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Summer Glass Arts

Close up image of a blown glass piece in progress being heated during at demonstration at Hilltop Heritage Middle School

Summer Glass Arts

Summer Glass Arts are held at Hilltop Heritage Middle School and Silas High School in multi-week sessions.

Applications are now open. Read below for full program information and links to apply.

Middle school students rotate between glassblowing, flameworking, and glass fusion during a 2 week session at Hilltop Heritage MS. There will be time for lunch/snacks and some food will be provided through TPS. Students must be at least 12 to participate.

High school age students learn glassblowing and flameworking in a 4 week session at Silas HS.

For Middle Schoolers

Hilltop Heritage Middle School

Summer Glass Arts at Hilltop Heritage Middle School will feature two two-week sessions. Our first session starts Monday, July 6th and runs through Thursday, July 16th. The second session runs Monday, July 20th through Thursday, July 30th. Programming is Monday through Thursday only, 9 AM – 2 PM. Lunch will be provided.

The final Thursdays of each session are celebrations and we welcome family to join us, see the hot shop, and see the work your student has created!

Deadline for priority applications is June 1st, 2026. Applications received by that date will be notified by June 5th, 2026.

Click here to sign up for a program at Hilltop Artists

For High Schoolers

Silas High School

Summer Glass Arts at Silas High School will feature one four-week session from Monday, June 29th through Thursday, July 23rd. Programming is Monday through Thursday only, 9 – 11 AM. Lunch will be not provided.

The final Thursdays of each session are celebrations and we welcome family to join us, see the hot shop, and see the work your student has created!

Deadline for priority applications is June 1st, 2026. Applications received by that date will be notified by June 5th, 2026.

Click here to sign up for a program at Hilltop Artists

Tacoma School of the Arts (SOTA)

Waves of Glass

Waves of Glass is a partnership program between Hilltop Artists and Communities for a Healthy Bay. The summer program will run July 27th – August 6th, from 9 AM to 12 PM. The first week will be Monday – Thursday and the following week will be Tuesday – Thursday. Programming will be held at Tacoma School of the Arts 1950 building.

On Wednesday, August 5th, we will be taking a field trip to the Museum of Glass, and on Thursday August 6th we will be heading to Thea Foss Waterway to take a boat ride around the Puget Sound!

Each day will start with a mini-lesson from Communities for a Healthy Bay on marine ecology, and then students will learn how to make glass beads, mosaics and fused glass pieces.

This session is open to high schoolers only. Please reach out to Carleigh at carleigh@hilltopartists.org with any questions.

Click here to sign up for a program at Hilltop Artists

How to Apply

In an effort to accommodate as many students as possible, students are asked to pick only one session. You will be notified by phone or email of your student’s placement in the program.

There is a materials fee—$100 for each two-week session. However, no student is turned away due to the inability to pay. The fee will be waived if your student is eligible for free and reduced lunches at school and may be reduced or waived with request and approval from Hilltop Artists.

Hilltop Artists believes that promoting diversity is vital to our mission of “using glass art to connect young people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds to better futures.” We work through our mission to center engagement and partnership with underrepresented and marginalized people and groups, and to bring diversity into all facets of our organization – staff and board, students and families, volunteers, and community partners.

We define diversity broadly to include and extend beyond notions of race, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and creative expression.

In reviewing applications to our programs, we seek students who share and uplift our values and will contribute to our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Applications by the youth of all underrepresented groups are encouraged. All experience levels are encouraged to apply.

Click here to sign up for a program at Hilltop Artists

Summer Glass Arts Class Descriptions

Photograph of two Hilltop Artists students collaborating on a piece in the hot shop at Silas High School

Glassblowing

Students learn hot shop safety, terminology and a variety of techniques and skills. By the end of the two-week session, students will create their very own paperweight, cup, bowl, and more!
Photograph of four Hilltop Artists students working on the flameworking table in the hot shop at Hilltop Heritage Middle School

Flameworking

Students learn to use a torch to melt glass rods to create beads in a variety of colors and textures. Students create a variety of glass beads during this two-week session and learn some basic techniques for creating jewelry.
Photo of Hilltop Artists students working on glass fusion pieces in the hot shop

Glass Fusion

Students will learn to cut and grind a variety of shapes and use them to create geometric slumped trays, creatures, and if time permits, designs of their own.
Photograph of Hilltop Artists instructor and students working on a piece in the hot shop

High School Glass Arts

This 4-week course will cover hot shop safety, glass art terminology, and a variety of glassblowing and flameworking skills. Students will have the opportunity to work in both glassblowing and bead-making. Specific projects will be tailored to student skill level.