Upcoming Events at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts
Check this page for the most up-to-date information concerning Foci MCGA’s glass events located in Minneapolis, MN! Upcoming parties, visiting artist talks, community meetups, exhibition receptions, and sales will all be featured and regularly updated.
Art & Entrepreneurship: Artist Talk and Q & A with Hennepin Made Co-Founder Jackson Schwartz
Glass artist and Hennepin Made co-founder Jackson Schwartz shares lessons from 20 years in the field and strategies for building a creative livelihood.
Glass Community Potluck for Members, Students, & Local Glass Artists
Welcoming all Foci MCGA community members: glass artists, past and present studio members, and glass students. Come together and share a meal over glassy chats!
Mother’s Day Weekend Glass Activities
Saturday May 9th, 2026 and Sunday May 10th, 2026 from 10:00am-5:00pm each day (see schedule below for activity times and availability)
Visitors to Foci MCGA will experience the energy of a working glass studio through guided tours, live demonstrations, and hands-on activities that highlight both coldworking and hot glass processes free of charge.
Throughout both days, Foci MCGA will host a promotional gallery sale featuring handmade glass artwork. Visitors who spend $30 will receive a free glass item, encouraging exploration of our gallery and supporting local artists. Offer is non-transferrable and only valid during Doors Open Minneapolis while supplies last.
Individuals under 14 are required to attend with a parent or guardian.
View Travel & Parking Info, Accessibility Details, and FAQ here.
Our on-site gallery space will also have a glass exhibition for attendees to view! The Solo Exhibition Streptomyces byMiNHi England, Netflix Blown Away Series 3 Finalist, explores the paradox of Streptomyces bacteria as a metaphor for grief. Through material transformations represented in glass, MiNHi’s artwork reflects how loss, illness, and love can metabolize decay into survival. This exhibit is also on view March 6-May 9, 2026 at Foci MCGA during public access hours.Learn more about the solo exhibition here!
Activities & Schedule:
Saturday, May 9, 2026: Visitors can join brief guided studio tours offered every 20 minutes, providing a behind-the-scenes look at our hot shop, cold shop, and education spaces. In addition, guests may participate in a Stained Glass Pendant Activity. Participants will choose from pre-cut, copper-foiled glass pieces, which artists will solder on demand and finish with a jump ring. Those interested may try soldering themselves under supervision, and everyone leaves with a finished pendant.
Sunday, May 10, 2026: Guided studio tours will again be offered every 20 minutes. Visitors may also pre-register for Design Your Own Flowers, a hands-off hot glass experience. Participants work one-on-one with a professional glassblower to design custom glass flowers by selecting colors and patterns, then observe as their designs are formed in real time using molten glass in the hot shop. This experience is observation-based only; participants do not handle hot glass or tools. Finished pieces cool slowly in the kiln and will be ready for gallery pickup within seven days.
Glass Garage Sale
Bringing together artists, makers, and glass lovers from across the region to put glass, tools, and equipment in the hands of people who will use it!
Spring Into the Glass Studio: Open House 2026
Foci MCGA welcomes spring and its community into the studio, for renewal, creativity, and connection. Gather and enjoy a variety of demonstrations by local artists that explore all glass processes our studio has to offer!
MiNHi England Artist Talk & Exhibition Reception for ‘Streptomyces’
Join us at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts for the reception and artist talk for our solo glass exhibition Streptomyces by MiNHi England. This reception is an opportunity to meet a professional glass artist and hear them speak first-hand about how and why they create their artwork. Light snacks and beverages will be provided.
The Grand Uffda: 2026 Annual Celebration & Auction
Join Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts for a night of art, culture, and giving back! Bid on unique pieces in our Glass Art Silent Auction made by local and national artists, see hot glass up close and celebrate the creative spirit with a glassblowing demonstration by Minhi England, accompanied by music and delicious food/drinks!
Valentine’s Day Glass Activities at Foci MCGA
Reserve your seats for exclusive Valentine’s Day glass art activities at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts!
2026 Member Exhibition Reception
Come celebrate the first exhibition of the year! If you’re able, bring a dish to pass! For the first time since Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts’ moved to its new location in the the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis five years ago, we are hosting a Member Exhibition!
Grant Writing for Artists with Springboard for the Arts
Learn the essentials of grant writing along with resources for searching and structuring your grants during this free workshop for artists by Springboard for the Arts!
Design & Dazzle: Holiday Glass Marketplace 2025
Join us at the glass studio to holiday shop for locally-made art, enjoy free glassblowing demonstrations, or register to design your own custom glass ornament! Receive a free glassy gift with your gallery purchase of $30 or more!
