Visit PGC
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
No reservations necessary!
Saturdays and Sundays, 10am–4:30pm starting May 25 for the summer term
(Subject to availability; slots are limited to 6 per hour)
Every Saturday ad Sunday you can now 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.
No pre-registration is needed. Space is limited; seats may sell out quickly. Sign up in person only by visiting our Front Desk when you arrive. Be sure to check the event calendar—there a few special event and closure dates when Walk-In Make-It-Now will not be available.
Due to the nature of hot glass, items must cool first and can be picked up 5 days later. Shipping can be arranged for an additional fee.
We also offer many activities where you can have a more hands on experience and you can register ahead to guarantee a spot!
See the list of upcoming activities here.
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
Closed Mondays
Tuesday–Saturday: 11am–7pm
Sunday: 11am–5pm
PGC is closed Sunday, May 11.
SUMMER HOURS Starting May 19
Open every day 10am–7pm
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.
