Entry No. 54 — the New York City file — filed under: hands-on
UrbanGlass
UrbanGlass is one of the country's oldest and largest open-access glass studios, a nonprofit where you can take an introductory hot-glass class and gather molten glass on a blowpipe at the furnace. Beginner sessions cover safety, teamwork, and form before you shape your own piece, and the same building houses both blowing and neon-bending instruction. It's the institution many NYC glass artists came up through.
The story
Before it took over 647 Fulton Street in Downtown Brooklyn, this institution started in 1977 across the river as the New York Experimental Glass Workshop. The premise was deceptively simple for the late seventies: strip away the industrial secrecy of glassmaking and build the city's first open-access glass facility where anyone could rent furnace time, manipulate red-hot molten mass, or bend gas-filled tubes.
Today, it remains one of the largest public-access glass facilities in the country, hosting over 380 professional artists and designers who share space with total novices holding a blowpipe for the first time. The building functions as both a working hot shop and an instructional facility for hot glassblowing and neon bending—it is the very foundry where three generations of New York glass makers learned how to handle raw fire and silica.
What it's like
Step inside and you'll immediately feel the radiant draft from the hot shop's furnaces. Beginner sessions run on a strict schedule and fill up fast, so reserve well ahead. Because you are handling molten glass directly from a 2,000-degree furnace, synthetic fabrics are a burn hazard; you must show up in closed-toe shoes and natural fibers like 100% cotton. Expect a fast-moving, high-focus workshop where you and a partner take turns gathering liquid glass onto a metal blowpipe, maneuvering the pipe at the bench, and shaping your piece before it goes off to anneal.
The move: Take a beginner hot-glass session and take turns gathering and shaping molten glass into a small vessel or ornament.
📍 Before you go Intro classes fill fast and run on a posted schedule; wear closed-toe shoes and cotton clothing near the furnace.
- 📍 Downtown Brooklyn
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 647 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- House of Wax Bar — Walk three minutes down Fulton Street after your class to cool off with a drink alongside a 19th-century collection of anatomical wax casts.
- Susan Gardner's Mosaic House — Head half a mile south into Boerum Hill to see how another local artist turned glass shards and found objects into a permanent brownstone facade.
- Brooklyn Glass — One Day Neon Workshop — If the glass bug bites, head south into Gowanus to compare UrbanGlass's educational hot shop with an industrial, neon-focused supply workspace.
Good to know
What do I need to wear to a hot-glass class?
You must wear sturdy closed-toe shoes and natural fiber clothing (100% cotton is standard). Synthetic materials like nylon or polyester can melt near high heat.
Do I need any prior glassblowing experience?
No. Introductory sessions are built specifically for beginners and cover safety protocols, furnace gathering, teamwork, and basic shaping techniques.
Can I learn neon bending here as well?
Yes. Beyond furnace glassblowing, the building houses dedicated instructional setups for neon tube bending and illuminated artwork.
Do I need to make a reservation in advance?
Yes. Classes and studio reservations operate on a posted schedule and introductory sessions frequently sell out weeks ahead.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · coursehorse.com · exhibitions.bgc.bard.edu
last checked: 2026-06-23