Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn glass fusing
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Glass fusing means cutting sheet glass, arranging the pieces and melting them together in a kiln, then slumping the result over a mould to make a bowl or dish. You can add frit, powders, stringers and even copper or wire between the layers to see what the heat does.
Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650An afternoonIndoorsWith othersUK and US
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Fusing and slumping explained
West Dean College calls fusing and slumping warm glass techniques. In fusing, sheet glass is cut, assembled and joined by melting in a kiln; in slumping, the fused piece is laid over a mould and softened until it takes its shape. Its course covers cutting float and Bullseye glass, decorating with frits, powders, stringers and metal inclusions, and kiln firing programmes, compatibility and annealing, and you make two bowls, a panel, coasters and cabochons.
Work is fired after the class, so you come back for it; West Dean has it ready from the day after. Bullseye's Open Studio, for practising on your own, is only for people who have already taken a Bullseye class, and it does not teach techniques.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Abingdon & Witney College, Oxfordshire | One-day workshop, 10am to 4pm; kiln carving and metal inclusions; tools, materials and firing included; beginners welcome | £105.88 co-funded fee; £75.94 reduced fee |
| West Dean College, West Sussex | Glass fusing and slumping, short course with residential option; glass included | Not shown on the course page |
| Pittsburgh Glass Center | Kiln 1: Fusing and Casting; 8 weeks; no experience necessary | $540 |
| Bullseye Glass Resource Centers (Bay Area, Los Angeles, New York, Portland, Santa Fe) | Open Studio for self-directed kilnforming after a Bullseye class; book 24 hours ahead | In each centre's Open Studio Guide |
How to start
- Book a one-day fused glass workshop, or a weekly beginners' kilnforming class at a glass centre.
- Wear closed-toe shoes and bring an apron: West Dean College asks for both, and Abingdon & Witney College recommends closed shoes.
- Expect to wait for your pieces, because they go into the kiln after the class and are collected later.
Where to go
- Abingdon & Witney College, Oxfordshire: Fused Glass Garden Lanterns workshop UK
- West Dean College, West Sussex: Glass fusing and slumping UK
- Pittsburgh Glass Center: kilnforming classes US
- Bullseye Glass Resource Centers: Open Studio US
We opened these links on 10 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between fused glass and stained glass?
Fused glass is cut sheet glass melted together in a kiln, as West Dean College describes it. WM College in London groups leading and copper foiling as cold glass techniques, and fusing and slumping as kiln-formed ones.
Can a complete beginner do glass fusing?
Yes. Abingdon & Witney College's one-day workshop is designed for a range of abilities including beginners, and Pittsburgh Glass Center's Kiln 1 class needs no experience.
Can I take my fused glass home on the day?
Usually not, because it has to be fired. West Dean has work ready from the following day and keeps it for six months, and will post it if you pay postage.
How much does a glass fusing class cost?
As last listed, £105.88 for a one-day workshop at Abingdon & Witney College including materials and firing, and $540 for Pittsburgh Glass Center's eight-week Kiln 1 class.
Where this comes from: West Dean College, Glass fusing and slumping with Katrina Beattie; West Dean College, Make a fused glass panel with Martin Cheek; Abingdon & Witney College, Glass Fusion - Fused Glass Garden Lanterns - Workshop; Activate Learning, Glass Fusing, Slumping and Kiln Formed Work; Pittsburgh Glass Center, Kilnforming classes; Bullseye Glass, Open Studio; WM College, Glass Art, Stained and Fused Glass Techniques and Projects. Opened 10 November 2026.
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