Mobile Glassblowing Studio Community Discussion: Virtual Meeting
Welcoming community members to discuss our mobile glassblowing studio plans! Join us for a virtual meeting this winter as we put together our plans for the future of Foci MCGA’s Mobile Glassblowing Studio!
Glassblowing Demonstrations & Holiday Shopping for Small Business Saturday
Join us at the studio for free glassblowing demonstrations throughout the day and to get some holiday shopping done early - all while supporting local art and artists! Free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.
Visiting Artist Talk & Glassblowing Demo with Zachary Layhew
Join Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts for an visiting artist lecture and glassblowing demonstration by Zachary Layhew!
Glassblowing Demonstration with Einar and Jamex de la Torre
Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts is excited to announce our upcoming glassblowing demonstration in collaboration with the Cafesjian Art Trust Museum featuring artists and brothers Einar and Jamex de la Torre! Tickets are required due to limited capacity.
Glass Pumpkin Patch 2025
Explore a spectacular array of handcrafted glass pumpkins, participate in seasonal glass art activities, or view free glassblowing demonstrations at Foci MCGA! Our handcrafted glass goods are perfect for early holiday shopping or treating yourself to something special.
Minnesota State Fair 2025
Glassblowing demonstrations and locally made glass for sale at Foci MCGA’s booth at the Minnesota State Fair! Find us in the West End Market of the fairgrounds August 21, 2025 - Labor Day September 1, 2025!
Stained Glass Conservation in Practice: Conservator Lecture by Ali Wysopal
Join us at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts to learn about the field of stained glass conservation with local conservationist Ali Wysopal!
Stained Glass Activity at the American Craft Fest 2025
Foci MCGA is thrilled to be a part of American Craft Fest St. Paul — the summer’s best opportunity to discover handmade objects by up-and-coming makers from across the region. Foci MCGA will be offering a free, hands-on stained glass activity at our booth both days of the event.
Studio Open House & Glass Demonstrations
Join us at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts for our Spring Open House on Saturday May 31, 2025 from 1pm-4pm! This event is a great chance to visit our nonprofit studio, view different glass art techniques in process by local artists, ask questions, and see what might be a good fit for you! Expect to see glassblowing, stained glass, kilnforming, flameworking, neon bending, and coldworking processes!
Glassblowing Demonstration & Stained Glass Activity for the Seward Commons Social
Free stained glass activity and glassblowing demonstration at Foci MCGA! Redesign Inc is hosting this neighborhood social to proivde the opportunity to meet your neighbors and join us at the Verna and Focus Arts Buildings.
Mother’s Day Glass Activities
Reserve your seats for hands-on Mother’s Day glass art activities at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts! We will be offering stained glass, beadmaking, and glassblowing experiences.
Prior registration is required. Only available on 5/11/2025.
Exhibition Reception, Artist Talk, & Neon Demonstration with Visiting Artist James Akers
Join us in the Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts gallery for an exhibition reception and walk-through with the artist for Embracing Fallibility. This is an opportunity to meet a professional glass artist and hear them speak first-hand about how and why they create their artwork. Free and open to the public.
Glass Community Potluck 2025
Welcoming all glassworkers, past and present studio members, students, etc! Come together and share a meal over glassy chats! Optional activities for participants include a game of Magic Stick in the Hot Shop, a glass swap, and a table to place free used materials or supplies.
Reception & Gallery Walk-through for ‘Echoes: A Solo Exhibition by Lynn Bierbaum’
Join us in the Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts gallery for an exhibition reception and walk-through with the artist for Echoes: A Solo Exhibition by Lynn Bierbaum. This is an opportunity to meet a professional glass artist and hear them speak first-hand about how and why they create their artwork. Free and open to the public.
Valentine’s Day Activities at Foci MCGA
Reserve your seats for exclusive Valentine’s Day date night glass art activities at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts!
Visiting Artist Talk: Cedric Mitchell
Join Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts for an visiting artist lecture by Cedric Mitchell.
The Grand Uffda: 2025 Annual Fundraiser
Save the date for our next Grand Uffda in January 2025!
Design & Dazzle: Holiday Glass Marketplace
Join us at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts for our holiday open house! We will be offering a couple different seasonal activities including free glassblowing demonstrations and an opportunity to design your very own glassblown ornament. Our glass art gallery will be open for last-minute holiday gift purchases.
Small Business Saturday 2024: Holiday Glass Marketplace
Design your own glassblown ornament and browse a wide selection of glass art pieces! Items such as sculpture, jewelry, tableware, ornaments, and seasonal treats will be available for purchase.
Glassblowing Demonstration with Sam Spees & Blaine Steiner
Join us for a glassblowing demonstration at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts! Sam Spees and Blaine Steiner will be collaboratively working in our nonprofit studio’s hotshop to create blown glass sculptures. Free and open to the public!