Come learn to play with molten glass in our glass blowing classes!

Multi-week Glass Blowing Classes * Seasonal Workshops * Private Lessons

Picking up finished pieces: Blown glass must be cooled slowly overnight before you can take it home. Projects from our classes will be available for pickup within a three days of the class. Glass must be picked up within 45 days of the glass. Any glass not picked up at that point will become property of BCGC and may be sold in our gallery.

Beginning Glass Blowing

Four Tuesdays, April 4-25, 6:00-9:00pm- This class is FULL, sign up on the Registration form for the waitlist

Learn the basics of glass blowing in this four week class. In the first class will walk you through the basics of gathering glass out of the furnace and shaping it with a a variety of tools.  We will work on getting the glass the shape we want and keeping it on center. Once we are comfortable with that we will learn how to apply color and make a paperweight. In the second class we will move on to blowing, making a sunken in bowl. In the third class we will build on these skills to make a clear glass tumbler. In the fourth class will refine skills as we move on to making colored tumblers.

Each class will include roughly one hour of instruction and two hours of practice time.

Missed classes: Because of the cost involved in running this class, we are unable to offer make-up sessions for missed classes. We are happy to offer a private lesson at our regular rate if you need a make up session.

  • Ages: 16 and up
  • Tuition: $325 + optional $20 materials fee for personal protective gear.
  • Prerequisite: None
  • Instructor: Justin Kern

This class is full. To sign up for the waitlist please go to our Registration Form.

Intermediate Glass Blowing

Four Mondays, May 8-29th from 6:00-9:00 pm- $325

Continue your glass blowing journey with Intermediate glass blowing. In the class you will become more proficient in your basic skills (gathering, marvering, rolling at the bench), continue to perfect the basic cylinder, play with color, learn the basics of the drop neck form, the pulled neck form, be able to make a good punty for a partner, and add some bits.

The expectation is that by the end of the classes you have a broad skill set that you can apply to any shape you want. You will be cleared to rent your own studio time to make your own art.

Each class will include roughly one hour of instruction and two hours of practice time.

Missed classes: Because of the cost involved in running this class, we are unable to offer make-up sessions for missed classes. We are happy to offer a private lesson at our regular rate if you need a make up session.

  • Ages: 16 and up
  • Tuition: $325
  • Prerequisite: Beginning glass blowing or permission of instructor
  • Instructor: Justin Kern

To register for this class please fill out the Registration Form. 

 

Glass Blowing Boot camp - Cylinder form

Monday, June 5th-26th, June 27th, July 3rd from 6:00-9:00 pm- $390

This class is all about the fundamentals of glass blowing, focusing on the basic cylinder form, the basic building block to all other glass shapes. The class will break down each element of making a form, creating steps that can be applied to other forms as well.
  • Week 1: gathering and setting a starter bubble
  • Week 2: elongating cups and work on thickness
  • Week 3: pulling and trimming the lip
  • Week 4: optic cups
  • Week 5: bits and handles
  • Week 6: make the perfect cup

Students will work primarily with clear and the intention is that the students will be very hands on. At the end of this class you will feel comfortable controlling the glass and making it do what you want it to do.

Missed classes: Because of the cost involved in running this class, we are unable to offer make-up sessions for missed classes. We are happy to offer a private lesson at our regular rate if you need a make up session.

  • Ages: 16 and up
  • Class limit: 5 students
  • Tuition: $390
  • Prerequisite: Beginning glass blowing, or the permission of Abby Gitlitz
  • Instructor: Justin Kern

To register for this class please fill out the Registration Form. 

Blown Glass workshops

Try you hand at glass blowing at one of our drop-in workshops and take home your own piece of art. Sessions take 10-30 minutes depending on the item being made. Our instructors will do the hot and heavy work while you pick the colors and help shape the glass. Sign up today with a friend or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.to schedule an event for your whole family.

 

Valentines Hearts -

February 6 or 11

  Sign up for a 15 minute slot. Call (812)369-4777 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve your time slot.

  Create your own colorful hot glass heart for your sweetheart!  Participants will work with BCGC staff to create a one of a kind glass heart paperweight. You will work with molten glass, apply color and shape your heart. Hearts are ready for pick up the following week.

  Tuition: $45/per person

  Prerequisite: None. All participants must be 10 or older. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

To register for classes please go to our Registration Form.

