UrbanGlass is dedicated to inspiring and educating the next generation about the creative possibilities of glass! Our programs for young learners bring together art and science education. Through glassmaking, students are empowered in their own learning journey as they discover the value of collaboration, persistence, problem solving, communication, and mutual respect, alongside hands-on skills. From classes and Summer Camps to hosting your next birthday party, start learning today!
We are committed to fostering community partnerships with organizations that share our passion for educating and inspiring young people. Please check out our Blog to read about past events, or contact our Youth & Outreach Coordinator at karina@urbanglass.org to learn more.
All Ages Classes
Classes at UrbanGlass offer students of all ages the opportunity to explore the endless possibilities of glass. Check out our virtual and in-person Classes page for upcoming fee-based and free or low-cost programs. Need-based youth scholarships are available on a rolling basis. Please submit an application online, or email karina@urbanglass.org to establish a partnership with your school or arts organization.
STEM Matters NYC: Summer Camps
UrbanGlass is excited to partner with STEM Matters NYC to highlight the A(rt) in STE*A*M with in-person Discovery Days and Teen Camps. Immersed in the exciting world of our 17,000 square foot professional studios, students in the Teen Summer Camps will become empowered to discover how physics, engineering, and chemistry intersect with the artistic process and find connections to apply in classroom learning and beyond. Learn more about Discovery Days on our Community Programs page.
STEM Matters NYC partners with cultural institutions across the city to offer a variety of enrichment programs during Spring Break and Summer for students in grades K-12. All educational programs are free, with priority given to students who attend Title I schools.
STEM Matters NYC is funded by the NYC Department of Education (DOE).
School Partnership: Brooklyn Technical High School
Since 2015 we have been delighted to partner with our Fort Greene neighbor, Brooklyn Technical High School, to connect Industrial Design students with professional glass artists and designers through a two-part program. Students are first introduced to hot glass as Juniors through demonstrations aimed at providing foundational knowledge of the medium’s possibilities. Seniors have the opportunity to participate in an in-depth 9-week program to learn how to communicate about and work with glass. Learning from experts working in the field, students get a full sense of the potential of glass as an art and design medium through a variety of inspiring experiments, design challenges, and fabrication efforts. In addition, visiting lecturers from St. Francis College provide an entrepreneurial perspective on a career in design with insight into business and marketing strategies.
School Partnership: The Greene Hill School
Since 2015 we have collaborated with our dynamic partner, The Greene Hill School, to provide after-school programs for middle school students in a variety of glass processes. Trimester-long classes focusing on Mosaics, Stained Glass, Flameworking, and Glassblowing are designed to build skills from one year to the next. As students move through different studio areas in 6th, 7th and 8th grades, they discover new perspectives while working in a professional studio environment, and learn the tools to express their unique creative voices in glass.
Teens Take The Met! (TTTM)
Teens Take The Met! is a biannual event hosted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art that invites cultural institutions to create an engaging safe space for young people ages 13-19 through free hands-on activities and performances. UrbanGlass has partnered with TTTM since 2017, offering museum-friendly, glassy art making activities like faux stained glass postcards, pressed nature pendants, scrap glass sun catchers and more.
Intrepid Museum
The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum’s GOALS for Girls is a free, six-week program for 8th and 9th grade NYC girls that focuses on the advancement of women in STEM. We are always excited to meet the participants, give demonstrations on the dynamic properties of glass, and show the creative and artistic pathways STE(A)M education can take you.
Bloomberg Arts Institute Internship
UrbanGlass hosts two summer interns from Bloomberg Arts Institute (BAI) each year. The BAI program offers NYC high school students paid summer internships in cultural institutions, increasing appreciation for the arts, providing valuable experience before applying for college, and presenting creativity as a key component to professional opportunities. With guidance and one-on-one instruction from the artist community and staff at UrbanGlass, our interns craft a self-motivated project while learning glassmaking skills and supporting our educational outreach programs.
At-Home Art Kits
Our playful at-home art kits invite you to investigate traditional glassmaking techniques using conventional materials that mimic the magical properties of glass. Learn about history, collect creative clues along the way, and make your own stunning work of art. Purchase all three kits in our store.
Birthday Parties
Celebrate your next birthday or occasion with us and discover the thrill of glass in all its forms! We offer parties that guide you and your friends in the activity of your choice, with safety talks and demonstrations tailored to the age and interests of your group. Glass work made during the party will be cooled down to room temperature overnight, and packed for safe pickup. Contact karina@urbanglass.org for more information. Currently operating at limited capacity.
Virtual School Tours & Demonstrations
Bring your students to UrbanGlass without leaving the classroom! We offer free, 30 minute Virtual Tours of both our studio and gallery with live Q&A, as well as paid Virtual Demonstrations. Learn more about different options and pricing and fill out an inquiry form to schedule your virtual visit here.
UrbanGlass is a NYC Department of Education (DOE) Authorized Vendor.
CASA Programs
The Cultural After-School Adventures Program (CASA) supports after-school activities at public schools focused on arts and culture. These programs are designed to enhance students’ core curriculum with cultural experiences and projects. Students develop new creative skills and get to explore the dynamic world of glass in their classrooms. Our public school partners in Brooklyn include P.S. 9 Sarah Smith Garnet School and P.S. 305 Learners and Leaders. In spring 2022 we partnered with P.S. 9 to host a semester-long after school mosaic program for students in grades 2-5. The CASA program is funded by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA).
Studio Futures: The UrbanGlass Scholarship Fund
Studio Futures: The UrbanGlass Scholarship Fund aims to foster diverse voices in the field of glass art. The fund supports full scholarships for BIPOC identifying students ages 15-24 who want to learn glassmaking processes and build skills to use in their art practice moving forward.
Studio Futures: The UrbanGlass Scholarship Fund is generously supported by Fred and Susan Sanders.