Entry No. 61 — the Wichita file — filed under: hands-on
CityArts Glassblowing Workshops
CityArts, Wichita's municipal arts center, runs a working hot shop and offers one-day glassblowing workshops for ages 16 and up. In the introductory paperweight workshops you gather molten glass from the furnace and shape your own two pieces with guidance, learning hot-shop safety and basic tools along the way. Real furnace glassblowing is a rare hands-on date option, and the single-day format means no multi-week commitment.
The story
Most municipal art hubs stick to safe bets like watercolor and coil pots. CityArts, tucked into Old Town Square at 334 N Mead Street, went ahead and installed a full working hot shop instead. You aren't watching a glassblower demonstrate behind a safety screen—you are standing directly in front of a furnace pulling glowing, molten glass from the melt.
The barrier to entry for hot glass is usually brutal: standard courses demand multi-week commitments and immense studio fees. CityArts bypasses that gatekeeping with a single-day introductory paperweight workshop. For roughly $65, you get direct access to the furnace, learn hot-shop safety, and use traditional shaping tools under one-on-one instruction.
Because it is run by the city's arts department, it remains one of the few places in Kansas where anyone age 16 or older can walk in off the street and handle hot glass without an art school pedigree. You walk out having gathered and shaped two solid glass keepsakes with your own hands.
What it's like
Expect real heat, noise, and zero passive sitting. You will head straight into the hot shop at Old Town Square, where safety dictates the dress code: strict natural fibers like cotton (synthetic fabrics melt near heat) and closed-toe shoes. An instructor stays right at your elbow while you rotate the blowpipe and manage the gather, but you are doing the physical work. Because these single-day dates are rare and capped at small group sizes, spots fill fast and require booking well in advance.
The move: Take the one-day paperweight workshop and each gather and shape your own piece of molten glass at the furnace, ending up with two keepsakes.
📍 Before you go One-day workshops (around $65) fill fast and are date-specific; multi-week classes often waitlisted. Wear natural-fiber clothing and closed-toe shoes; age 16+.
- 📍 Old Town / Downtown Wichita
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 334 N Mead St, Wichita, KS 67202
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- The Arcade — Walk a block over in Old Town after your studio session to trade furnace heat for unlimited free-play retro games.
- Gallery Alley — Head three blocks south to Douglas Avenue to inspect touchable, intersensory outdoor sculptures built by local artists.
- Entrap Games — Keep the hands-on theme going two blocks away with atmospheric, puzzle-heavy escape rooms.
Good to know
Do I need any prior glassmaking experience?
No experience is needed. The introductory paperweight workshop is built specifically for beginners aged 16 and up and covers all basic hot-shop tools and safety before you touch the furnace.
What is the dress code for working in the hot shop?
You must wear closed-toe shoes and natural-fiber clothing, such as 100% cotton. Synthetic materials like nylon or polyester pose a safety hazard near open heat.
How much does the single-day workshop cost?
The one-day paperweight workshops run around $65 per person. Because spots are limited and date-specific, pre-registration is required.
What do you actually get to make during the intro class?
In the standard single-day workshop, you gather molten glass from the furnace twice, yielding two handmade glass paperweights to take home.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: wichita.gov · visitwichita.com
last checked: 2026-06-23