Akron Glass Works

I would definitely recommend the Akron Glass Works. At LEAST experience once in your life. I was very nervous before we started, I was worried about dropping something. But the people that work here are very patient and understanding. They explain each step and walk each person through the process individually. I will definitely be coming back!

I had an amazing experience taking a glassblowing class! The instructors were knowledgeable and passionate, offering the perfect mix of guidance and freedom. The studio was welcoming and well-equipped, and the process was both thrilling and rewarding. I loved creating my own piece and felt safe throughout. Highly recommend this class for anyone interested in glassblowing!

Took the fused glass class with Sandy. Never worked with any glass projects at all, complete novice. Sandy was a great instructor. She really took her time explaining processes and tools and then went around for individual instructions. Highly recommend this class and Akron glass works!

I took the pumpkin glassblowing class with my friend. It was really interesting to see how glass art is made. We had fun picking the colors out we wanted and making them. I can’t get over how great they came out! Pictures don’t do them justice. Glassblowing seemed intimidating, but the artisans made it easy, walked us through step by step and assisted the entire time. It was totally worth it for the one of a kind experience and beautiful art that I’ll actually treasure forever! I highly recommend their classes to everyone.

The first thing you see in the workshop are two huge ovens named after the Olsen twins, so you know this is a place where fraternal humor and joyful creativity thrive. We stopped by on a Friday without an appointment when they were working on a production. Although we were only watching through the display window, the artists were gracious, coming out to explain what was going on. The pieces they have on sale are beautiful.

My husband, mom, and I had a great time at a flowers glassblowing workshop in May 2024. The staff was super helpful and made it very approachable for us first-timers! I appreciated that they provided support every step of the way while still allowing us to be active participants.

What an amazing place! I surprised my mom with a glass working class for her birthday and we had a blast. There's a huge parking lot and the building itself is absolutely breathtaking. Christian and David were our instructors and we were in a class with five other people. The workshop was from 12:30 to 2:30 and since we weren't in a hurry, it was fun to watch the others go first. We made glass birds! It was exciting to get the opportunity to have such a hands-on experience, but as beginners, it also served as a perfect starting point! After we finished, we looked around the shop because there was a plethora of things for purchase and we picked up our items the next day! 10/10!!

Akron glassworks is an amazing place. You can walk into the repurposed basement of an old church and see a gallery of gorgeous art made by local glass artists. You can watch them create new pieces right before your eyes. You can even try your own hand at hot glass sculpting or glassblowing at one of their workshops. The workshops are so much fun. Whether you’re with a group or going it solo, the attention that you receive from the instructors ensures that you have a good experience and that you can be proud of the final product. Please remember that glass takes many, many hours to cool down and you will have to return at a later date to pickup your glass art. If this is a problem I know that they can ship it to you as well. You can take other classes there besides glassblowing. They offer stained glass, glass fusing and torch work bead classes. I’ve taken just about every class they offer and have loved every one. The private parties are really great for big groups and don’t forget to stop by to shop for one of a kind gifts. The upstairs Sanctuary event space is gorgeous and perfect for many kinds of special events. If you are interested in working with hot glass but aren’t ready to commit to a workshop, I’d encourage you to stop by one of their monthly Friday night open houses.

Unique gift for those who enjoy experiences over "stuff". My sister and I took my mom here for Mother's Day this year and I cannot say enough good things about this place! My mom is impossible to shop for, so I was super excited when I came across this Mother's Day special on the Akron Glass Works Facebook page. It is a beautiful old church converted into and art space right off of the University of Akron campus. There were about 12 people total with two instructors for the group. They gave a demonstration and then thoroughly went over all the steps with an emphasis on safety. I was a little nervous working with molten hot glass, but the professionalism of the instructors set me at ease. They're by your side the whole time... but you're actually creating the piece yourself. I have been to other glass blowing studios where the instructors are so hands-on, that you feel like you took no part in the entire process. Not this place. I definitely felt like I was making something and they were just there to make sure I didn't burn my hand off. The whole process took less than an hour and our pieces were available for pickup the next day. We each got to make two glass flowers which all turned out beautifully. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for something different to do! We had such a great time!

I received a gift certificate and decided to take a class to make stemless wine glasses. We were shown all of the steps and watched a glass be made. Then Christian guided me through making my two glasses. I was able to choose from a variety of colors or make my own mix. I chose to mix blue and purple. Christian allowed me to do much of the work while he did the more dangerous parts while reminding me of safety. I was able to to pick up them the next day. I'm really happy with them!

Wonderful place! The owner was very friendly and personable, and Sebastian was patient and a great instructor. We took my mother in law here for her birthday and she loved it. It was such a fun and unique experience. Highly recommend!