Visit PGC
Not So Hot, but Definitely Still Cool
Studios Closed for Maintenance thru August 25
August is obviously hot and at Pittsburgh Glass Center it can be even hotter in the glassblowing studio making it nearly unbearable to be blowing glass and making art.
That makes this time of year the best time to cool off, turn off the furnace, and make repairs.
The furnace is like a pizza oven. It is built of refractory brick that insulates the chamber and holds the heat in to melt our glass and keep it gooey and hot like magma. We now have four furnaces that run nonstop every day at a temperature of about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit, the same temperature as lava!
August 11–25 is maintenance time at PGC.
We turn off the gas and cool off the equipment. We crawl in the furnace (when it is cold) to get a good look up close and repair any cracks and clean the chamber along with all of the other equipment in all of our studios.
We are still open daily with reduced hours, 10am to 5pm through August 25. Our retail shop is open; come and shop for the perfect gift. Learn more about what goes on in our studios with our free digital guide powered by Bloomberg Connects. The Hodge Gallery will reopen with our Art on Fire auction exhibition on August 18.
Pittsburgh Glass Center is located in Pittsburgh’s East End neighborhood of Friendship/Garfield, approximately four miles east of the Strip District in downtown Pittsburgh. PGC is a public access facility and admission is free; however, there is a $5 suggested donation.
Everyone is welcome to visit during our open hours and take a self-guided tour to see our contemporary glass exhibition, explore our studios, browse in our gift shop, and meet our artists. We also have many opportunities for you to get into glass.
Pittsburgh Glass Center was recently named Best Art Studio/Artist Co-op Space in the Pittsburgh City Paper’s Best of PGH 2024 Readers’ Poll!
Walk In + Make-It-Now
August 29–December 21, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 1:00-5:00pm
(Subject to availability; slots are limited to 6 per hour)
Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday you can walk-in and try glassmaking without a reservation. In 20 minutes or less you’ll make a paperweight or a blown glass ornament with help from our artists for $55. No experience is required. Adults and kids ages 5+ with adult supervision are welcome to participate.
This is a quick opportunity to get a taste of the glassmaking experience with lots of assistance.
Get More Details
Visiting Us
Pittsburgh Glass Center is free and open to the public. Stop by during our open hours to explore and learn more. Classes, events, and studio rental are all available outside of our regular hours. Check out our FAQs to learn more.
Lobby, Gallery & Retail Shop
Hours
Open every day 10am–7pm
NOTICE: Closing at 5pm – August 10-25
Additional Closures
September 1
September 26 + 27
November 27 + 28
December 24, 2025 -January 1, 2026
Our parking lot is small and recommended for compact cars. There is only one entrance and exit on Penn Avenue which can make turning around a bit tricky especially for large vehicles.
If the lot is full, parking on Penn Avenue in front of and near our building is free (be careful not to block the bus stop). There is also free additional parking on the streets in our neighborhood.
One van accessible parking space is available in our lot with a clear access aisle.
Enter the building on Penn Avenue. Proceed through the vestibule to our lobby and retail shop. The steps lead to our main floor. A lift to the main floor is also available to the left of the front desk.
While PGC is public access and admission is free, there is a $5 suggested donation. We rely on individual contributions to augment the revenue generated by our classes and workshops in order to keep our doors open, our fires hot, and to continue our mission of education and community outreach. There are two donation boxes located on the first floor of our Penn Avenue building. We genuinely appreciate support in whatever amount you are able to give!
You can explore our studios using our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and cultural platform created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The Bloomberg Connects app, available on the web and for download from Google Play or the App Store, makes Pittsburgh Glass Center accessible through photo, audio, and video features offering insights into the science, art, and history of glass in Pittsburgh. Find our guide online, or once you install and open the app, search for or scroll to Pittsburgh Glass Center to start planning your visit! You can learn more here.
Pittsburgh Glass Center is committed to providing an environment that is inclusive, welcoming, and accessible to everyone. If a special accommodation can help you or anyone in your group fully participate in our programs, please email us or call 412-365-2145. Learn more about accessibility at Pittsburgh Glass Center.
As a public access studio, everyone is welcome to visit during our open hours. Visitors can use our self-guided tour brochure, supplemented by our exciting new mobile guide in the free Bloomberg Connects app, to explore the building, peek into our four studios, and see contemporary glass art in the Hodge Gallery.
If you are seeking something more, check out our classes and events or schedule a private activity.
Program Cost: Suggested $5 donation
Pittsburgh Glass Center (PGC) is internationally recognized as one of the United States’ premier glass facilities. Learn the specifics about our four studios, the equipment and space available in each, and procedures for rental and open studio participation.
