Scholarship Opportunities at Foci MCGA
Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts is committed to building and supporting an inclusive arts community open to everyone who would like to work with glass and recognizes that there are persistent societal, cultural, economic, and systemic barriers to making art — particularly in the glass medium. One way our organization expresses our commitment to arts access is by removing financial barriers through a scholarship program. Foci MCGA currently offers financial aid for Core Classes, Visiting Artist Workshops, Local Artist Workshops, Youth Glass Camps, and Teen Glass Camps. Glass Discovery experiences, Tech Sessions, and Open Studio sessions are not eligible for financial aid at this time. For questions regarding scholarships or the application process, please email contact@mnglassart.org.
Core Classes & Visiting Artist Workshop Scholarship‍
Apply for the 2027 Regional Glass Artist Travel Scholarship
Foci MCGA was built on the desire to gather people to explore the creative potential of glass and break down barriers to accessing glass art education, equipment, and resources.
Leaning into this commitment to accessibility, Foci MCGA, in partnership with community supporters, Michael Boyd, and Bicycle Glass, is launching an annual scholarship program for local glass artists. This annual scholarship is designed to provide regional glass artists with financial support to make high-level glass art education, requiring travel, accessible.
Scholarship recipients are encouraged to use scholarship funds to attend Pilchuck, Corning, Pittsburgh Glass Center, Penland School of Crafts, or Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, but other educational opportunities will be considered.
The scholarship recipients will receive between $1,000- $3,000 (amount determined by need and number of qualified applicants) to be used to attend a spring or summer workshop or learning experience of their choice.
Scholarships need to be used between March 1, 2027 and August 1, 2027. A final report will be required and due to Foci MCGA by August 31, 2027.
This 2027 scholarship opportunity for regional artists is made possible by the generous contributions from Michael Boyd, Bicycle Glass, and generous community members!
Eligibility:
You must be a glass artist already or be incorporating glass into your work already.
You must be an artist that lives within Minnesota or outside Minnesota, but no farther than 75 miles away from Foci MCGA.
You are not a current staff or board member of Foci MCGA.
Quote From 2026 Travel Scholarship Recipient: “Being able to go to Pilchuck this summer was impactful in ways I wasn’t even expecting. Despite having an idea of what I was going into, it exceeded expectations by giving me the opportunity to create new connections and friendships, learn new techniques, and above all, gave me more confidence in my abilities which I will take with me. On this trip, I established new connections to some of the best technical glass workers, and came out with a ton of new kiln casting knowledge, while also having time and energy to really think critically about my art practice. Across the board, this was a very special session I would not have been a part of had this new scholarship not been available.”
Applications will be due December 31, 2026.
About the Scholarship: The Regional Glass Artist Travel Scholarship supports glass artists in the Upper Midwest by providing financial assistance for professional development opportunities beyond their home region. The award is intended to foster artistic growth, skill-building, and meaningful exchange within the broader glass community, values shared by Bicycle Glass.
Gratitude to Our Sponsors: This scholarship is made possible through the generous support of Bicycle Glass Co, and anonymous community members. Their commitment to investing in artists and strengthening the regional glass community plays a vital role in sustaining opportunities like this. Foci MCGA is deeply grateful for their continued advocacy and support of emerging and established glass artists alike.
2026 Recipients:
Evalin Becker - Minneapolis, MN
Bio: Evalin is a second-generation stained glass artist and painter who focuses on restoration work and currently teaches leaded glass at the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center. Growing up in her mother’s stained glass studio, she learned from her mother’s coworkers and later studied painting under her mother’s guidance, experiences that continue to inform her professional practice and teaching today.
Proposed Travel / Opportunity: She will attend John Reyntiens’s workshop at Pilchuck in July 2026, drawn to his integration of modern and traditional stained glass approaches. Through the workshop, she aims to expand her technical skills—particularly in sandblasting and hot casting—while building community and learning alongside other stained glass artisans.
Statement of Impact: She seeks to move beyond conventional expectations of traditional stained glass while remaining grounded in the historical knowledge gained through restoration work. By expanding her technical repertoire, she aims to push the boundaries of what stained glass can be within her own artistic practice.
Leah Perrine - Minneapolis, MN
Bio: Leah Perrine has developed her practice through a combination of art market experience, exhibitions, and formal training, including an upcoming show at St. Catherine’s University and coursework at Pilchuck Glass School. She currently works as a production glassblower at a glass lighting company in Minnesota, where she strengthens her technical skills daily. Her growth is grounded in both consistent hands-on practice and an expanding understanding of contemporary glass practices.
