Glass Kilnforming and Stained Glass Classes
Our kilnforming and stained glass classes in Minneapolis, MN, are among our most popular offerings. Through this range of classes, you can learn fusing and slumping, mold-making and pressing, wax casting, copper foil and lead came stained glass, 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!
Registration is available to students 14 years old and up.
Foci MGCA offers a full-tuition scholarship open to BIPOC and a need based half-tuition scholarship open to anyone with financial need. Find out more about our scholarship opportunities here.
Extra-Ordinary: Repurposing Salvaged Glass
A Stained Glass Workshop
2024 Local Artist Workshop with Michael Lizama
Please join local artist, Michael Lizama, for a playful 2-day workshop, where students will focus on design through exploring simple stained glass techniques and glass choices. Students will have the option to combine salvaged-painted glass pieces with a selection of colorful sheets of glass to create personal and distinctive works. In this class, copper foiling and soldering techniques will be taught.
2 Day Weekend Workshop June 1-2, 2024
Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm (with a 1 hour lunch break)
No prior experience required, but stained glass 1 or equivalent knowledge encouraged.
Registration Deadline 5/10/24
$425
Fusing & Slumping 1
This short introductory course provides an overview of cutting, shaping, and melting sheet glass in a kiln. Through several fusing and slumping projects, participants gain an understanding of how glass reacts to varying temperatures and firing schedules. This class prepares a person for renting Kilns at Foci MCGA and learning the variety of techniques taught in Fusing & Slumping 2.
No experience required.
Offered year-round.
4-week course
Wednesdays 6-9pm
April 3-24, 2024
Registration Deadline 4/2/2024
Priced per person.
Fusing & Slumping 2
Add to your fusing and slumping repertoire and expand your kiln knowledge in this intermediate kilnforming course. Learn advanced cutting techniques, how to refine irregular shapes with grinding equipment, create elaborate pattern bars, as well as glass painting, kilncarving, and sandblasting to name a few.
Prerequisite: Completed Fusing & Slumping 1 or equivalent experience.
Offered semiannually.
6-week course
Check back soon for new dates! Sign up for our email newsletter for class postings.
Stained Glass: Working with Lead
In this introductory course, participants will learn how to create a leaded, stained glass panel. Students will learn about selecting, cutting, and grinding glass following a provided pattern of their choice. After which, we’ll move onto assembling the panel using lead came, soldering the joints, and applying a waterproofing putty. Finished projects can become sun catchers or small framed windows for display.
No experience required. All materials are provided.
Offered semiannually.
4-week course
$425
Saturdays 10am-1pm
July 27-August 17, 2024
Registration Deadline 7/10/24
Stained Glass 1
Learn the art of Stained Glass in this introductory course. Participants will select from a variety of beginner patterns to make their projects. We’ll then learn about selecting, cutting and grinding the glass to fit perfectly together. After which we’ll move onto copper foiling the edges and soldering the glass pieces together. Projects will become finished hanging suncatchers or a small framed window to display.
No experience required. All materials are provided.
Offered year-round. 4-week course.
$375
Tuesdays 6-9pm
May 7-28, 2024
Registration Deadline 4/24/24
Priced per person.
Stained Glass 2
Build on your foundational skills learned in Stained Glass 1 to start designing your own patterns. This 6 week course will expand on the basics by introducing pattern development, creating more complex imagery, sizing up, and refining soldering techniques. Each participant will get to design and build their own 12”x15” stained glass window or wall hanging.
Prerequisite: Completed Stained Glass 1 or equivalent.
All materials are provided.
Offered semiannually.
6-week course
$525
Tuesdays 6-9pm
July 9-August 13, 2024
Registration Deadline 6/26/24
Priced per person.
Lost Wax Casting
The lost wax process allows one to create complex cast glass objects utilizing rubber mold making. Participants learn to create simple and complex rubber molds for creating wax replicas and multiples of found objects as well as modifying and sculpting wax positives from scratch. These wax models are transformed into glass by building plaster/silica molds around them, removing the wax with steam, and casting glass into them. The casting process can be a bit tricky and time consuming - working outside of class time is not required, but highly recommended.
No experience required. All materials are provided.
Offered annually.
6-week course
Check back soon for new dates! Sign up for our email newsletter for class postings.
