What Public Glass does

Public Glass is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization (EIN: 94-3253918) founded in 1996 and headquartered at 1750 Armstrong Ave in San Francisco's Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood. It operates as the city's only public-access glass studio and school, delivering hands-on glass art education across five disciplines—hot glassblowing, fusing and casting, flameworking, stained glass, and coldworking—through specialized facilities including hot shops (2,200°F furnaces, glory holes), flame shops, warm shops (kilns, mold room), and a cold shop with grinding and polishing equipment.

The organization generates revenue through a diversified mix of eight primary streams: introductory single-session classes ($150-$200 typical, up to $215), multi-week intensive courses such as the 14-week Intermediate Skills Workshop at $1,550, studio rentals ($15-$175 per session depending on shop and membership status), tiered annual memberships ($150-$3,000), corporate teambuilding and private events ($90-$315/person with groups up to 200), one-on-one private lessons ($300-$450), the signature Hot Glass Cold Beer annual fundraising event ($45 general admission), Art Flow mentored three-hour studio sessions ($90+), and donations including DAF contributions and planned giving. A subsidized Light-a-Spark program, established in 2014, provides equity-based workshops to underserved youth, seniors, and schools through partnerships including College Track SF, Dr. George W. Davis Seniors Center, and Bay Area schools. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via a Wix-hosted website with online booking, email inquiries for corporate bookings, and a (now-closed) Vacant to Vibrant downtown pop-up gallery that operated June-December 2024.

Customer segments include individual learners ranging from first-time hobbyists to experienced glass artists, corporate groups seeking experiential team-building, professional artists needing equipment access, and underserved community participants. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors; the organization operates without parent company or subsidiary relationships and is sustained through the combination of earned revenue, donations, and volunteer labor rather than venture or private equity funding.

Name

Public Glass

Legal name

Public Glass

Website

https://publicglass.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Public Glass is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public-access glass studio and school in San Francisco's Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood, founded in 1996, offering hands-on classes, multi-week courses, studio rentals, memberships, and corporate teambuilding across hot glassblowing, fusing, flameworking, stained glass, and coldworking disciplines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Glass Art Education and Studio Services

NAICS

Other Pressed and Blown Glass and Glassware Manufacturing (327212)

SIC

Glass & Glassware, Pressed Or Blown (3220)

akta.pro primary industry

Adult/Public Speaking Clubs & Community Organizations (EDAMAOAI)

Keywords

• Glass art classes
• Studio rentals
• Glass blowing workshops
• Nonprofit arts education
• Community glass programs

Headquarters

HQ city

South San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Glass Art Classes: Revenue from teaching glass art courses including intro workshops, multi-week courses (ISW), and specialty workshops. Classes cover glassblowing, fusing, flameworking, stained glass, and coldworking.
2. Studio Rentals: Hot shop, cold shop, flame shop, warm shop, and stained glass studio rentals for members and non-members at hourly or session rates.
3. Team Building and Private Events: Corporate group experiences including glassblowing, fusing, and demo parties. Pricing varies by activity type and group size ($90-$315/person).
4. Light-a-Spark Community Programs: Subsidized workshops for youth, seniors, and schools with equity-based pricing. Partnerships with organizations like College Track SF and Dr. George W. Davis Seniors Center.
5. Private Lessons: One-on-one personalized lessons with skilled instructors for glassblowing, flameworking, fusing, and stained glass. Prices range from $300-$450 depending on discipline.
6. Donations and Memberships: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization generating revenue through membership fees, donations, and sustaining memberships. EIN: 94-3253918.
7. Art Flow Sessions: 3-hour studio sessions with artist mentors for self-directed projects in various studios. Priced at $90 for flame shop.
8. ISW Blowslot Packages: Practice slot bundles for enrolled ISW students - ISW blowslots ($805 for 7 slots), ISW Deluxe ($980), and Blowslot Bundle ($900-$1,050) for post-course practice.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Public Glass runs a public access glass art studio and school offering hands-on classes, multi-week courses, private lessons, and studio rentals across hot glassblowing, fusing, flameworking, stained glass, and coldworking. The nonprofit also delivers corporate team-building events, community outreach through the Light-a-Spark program, mentored Art Flow sessions, and signature fundraising events like Hot Glass Cold Beer. Members access tiered studio privileges, and finished student work can be picked up at the studio or shipped domestically.

