unless otherwise stated, we welcome students at least 14 years of age or older to participate in our introductory 2-hour workshops and students 5 and older for our Make-It-Now events. An adult must accompany children under 14 years old.

Children age 14+ can also sign up for private lessons. PRIVATE LESSONS 

In addition, we offer Glass-To-Go kits for anyone age 6 and above to try a glass activity at home.  GLASS-TO-GO KITS

We also have many activities for educators looking for glass activities for their students.

Unless otherwise stated, we welcome students at least 14 years of age or older to participate in our introductory 2-hour workshops and students 5 and older for our Make-It-Now events. An adult must accompany children under 14 years old. You must be at least 14 to participate in all other classes.

REGISTER FOR CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

SCHEDULE PRIVATE LESSONS

Our youth programs are specifically designed for young people in middle school and high school.

LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUTH PROGRAMS

Make-It-Now events are made for anyone 5 and older to try glass and great for families. See what's coming up.

Yes. You will be joined by others in your class, unless it is a private workshop or a private lesson. Other students and artists will be present in the studio.

High-touch surfaces and equipment are cleaned after every class and multiple times a day. Due to the nature of the glass making process, every studio in the building has state-of-the-art ventilation.

Learn more about our COVID-10 safety measures.

Please wear comfortable, natural fiber clothing. Jeans and t-shirts are great. Wear flat close-toed shoes. Something with a textured sole isn't absolutely necessary, but certainly helpful. Anything that hangs away from the body (long necklaces, scarves, etc.) should be left at home or removed before the class. Tie back long hair. Long hair is defined as anything that hangs forward or covers eyes.

Masks are optional. If you prefer to wear a mask choose one that is made of natural fibers – all cotton, or linen, for example (no polyester) - and be sure that it is tightly fitted around your face with no loose, hanging parts. Natural fibers are necessary because synthetic fibers can be highly flammable, and prone to melting, when encountering the very high temperatures of hot glass furnaces, tabletop torches, and kilns. 

If you would like to use an N-95, please be sure to wear an additional mask made of all-natural fibers as a protective covering. The material of an N-95 is synthetic, and can potentially be a flammable hazard. 

Due to the nature of hot glass, you will not be able to take any items with you. Hot glass must cool slowly over time to prevent stresses that will cause it to break. Items can be picked up at the front desk 5 days after your activity or shipping can be arranged at the time of your activity.

We will hold on to items for up to 60 days before discarding. Please contact us at (412)365-2145 or glassinfo@pittsburghglasscenter.org to arrange shipping if you are unable to pick up.

ARRANGE SHIPPING

Anyone can pick up your items with the following information:  

• Date  
• Name of the activity (type of item made – for example, pendants, or paperweights) 
• First AND last name of the participant  

Yes. Shipping can be arranged at the front desk after your activity. Charges will vary according to the size of your projects and the destination of your package. Items can take up to 2 weeks to be shipped.  

ARRANGE SHIPPING

Unfortunately, classes are occasionally canceled because of enrollment and sometimes weather. If class is ever canceled, we will notify you as soon as possible via email, and you will be offered another class, account credit, or a full refund. Please make sure we have the most up-to-date contact information for the students participating in the class. 

Classes may also be canceled due to shifting capacity and safety regulations related to the pandemic. We will reach out via email if classes are canceled for any reason.

refunds and cancellations

PGC’s refund and cancellation policy varies depending on the type of class or workshop.  Please see the details below on the refund and cancellation policy that apply to your specific activity. If you need to cancel, please contact: 412-365-2145 OR glassinfo@pittsburghglasscenter.org. If you are calling to transfer into another class or workshop, please have your secondary choice ready. Please note, PGC reserves the right to update these policies at any time. 

Make-It-Nows, Date Nights, and Introductory Workshops  

If a student cancellation request is received: 

72 hours or more prior to the scheduled workshop:
Student may drop the class and receive a full refund or the option to transfer into a new activity where space is available, with no cancellation fee. 


Within 72 hours of the scheduled workshop:
No refund available. Student may transfer into a new activity if space is available, less a cancellation fee per registrant: 

$25 – Extended Workshop  

$15 – 2-Hour Workshop 

$10 – Make-It-Now 
 


Multi-Week Classes 

If a student cancellation request is received: 

1 week prior to the class start date:
Student may drop the class and receive a full refund less a $10 cancellation fee or option to transfer into a new activity if space is available, with no cancellation fee.

Within 1 week of the class start date: 
No refund available, but student may transfer into a new activity if space is available, less a $50 cancellation/transfer fee per registrant.  

Week-Long Intensive Classes 

If a student cancellation request is received: 

30 or more days prior to class start date:
Student may drop the class and receive a refund, less a $250 cancellation fee. Student has the option to transfer into a new activity, if space is available, with no cancellation fee applied. 


Up to 1 week prior to class start date:
No refund available, but student may transfer into a new activity if space is available, less a $250 cancellation/transfer fee per registrant. 


Less than 1 week prior to class start date:
Due to the resources required for our Intensive classes, we are unable to offer a refund or transfer the student to a new activity on this timeframe. 

