One-Week Intensive Classes
The top glass artists from all over the world come to PGC to teach and share their knowledge and experience with students of all abilities from beginner to ace. Our one-week intensive classes are the best way to perfect your technique. You get one-on-one time with world-class instructors and over 12 hours a day in our state-of-the-art studios to practice what you’ve learned. Check out the FAQs.
Hot Shop
- May 20 – 24 Granite Calimpong – The Contents of a Cup
- May 27 – 31 Leana “Quade” – Fundamentals with a Twist—An Introduction to Glassblowing, Fire, and Fun
- June 3 – 7 Grant Garmezy – Awaken the Beast: Sculpting Animals in Glass
- June 10 – 14 Jonathan Capps – Lifting the Veil
- June 17 – 21 Katrina Hude – Pattern Think Tank with Cane and Murrini
- June 24 – 28 Jacob Willcox + Dani Kaes – Pull It, Twist It, Bop It!
- July 1 – 5 Hoseok Youn – Rise of the Tradition
- July 8 – 12 Joe Hobbs – Drawing, Painting, and Decals in the Hot Shop
- July 22 – 26 Sam Stang + Kaeko Maehata – Pattern and Form in Hot Glass
- July 29 – August 2 Caroline Landau + SaraBeth Post Eskuche – Blowing Bubbles 101
- August 5 – 9 Micke Johansson + Iita Jaakonaho – Graal and Swedish Overlay
Flame Shop
- May 20 – 24 Deb Crowley – Aquatics #4 On The Reef
- May 27 – 31 Tim Drier – Flameworking Basics and Beyond
- June 3 – 7 Erin Garmezy – Flameworking Glass Flora
- June 10 – 14 Sibelley – Hollow Sculpting Techniques
- June 17 – 21 NEW Lisa Demagall – Sculptural Objects & Forms
- June 24 – 28 Chris Ahalt – Sculpting The Imagination
- July 1 – 5 Sally Prasch – Beyond Lampworking
- July 8 – 12 Kit Paulson – Structural Flameworking
- July 22 – 26 Jessica Tsai – Micro-Worlds
- July 29 – August 2 Nikolai Morse – Roller Shaping 101
Kiln Shop
- May 20 – 24 Tali Grinshpan – Pâte de Verre: New Approaches to an Ancient Technique
- May 27 – 31 Suzanne Head – Drawing Techniques in Fused Glass
- June 3 – 7 Richard Parrish – Tapestry and Beyond
- June 10 – 14 Mark Ditzler + Percy Echols II – Radiant Horizons: Exploring Plasma & Neon in Kiln-Formed Glass
- June 17 – 21 Amanda Simmons – Small Vessels with Powders and Sheet Glass
- June 24 – 28 Amanda Simmons – Big Powder Vessels
- July 1 – 5 Ashley McFarland + Jean Fernandes – Kilnin’ It!
- July 8 – 12 Matthew Day Perez – Making, Managing, Molding
- July 22 – 26 Jennifer Halvorson – Press Molds: Two-Part Mold Design, Casting on a Horizontal
- July 29 – August 2 Ian Chadwick – Advanced Pattern Making in Kilnformed Glass: An Investigation into Linear Symmetry
Cold Shop
- July 1 – 5 Chris Giordano – Keep Calm and Grind
Intensive FAQs
Due to the intensive schedule, structure, and physical requirements of our summer intensive program, these classes are generally not suited for students under the age of 17 years old. Students under the age of 17 who wish to enroll in a class must receive special permission granted by PGC and/or instructors by contacting us.
We are committed to providing an environment that is inclusive, welcoming, and accessible to everyone.
To get more details or inquire, please email accessibility@pittsburghglasscenter.org or call 412-365-2145 x 214.
Full class payment is required to secure placement in any class. Classes are filled on a first come, first served basis until full.
Tuition is $850 if paid before February 1. This early registration discount cannot be combined with any other discount. Fees increase to $900 on February 1, and $950 on April 15.
Scholarships are available. Apply by March 15.
Any student wishing to register for a full class will be placed on a waiting list. Waiting lists are kept in order by the date that registrations are received.
