Pittsburgh Glass Center Inc

Programs: Classes and workshops:workshops and classes are given in each of our four studios: the flame shop, hot shop, casting studio and cold shop. Pittsburgh glass center classes range from short 20 minute experiences called "make it now," to multi-day workshops, to eight-week classes during the fall, winter, and spring, and twelve weeks of one-week summer intensive classes. The fall, winter, and spring classes and workshops pull students mainly from allegheny and surrounding counties. Each semester carnegie mellon university enrolls over 40 students to participate in our eight-week session of classes. During the summer our master classes draw students from around the world. Participants have come from over 40 states and 12 foreign countries. Pittsburgh glass center offers classes and workshops for both adults and teens and has recently been expanding teen programming to include a variety of offerings for students ages 14-18. Classes offered both at the pittsburgh glass center as well as through residency programs that take glass art into the classroom.

education and outreach:community outreach programs include tours with demonstrations in the studios, glass art sales that promote the work of artists who create here, artists' lectures, and college internships. Hot jams are free public events held on the first friday of the month and coincide with the penn avenue arts initiative's unblurred community events. Hot jams feature glass blowing and flame working demonstrations by local and internationally renowned glass artists. Hot jams attract hundreds of people, often first-time visitors to the pittsburgh glass center. Free public lectures coincide with artists residencies at pittsburgh glass center and are often in collaboration with other cultural organizations, including the frick art and historical center, carnegie museum of art, and the mattress factory. These free programs educate our visitors and students about the history of american studio glass in the region and the current practice of the art form from across the united states.

exhibitions and residencies:pittsburgh glass center's hodge gallery is an exhibition space where the pittsburgh glass center presents the work of local, national and international glass and mixed media artists. The gallery presents three exhibitions a year and is always free and open to the public. Pittsburgh glass center's dynamic residencies and exhibits have garnered national media attention, satisfied the artists' desire for studio time, and resulted in comprehensive catalogues that market the artists and the glass center. Our exhibition and residency program sets us apart from other public access glass facilities.

pgc offers studio and equipment rental to advanced students and professional glass artists. The rentals provide an accessible amd supportive studio environment for the creation of glass art as well as facilitate the production and development of glass art in the pittsburgh region. Pgc has also implemented new strategies to attract and train new studio renters including an "open studio" program for students currently enrolled in classes. Pgc's teen program (sio2) is comprised of classes and events that introduce the science and art of hot glass to middle and high school students in the pittsburgh region. The program allows students to create glass art and to understand the scientific principles behind hot glass, while instilling life lessons such as teamwork, dedication, discipline, achievement, and respect. The lessons of sio2 go beyond a glass studio art program to enhance students' academic, creative, and personal development.