Proposed Travel / Opportunity: She will be attending Fabiano Zanchi’s class in Venice in May 2026, where she will learn Venetian glass techniques while collaboratively building a chandelier. The workshop aligns with her long-standing interest in integrating lighting into her glass practice and would further develop her technical and conceptual understanding of illuminated glass.
Statement of Impact: Through this class, she will learn the wiring process and construction of a three-armed Venetian chandelier, strengthening her technical control, precision, and heat management in complex glassblowing processes. These skills would support her goal of building a professional career in glass by refining craftsmanship and integrating traditional Venetian techniques into a personal, expressive style.
Rachel Phoenix - Minneapolis, MN
Bio: Rachel Phoenix is a glassbending neon artist whose work explores the interplay of matter and energy, including glass, neon gases, electricity, and flame. Since beginning her neon practice in 2022, she has participated in multiple courses and workshops, completed commissions, and exhibited in six curated or juried shows, while also integrating neon into experimental installations. Her broader artistic practice spans sculpture, mixed media, and time-based work, supported by grants and community engagement, reflecting a commitment to both technical skill and the ongoing reinvention of neon as an artistic medium.
Proposed Travel / Opportunity: She will attend a multi-day neon cursive lettering intensive in March/April 2026 at Lightwriters Neon in Chicago, taught by director Zoelle Nagib. This opportunity was chosen to gain specialized skills in neon lettering, which are not available in the Twin Cities or other nearby studios.
Statement of Impact: The lettering class will help her master essential neon bends and expand her skills with crossfire and cannonfire torches, complementing her prior experience with ribbonburner techniques. Developing lettering expertise will broaden both her creative and commercial opportunities, allowing her to integrate text into her abstract and sculptural neon work.
The Regional Glass Artist Travel Scholarship Sponsored by Bicycle Glass supports glass artists in the Upper Midwest by providing financial assistance for professional development opportunities beyond their home region. The award is intended to foster artistic growth, skill-building, and meaningful exchange within the broader glass community, values shared by Bicycle Glass.
This scholarship is made possible through the generous support of Bicycle Glass Co, and anonymous community members. Their commitment to investing in artists and strengthening the regional glass community plays a vital role in sustaining opportunities like this. Foci MCGA is deeply grateful for their continued advocacy and support of emerging and established glass artists alike.
Foci MCGA extends sincere thanks to our 2026 guest juror, Chad Holliday, for generously sharing his time, insight, and expertise in reviewing applications and selecting this year’s awardee.
Core Classes & Visiting Artist Workshop Scholarship
Our nonprofit organization offers two scholarship options to applicants:
Need-Based Half-Tuition Scholarship
Need-Based Full-Tuition Scholarship
Any interested person is welcome to apply for scholarships. In line with Foci MCGA’s vision of a diverse community of makers, seekers, newcomers, and enthusiasts, applicants that bring diversity to the glass community are highly encouraged to apply.
Availability: One scholarship spot is available for all core classes and visiting/local artist workshops. Due to limited funds, only one scholarship per student, per calendar year will be awarded. We cannot guarantee placement for all applicants and will only notify those selected. Applications will remain on file for the current review cycle; however, applicants who are not selected and wish to be considered for future quarters must reapply by the next deadline.
Deadline: Scholarship applications are reviewed quarterly, with the following deadlines. Browse class offerings here!
December 1st for upcoming Q1 Winter classes held January-March. Enrollment opens by November 1st.
March 1st for upcoming Q2 Spring classes held April-June. Enrollment opens by February 1st.
June 1st for upcoming Q3 Summer classes held July-September. Enrollment opens by May 1st.
September 1st for upcoming Q4 Fall classes October-December. Enrollment opens by August 1st.
Requirements: Applicants must submit a brief online scholarship application prior to the quarterly deadline. Selected applicants must complete enrollment through our website using an issued discount code. A Liability Release Form is required to be submitted online prior to the class start date. Open to ages 14 years and older. Full class participation Terms and Conditions can be found here.
Youth & Teen Glass Camp Scholarships
Applications for 2026 Summer Youth and Teen scholarships are closed.
Applicants will be notified of their status by April 25, 2026 by the Program Manager.