Partnerships & Youth Access Program
Foci MCGA is the access point for anyone interested in glass arts education and experiences in Minnesota. With accessibility in mind, we offer programming to support interested youth in accessing glass art education. This can take the shape of camps, school field trips, and workshops for educators.
We also foster partnership relationships with area youth serving organizations, mainly Project for Pride in Living (PPL). With PPL’s LEAP (Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential) program, we provide exposure experiences, introductory to advanced level classes in glass art and production, and apprenticeship opportunities. For deeply invested youth, we offer pathway support, helping them develop their artistic voice and career preparedness at Foci MCGA and at other glass art education centers across the country.
If you’d like to learn more about our youth access programming please contact julie.strand@mnglassart.org.
Travel Fund for Emerging Young Glass Artists
Since 2021, Foci MCGA has been supporting emerging young glass artists from Project for Pride in Living's LEAP program. These young artists learn through in depth glass arts classes that span our studios and mentorships with local artists. Deeply invested youth are also supported in applying for, and getting to, extended summer learning opportunities around the country and world. Past opportunities have included the Glass Art Society Conference in Detroit and the Expanding Horizons Program at Corning Museum of Glass.
This year, these emerging artists have been invited to a week long workshop with Laura Donefer at Corning Museum of Glass and a glass arts tour and educational experience in Murano, Italy with Autonoma Next. Foci MCGA and LEAP have secured some funding for plane tickets, course costs, and meals, but we need support from our community to cover the rest!
A donation of any amount will make a huge difference in the lives of these young artists and impact of Foci MCGA's youth programming! Donate here!