If a participant cancellation request is received:
- 30 or more days prior to the class start date
Participants may drop the class and receive a refund, less a $250 cancellation fee. Participant has the option to transfer into a new activity, if space is available, with no cancellation fee applied. - Up to 1 week prior to the class start date
No refund is available, but participants may transfer into a new activity if space is available, less a $250 cancellation/transfer fee per registrant. - Less than 1 week prior to the class start date
Due to the resources required for our Intensive classes, we are unable to offer a refund or transfer the participant to new activity in this timeframe.
Transfers may be subject to additional fees that reflect any increase in tuition.
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, participants will be notified via email and offered a transfer into another class of the participant’s choosing, or a full refund.
PGC is not responsible for non-refundable airline tickets or other travel costs. If a participant 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.
All classes start with an orientation at 9am on Monday. Classes run 9am to 5pm Monday through Thursday, and 9am to 3pm on Friday. PGC studios are open until 10pm Monday through Thursday for students to practice. Tuesday evenings are set aside for instructor presentations at 6pm. Following a studio-wide clean up at the end of day on Friday, students may pack their class work until 5:30pm. On Saturday, students are welcome to use the Cold Shop 10am to 2pm and to pack their items as late as 4pm. Please note, class structure may fluctuate depending on instructor. PGC opens at 8:30am. Studios are not available to students until 9am.
Typical Daily Schedule
SUNDAY (Optional)
Arrive early in Pittsburgh and explore the neighborhood. Visit PGC from 11am–4pm
MONDAY
9am Orientation
10am–5pm Class (12pm Lunch)
6–10pm Open Studio
TUESDAY
9am–5pm Class (12pm Lunch)
6pm Instructor Lecture
7–10pm Open Studio
WEDNESDAY
9am–5pm Class (12pm Lunch)
6–10pm Open Studio
THURSDAY
9am–5pm Class (12pm Lunch)
6–10pm Open Studio
FRIDAY
9am–3pm Class (12pm Lunch)
3–5pm Studio Clean-up
SATURDAY
11am–4pm Collect all of your work from the kiln, finish coldworking, pack, and ship
PGC sells a variety of glass and supplies including:
- Color bar and frit for the Hot Shop
- Moretti, soft glass, and borosilicate color and clear for the Flame Shop
- Bullseye color in sheets, frit, and powder for the Kiln Shop
- Other miscellaneous supplies
Contact us or call 412-365-2145, x204 for details.
PGC recommends a variety of lodging options for students.
- Kasa The Maverick (.5 miles to PGC) Book online.
- AirBnB There are many homes and private rooms available in our neighborhood via AirBnB. Search for nearby neighborhoods including: Garfield, Friendship, East Liberty and Bloomfield.
- Briarwood Home (2 miles to PGC) Call Julie Ransom for discounted rates at 412-608-4240.
- Hotel Indigo East Liberty (0.6 miles to PGC) Call 866-325-2281 and ask for the PGC rate or book online.
- Marriott Springhill Suites Bakery Square (1 mile to PGC) Call the sales department at 412-404-9828 for discounted rates.
- Home Stay We have several home stay options in the neighborhood for reasonable rates. To learn more, contact us.
For summer 2024 intensive classes, students will be responsible for their own lunch. A microwave and refrigerator are available for students to use at PGC. Additionally, Primanti Bros. Restaurant is located across the street and Whole Foods Market is within a 5-minute walk from PGC.
Students are encouraged to bring images of their own work and sketchbooks. Students participating in advanced classes may want to bring specialized tools, equipment, and glass color. Some instructors include supply lists for their students which will be sent via email a few weeks prior to the start of class.
BEGINNER—A student has no experience or basic skills but is not yet comfortable performing tasks without instructor guidance.
INTERMEDIATE—A student should have an understanding of basic skills and can perform those tasks with little or no instruction.
ADVANCED—A student is skilled and practiced, and is able to process conceptual and theoretical ideas but might still need some instructor direction on more complicated processes.
ACE—A student has a mastery of advanced skills and can perform them independently without instruction.
We have limited supplies of recycled packing materials for students to pack their work at the end of the week AFTER studio cleanup, on Friday from 3:30-5:00pm or Saturday.
Consider bringing your own packing materials if possible.
Saturday is a great time to unload your pieces from the kiln, to pack up your pieces, and to drop at a shipping facility if you require shipping. Nearby shipping facilities include:
For an additional fee, PGC can pack and ship your work for you.
