Group Tours & Private Activities - Pittsburgh Glass Center
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Group Tours & Private Activities
Group Tours & Private Activities
Visit PGC, Take a Tour, Make Something
Pittsburgh Glass Center offers unforgettable educational experiences for everyone, regardless of age, background, or group size. One of the world’s foremost glass art facilities, PGC offers tours, field trips, and hands-on experiences in its state-of-the-art studios and contemporary glass gallery. It’s the perfect activity for school groups, Scout troops, team-building activities, corporate events, senior clubs, and more. Because PGC is such a busy place, filled with resident artists and active students, tours and private glass making activities must be arranged in advance and are scheduled based on studio availability. We’re excited to share our passion for glass with you.
Virtual Demonstration
Bring the action of the studio right to your own screen. With our new technology, you can enjoy a private glassblowing demonstration. The virtual experience includes a live narrated 30-minute glassblowing demonstration and 15–20 minutes of exclusive conversation and Q & A with one of our expert glass artists.
Virtual demonstrations can be held on your preferred platform, adapted for ages 5+, and should be scheduled at least 30 days in advance.
Program Cost:
$150
Email us
or call us at 412-365-2145 to schedule.
In-Person Glassblowing Demonstration & Tour
Schedule an exciting live narrated glassblowing demonstration and watch expert artists create amazing glass art in our state-of-the-art studios. Learn about Pittsburgh’s lesser-known but incredibly rich glassmaking history and take a guided tour of our contemporary glass art exhibition in the Hodge Gallery. This option does not include a hands-on experience.
Program Length:
1 hour
Program Cost:
$20/adult and $15/students
Participants:
Minimum of 10 participants or a minimum fee of $200
This option does not include a hands-on experience.
In-person glassblowing tours and demonstrations may be adapted for ages 5+ and must be scheduled at least 30 days in advance.
Schedule Now
Private Glassmaking Experience
Are you interested in a glassmaking experience that’s just for you? Whether you are celebrating a birthday with friends or bringing a school group or Girl Scout troop for a field trip, we can help you plan a fun, customized, hands-on glass experience.
Each participant will work with a local teaching artist for 15–20 minutes to create their own glass artwork.
Program Length:
1 – 2 hours
Program Cost:
$55-$75/person depending on the type of activity (For an additional $10/person, you can add a one-hour glassblowing demonstration and tour)
Participants:
6-50 participants Each person makes one item.
Hands-on activities may be adapted for ages 5+ and must be scheduled at least 30 days in advance.
Choose from several options including:
Blown Glass Ornament $75/per person
Blown Glass Pumpkin $75/per person
Sculpted Flower $75/per person
Sculpted Egg $75/per person
Sculpted Paperweight $75/per person
Slumped Dish $80/per person
Fused Ornament or Suncatcher $65/per person
…and more!
Schedule Now
Hot Shop Activities
With the help of an instructor, participants will learn how to transform 2,000°F molten glass into a unique glass artwork. Sculpted items will be manipulated and shaped with various metal hand tools. Blown items will be inflated via a flexible tube attached to a blow pipe. The Hot Shop, as the name might suggest, can get warm at times, particularly during summer months. That being said, the activity will only take about 10-15 minutes per person so you won’t be warm for long. We encourage our guests to wear lighter, natural material clothing for safety and comfort. Visitors are welcome to bring water bottles and a water fountain/filling station is available. These activities will involves sitting, standing, and walking around. Suitable for ages 5 and up.
Kiln Shop Fusing Activities
Combine brilliantly colored pieces of glass granules and thin glass strands to create a one-of-a-kind luminous fused glass artwork. Once you design it, we’ll fire it, so that all pieces become one. Participants will work seated in our climate-controlled Classroom and with room temperature pieces of glass. You will begin with a glass tile that acts as your “canvas,” then arrange the colorful glass granules and thin glass strands into a design of your choosing. Once the designs are complete, suncatchers are placed in a kiln overnight to melt (fuse) together forever. Suitable for ages 5 and up.
Flame Shop Activities
With the help of an instructor, participants will learn how to use tools and a tabletop torch to melt and manipulate glass rods and transform them into truly one-of-a-kind objects. These activities take place in our climate controlled Flame Shop, which involves working with a flame, but is not nearly as warm as our Hot Shop. Participants will be sitting at a workstation, making this option slightly more accessible and less physically demanding. Suitable for ages 8 and up.
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