 
** If you have a special circumstance that requires you to cancel your travel plans, please call 412-365-2145 directly. 

There are no exceptions to this cancellation policy. Please note that all classes are subject to minimum and maximum enrollment. If PGC cancels a class, students will be notified (via email) and offered a transfer into another class of the student’s choosing , or a full refund. PGC is not responsible for non-refundable airline tickets or other travel costs. If a student does not show up for their first day of class, or scheduled workshop and does not communicate with PGC prior to their absence, we are unable to offer a refund, or a transfer to a new activity .

View our Class Policies

If a class, workshop, or other hands-on activity is sold out, click the link that says "Join Waitlist." This will not charge payment or put your card on file. If a space becomes available, we will contact the waitlist on a first-come, first-served basis by phone. After confirming your availability, we will process the payment for the registration at that time.

Yes!  Release of liability forms should be completed before your arrival to PGC to ensure all students may begin on time!   

COMPLETE YOUR RELEASE

Our studios are open to everyone who wants to learn and create. We offer a variety of scholarships in an effort to make our classes accessible to as many people as possible. Full- and half-tuition scholarships are available for all classes and workshops. Every student is eligible to apply for merit-based, half-tuition scholarships, while students of color and veterans are qualified to apply for full scholarships.  

GET DETAILS + APPLY 

Registrations are transferable between people so long as the new registrant is eligible for the class. Please refer to your class description to determine eligibility based on age, skill level, our Covid policy and other factors.

If you are transferring your spot in a class or workshop to another individual, please forward the confirmation email to them, including the Release of Liability Form.

Registrations may be transferred up to the start of the class - just let our admin team know when you are checking in.

If transfer information is known in advance, please send us an email or give us a call at 412-365-2145.

Memorializing loved ones and pets in glass is a popular option that some companies offer. At Pittsburgh Glass Center, we are limited in what we can offer. The technical challenges of adding outside material to our glass and the unique emotional significance mean that we don’t take on commissions with ashes as an organization, nor do we allow students to bring outside materials to add to their workshops. As an art form, glassmaking is a setting where things can break or don’t go as planned. If you wish to pursue having ashes incorporated into a glass piece, please refer to our Commissions & Repairs page to reach out to artists directly about doing this work. 

Yes. You can purchase an e-gift card online or by calling the front desk at 412-365-2145. Gift cards can be used online for Glass-to-Go kits or in person for art and merchandise in our shop. Please call us to redeem gift cards for class/workshop registration.

GET GIFT CARDS

Gift cards can be purchased online, in person, or by calling 412-365-2145 x201. Gift cards care delivered by email, but we can provide a printed copy by request. Gift cards can be used online for Glass-to-Go kits or in our lobby shop for art and merchandise. Call us to redeem gift cards towards class/workshop registration.

BUY GIFT CARDS

Yes! Any gift certificate that expired January 2020 – August 2021 will be honored through December 2022. To redeem your gift certificate, please call our front desk at 412-365-2145 x201 and provide the four-digit code located on the top right corner of the certificate.  Gift certificates can be used for classes or in our shop, unless otherwise specified.
VIEW CLASSES 
SEE THE ONLINE SHOP 

All gift certificates (paper or digital) can be redeemed by calling us at (412)365-2145 or sending us an email at glassinfo@pittsburghglasscenter.org. We will need the gift certificate's code and amount in order to apply it to your account.

All of the glass gifts sold in our online and in person retail shop are handmade in Pittsburgh, PA. Most are made at Pittsburgh Glass Center. Our Glass-To-Go kits are assembled at PGC with components from various companies. 

SHOP NOW

All sales are final. Only incorrect or damaged merchandise may be returned or exchanged within five days of receipt of items. The items must be unused and in the original packaging. Due to the nature of handmade glass, the exact hues, shapes, and sizes will vary; we are unable to offer returns or exchanges due to differences in size, shape, or color. 

Email bboivin@pittsburghglasscenter.org to request a return shipping label.

Call us at 412-365-2145 ext. 201 or EMAIL us to change an order that you previously placed.

Pittsburgh Glass Center is located between the East End neighborhoods of Friendship and Garfield, about 3.5 miles east of the Strip District, near the corner of Penn and Negley Avenues at 5472 Penn Avenue. 

SEE A MAP 

We are  open: 

Monday Closed
Tuesday–Saturday 11am–7pm
Sunday 11am–4pm

PLAN A VISIT

Damaged merchandise may be returned or exchanged within five days of receipt of items. The items must be unused and in the original packaging.  

To return a broken item and request a return shipping label, email bboivin@pittsburghglasscenter.org.

Check out our Commission an Artist page and a list of PGC-affiliated artists who specialize in repairs. You can connect directly with these artists to inquire about repairing your item. 

Check out our Commission an Artist page.

Explore this page to find an artist that you can work with to create your item, including memorial items to honor loved ones. There are tips and guidelines about what to expect. You can contact any of these artists directly. Each artist has their own pricing and timeline.  

If you are looking for custom tableware or lighting, see our signature line of glassware called Penn/Fairmount. 

Memorializing loved ones and pets in glass is a popular option that some companies offer. At Pittsburgh Glass Center, we are limited in what we can offer. The technical challenges of adding outside material to our glass and the unique emotional significance mean that we don’t take on commissions with ashes as an organization, nor do we allow students to bring outside materials to add to their workshops. As an art form, glassmaking is a setting where things can break or don’t go as planned. If you wish to pursue having ashes incorporated into a glass piece, please refer to our Commissions & Repairs page to reach out to artists directly about doing this work.