Glass Kilnforming and Casting Classes
Our glass kilnforming and casting classes in Minneapolis, MN, are a wonderful introduction to the world of manipulating glass in an electric kiln. Through this range of classes, you can learn fusing and slumping, mold-making and pressing, wax casting, and other exciting techniques. Many of our students have utilized the skills learned in these classes to make their own household decorations or products to sell online and in person. The majority of our kilnforming classes in Minneapolis, MN, are beginner-friendly, and any classes with prerequisites will state so in their respective descriptions. So, what are you waiting for? View our glass classes below and sign up today! Reach out to our studio phone at 612-759-8476 or the Program Manager via email for additional questions.
Requirements: Registration is available to students 14 years old and up. View our full Terms & Conditions here.
Scholarships: Find out more about our scholarship opportunities here.
In order to protect you and our instructors' health, we kindly suggest participants wear a disposable face mask to our classes to prevent the spread of illness and keep our studio running. Disposable face masks are available upon arrival if you are comfortable doing so, but are not required.
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"Kilnworking or kilnforming is the process of fusing or shaping glass (usually in or over a mold) by heating it in a kiln. A 'kiln' is an oven used to process a substance by burning, drying, or heating. In contemporary glassworking, kilns are used to fuse enamel and for kiln-forming processes such as slumping" (Corning Museum of Glass).
At Foci MCGA, we offer a variety of classes to begin exploring kilnforming through.
Intro to Kilnforming and Intermediate Kilnforming focus on fusing and slumping glass.
We also offer Open Faced Casting and Lost Wax Casting, which delve into moldmaking, kilncasting, and coldworking.
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Glassblowing is the art of shaping a mass of molten glass that has been softened by heat by blowing air into it through a metal tube/pipe. The molten glass is collected out of a hot furnace and then manipulated using hand tools, heat, and gravity.
While some elements of heat and gravity may come into play with kilnforming processes, for the most part you will be handling sheets of glass, then manipulating it into desired forms through cutting or fusing. This approach has the ability to be a more accessible and affordable alternative to glassblowing.
These glass processes all differ from one another, but can be combined in a myriad of ways to create a multitude of wonderful effects!
Kilnforming & Casting Classes
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Casting from the Inside Out
2026 Summer Local Artist Workshop with Donna Rice
5-week workshop held July 12 - August 9, 2026 on Sundays 10am - 5pm with a one hour lunch break.
Prerequisites: No prior experience required. Open Faced Casting or Lost Wax Casting encouraged. Open to ages 14 years and older.
Cost: $860/person. All materials are provided. Eligible for member discounts.
Course Description: Every successful lost-wax, glass casting begins with a model that resembles, as near as possible, the envisioned sculpture. Whether casting from a positive model or considering a negative form, (core casting) this class will focus on perfecting your wax-modeling, molding and finishing techniques. With the luxury of five full days together, students should arrive with a few ideas and sketches adaptable to either or both formats. You each will receive one kilo of Gaffer crystal and the necessary wax and plaster to complete one or two small sculptures. Demonstrations at the start of each class will provide students with methods applicable to every level of glass casting. 5-session kilnforming workshop from July 12 - August 9, 2026.
Artist Biography: Classically trained in art from a young age, nature has always been my source of inspiration. The natural environments of every place I have ever lived or visited are reflected in the organic forms that I sculpt. Using crystal, I cast natural objects that are universal in pure beauty and elegance.
Crystal is a material that reveals every detail of a form at once and draws the viewer in with color and light. My work explores the value of close attention to detail and the common thread of nature that connects us all. Magnified form and texture intensifies its visual and emotional impact.
My crystal sculptures are created using a lost wax process similar to bronze casting. Each of my sculptures begins with a hand-built, positive wax model that is encased in special plasters to create a refractory mold. The wax form is melted out and the negative void is filled with crystal inside a hot kiln. When cool, the plaster mold is broken away and the crystal sculpture is revealed. Artist’s Website
Sundays 10am-5pm with a one hour lunch break
Registration Deadline: 06/28/2026
All Recurring Glass Kilnforming & Casting Classes Offered:
Intensive Core Classes
Intro to Kilnforming, 6-week course. Offered annually. No experience required.
Intermediate Kilnforming, 6-week course. Offered semiannually (Prerequisite: Intro to Kilnforming).
Open Faced Casting, 4-week course. Offered semiannually. No experience required.
Lost Wax Casting, 6-week course. Offered annually. No experience required.
Visiting Artist Workshops, 5 day intensive class. Offered annually (Prerequisite is dependent on curriculum).
Other Programming
Kilnforming Open Studio, one day session, offered seasonally (Prerequisite: Intro to Kilnforming)
We strive to offer new and exciting classes and workshop each year. If you are interested in a specific technique, please inquire at contact@mnglassart.org.
Looking for our brief One-Day Glass Art Experiences? Check out our current Glass Discovery offerings here.
Class Release Schedule:
Q1 Winter Core Classes: held January-March. Enrollment opens by November 1st. Scholarships for this quarter are due December 1st - apply here!
Q2 Spring Core Classes: held April-June. Enrollment opens by February 1st. Scholarships for this quarter are due March 1st - apply here!
Q3 Summer Core Classes: held July-September. Enrollment opens by May 1st. Scholarships for this quarter are due June 1st - apply here!
Q4 Fall Core Classes: held October-December. Enrollment opens by August 1st. Scholarships for this quarter are due September 1st - apply here!
Scholarship Opportunities: Find out more or apply here!