Product overview

Public Glass is San Francisco's center for glass art and education—a nonprofit public access glass studio and school offering a comprehensive portfolio of hands-on glass art programs and studio facilities. The core offering consists of glass courses and intro workshops across five disciplines (hot glassblowing, fusing and casting, flameworking, stained glass, and coldworking), complemented by the signature Hot Glass Cold Beer evening event, Light-a-Spark community outreach program, and teambuilding/private events. The organization provides studio rentals and tiered memberships offering independent access to specialized equipment including glory holes, kilns, torches, and coldworking tools. Additional offerings include private lessons, Art Flow mentored studio sessions, and a pop-up gallery space. Founded in 1996 and located in the Bayview/Hunters Point neighborhood, the organization serves as an essential resource for glass art education and community engagement in the Bay Area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Glass Art Classes (Hot Glass, Fusing, Flameworking, Stained Glass, Coldworking)

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• David Patchen (Glass Artist)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025San Francisco glass artist who taught cane techniques to visiting South African artists Thato Kokwana and Kgomotso Mtsweni during Fall 2025 glass exchange.
• Thato Kokwana (Glass Artist)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025South African glass artist hosted for Fall 2025 glass exchange. Worked on collaborative project with Kgomotso Mtsweni and gave artist talk on their developing practices and cultural landscape.
• Kgomotso Mtsweni (Glass Artist)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025South African glass artist hosted for Fall 2025 glass exchange. Worked on collaborative project with Thato Kokwana and learned cane techniques from David Patchen.
• Mary White (Glass Artist)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Former longtime instructor at San José State University who coordinated the glass exchange with South African artists. Met Thato Kokwana and Kgomotso Mtsweni during 2024 Glass Safari in South Africa.
• Tshwane University of Technology (South Africa)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024South African university that partnered with Mary White and other visiting artists during the 2024 Glass Safari at Ngwenya Glass Factory in Eswatini.
• Dr. George W. Davis Seniors CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership providing glass workshops to seniors. Grew from 5 participants with one volunteer in 2017 to 20+ participants monthly in fusing, flameworking, and glassblowing activities.
• College Track SFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Community partnership providing subsidized glass art workshops to underserved youth through the Light-a-Spark program.
• Frank Grizzly (Catering)minorOthersLocal catering partner recommended for team building events, located within walking distance of the studio.
• All Good PizzaminorOthersCatering partner recommended for team building and private events.
• Cafe AlmaminorOthersCatering partner recommended for team building and private events.
• TatominorOthersFood vendor serving at Hot Glass Cold Beer events. San Francisco-based food business.
• Don BurgerminorOthersCatering partner recommended for team building events.
• Old Skool CafeminorOthersCatering partner recommended for team building events.
• Kawashima's KitchenminorOthersCatering partner recommended for team building events.
• Radio Africa KitchenminorOthersCatering partner recommended for team building events.
• Hungry CafeminorOthersCatering partner recommended for team building events.
• Fort Point Beer Co.minorOthersBeer provider for Hot Glass Cold Beer events.
• The Wine HouseminorOthersWine provider for Hot Glass Cold Beer events.
• DJ K-DigzminorOthersMusical artist providing entertainment at Hot Glass Cold Beer events.
• Vacant to Vibrant / SF New Deal / City of San FranciscocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative initiative through SF New Deal helping small businesses partner with property owners to create engaging pop-up experiences. Public Glass Gallery opened June 2024 at 149 New Montgomery Street (SFMOMA area) as part of this program to infuse arts and culture into downtown San Francisco. Gallery closed December 2024.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Crucible: Oakland-based 501(c)(3) industrial arts education nonprofit offering classes, studio access, and community programs across multiple disciplines (glass, metal, wood, etc.). Most directly comparable peer — same nonprofit model, public-access studio format, Bay Area location, and multi-disciplinary arts education mission.
• Pilchuck Glass School: Washington-state nonprofit glass art school and residency program with international reputation. Comparable in glass-art education mission and nonprofit model, though more focused on intensive residencies than ongoing public classes.
• Diablo Glass School: Boston-area nonprofit public access glass school offering classes, studio rentals, and team-building events across hot, flame, fusing, and stained glass. Closely comparable in programming, audience, and Boston's urban community-arts positioning.
• UrbanGlass: Brooklyn-based nonprofit glass art education center offering classes, studio rentals, and visiting-artist programs. Closest East Coast analog to Public Glass — same nonprofit model, full hot/cold/flame studio operations, and similar class/rental/membership revenue structure.
• Pittsburgh Glass Center: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit glass art education center providing classes, studio rentals, and residencies across multiple glass disciplines. Comparable in mission, facility scope, and programming to Public Glass.

Broad incumbents

• Corning Museum of Glass: Largest glass museum in the world (Corning, NY) operating a major glass-making studio with classes, demos, and residencies. A much larger established institution in the same glass-art education space; broader scope but overlapping programming.

Emerging players

• Chrysler Museum Glass Studio: Norfolk, VA museum-affiliated glass studio offering classes, rentals, and visiting-artist programming. Partial overlap with Public Glass — institutional support model differs, but public-facing glass education programming is highly comparable.
• Penland School of Craft: North Carolina-based nonprofit craft education school offering workshops across many media including glass. Comparable nonprofit craft-education model, though broader in scope and more focused on immersive workshops than ongoing studio access.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/public-glass

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public Glass