 

 

Mother's Day Flowers

April & May. Dates TBA

Create your own colorful hot glass flower for the special woman in your life.  You pick the colors and our instructors will help you shape it. Flowers are ready for pick up the following week.

  • Tuition: $35/per person
  • Prerequisite: None. All participants must be 10 or older. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

 

Blown Glass Pumpkins!

September & October. Dates TBA

Create your own colorful blown glass pumpkin in 10-15 minutes! You pick the colors and heat the glass and then our instructors will blow it into the mold and inflate it while you help shape it. Once you have a shape you like, the pumpkin is removed from the blowpipe and a glass stem is added. Pumpkins are ready for pick up the following week.

  • Tuition: $55/per person, per pumpkin
  • Prerequisite: none. All participants must be 10 or older.

 

Molten Glass Ornaments -

Sign up for a 15 minute slot. Please let us know in the comments on the registration form which date you would like and a time that works for you.

We are offering two options for making your ornament, a blown sphere, or a pressed molten glass disk. Either option will take roughly 10 minutes to make, with one person working at a time. You are welcome to decide which type you would like to make when you arrive. Payment will be taken before the hands on portion, depending on your choice.

  • Blown ornament: You pick the colors and apply it to the molten glass. Then our talented staff will shape the blown ornament for you and apply a hook while you watch.
  • Pressed ornament: You pick the colors and apply it to the molten glass. Then you will press a metal stamp into the molten glass to create your image. 9 holiday themed stamps to choose from.

Ornaments are ready for pick up the following week.

Tuition: $25 for pressed glass, $35 for blown glass/per person

Prerequisite: none. All participants must be 10 or older.

 

Private Lessons

In this private one on one or small group glass blowing class students will learn how to make a colorful glass paperweight, and, time permitting, a flower or other small sculpture. All classes have a 2 hour minimum. $150 for one person, $170 for two and $40 per person for each additional student. Please email us to schedule a lesson. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Intermediate Glass Blowing

4 week class. This workshops is not currently being offered, but please fill out our form let us know if you would be interested and we will contact you when we run them again

 

Continue your glass blowing journey with Intermediate glass blowing. In the class you will become more proficient in your basic skills (gathering, marvering, rolling at the bench), continue to perfect the basic cylinder, play with color, learn the basics of the drop neck form, the pulled neck form, be able to make a good punty for a partner, and add some bits.

The expectation is that by the end of the classes you have a broad skill set that you can apply to any shape you want. You will be cleared to rent your own studio time to make your own art.

Each class will include roughly one hour of instruction and two hours of practice time.

Missed classes: Because of the cost involved in running this class, we are unable to offer make-up sessions for missed classes. We are happy to offer a private lesson at our regular rate if you need a make up session.

  • Ages: 16 and up
  • Tuition: $325
  • Prerequisite: Beginning glass blowing or permission of instructor
  • Instructor: Justin Kern

To register for classes please go to our Registration Form. Once you complete the registration form we will email you an invoice and confirmation within 4 days.

Finding Your Voice in Glass: from Design to Production

6 week class. This workshops is not currently being offered, but please fill out our form let us know if you would be interested and we will contact you when we run them again

Are you ready to take the next step in glass blowing and develop a product you can sell? This class will take you through the basics of designing a marketable piece, considering materials, time, and skill needed to produce it. Each student will create a design for at least one piece and then the group as a whole will figure out the steps to produce it. Every week the class will work on a different student's designs to see what works and what needs fixing. By the end of this class you should feel comfortable with the steps to design more of your own pieces going forward.

Missed classes: Because of the cost involved in running this class, we are unable to offer make-up sessions for missed classes. We are happy to offer a private lesson at our regular rate if you need a make up session.

  • Ages: 16 and up
  • Tuition: $390
  • Prerequisite: Permission of Justin Kern or Abby Gitlitz
  • Instructor: Justin Kern

Cancellation policy: If you need to cancel please email us and let us know. If you have to cancel last minute, call or text (812)345-2470.

All classes have a non refundable $10 processing fee.
We do not offer cash refund for cancelled classes. Cancellations will receive a credit for BCGC (good for classes, events, and our gallery) if cancellation is received within 48 hours of the scheduled first class.
A credit of 50% of class tuition will be issued if cancellation happens within 48 hours of the class.  There will be no refund if you are a now show.

If BCGC cancels a class you will be issued a full refund.